Work is wrapping up on the latest phase of the restoration project at the old Lockesburg Middle School. UA Cossatot will host an open house at the location on Thursday, September 15th from 11:00 AM till 1:00 PM. The public is invited to the event to tour the remodeled facility, which will house a Lockesburg School Museum as well as classrooms for UA Cossatot.
UA Cossatot recently received a $311,800 grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council (ANCRC) to finish restoring the remainder of the old Lockesburg Middle School.
UA Cossatot obtained the Lockesburg High School, Middle School, and Gymnasium in 2013.
After completing the renovations to the old middle school with this new grant, UA Cossatot will be making an application to have the entire Lockesburg Campus listed as a Historic District.
UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said, “Since obtaining the old Lockesburg High School campus in 2013, we have approached and received over $1,000,000 from the ANCRC to invest in restoring the Lockesburg campus. With this latest grant, we will be able to complete all of the final restorations to the old Middle School and the original high school steps. Once this is complete, we will apply for the Lockesburg campus to become a Historic District. Because of the ANCRC, we have been able to leverage other dollars to help build two major programs dedicated to the Lockesburg campus. Our college will always be looking at additional grant opportunities to help invest in Southwest Arkansas.”
In addition to the completion of renovations on the Lockesburg Campus, UA Cossatot Foundation currently has naming opportunities for the old middle school through the Blue Darter Heritage Campaign. Classrooms, the Museum Room, the building exterior, and brick pavers are available for naming. Proceeds from the Blue Darter Heritage Campaign will help fund the Blue Darter Museum, the Blue Darter Community Room, classroom technology in middle school, the Gymnasium, furnishings for the middle school, athletic support, and
scholarships. Twenty percent of all monies raised through this campaign will go toward funding the Blue Darter Heritage Scholarship, only available to students residing in the 71846 zip code.
For more information on the ANCRC grant, contact Dr. Steve Cole at 870-584-1173 or scole@cccua.edu. For more information on the Blue Darter Heritage Campaign, Contact Dustin Roberts at 870-584-1172 or droberts@cccua.edu
