Lyon College to Celebrate Founders’ Day on Oct. 18
BATESVILLE, Arkansas – Lyon College will honor its rich history and the legacy of its founders during the annual Founders’ Day Convocation on Friday, Oct. 18, at 11 a.m. in Sloan Auditorium, Brown Fine Arts Building, on the Batesville campus. This long-standing tradition brings the campus community together to reflect on the college’s past while celebrating its mission and looking ahead to the future.
This year’s convocation will feature alumna and Lyon College trustee Enid Olvey, CFRE, senior vice president of philanthropy at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and president of the Arkansas Children’s Foundation (ACF). Olvey, a leader in healthcare philanthropy, has guided Arkansas Children’s to historic fundraising levels, raising more than $665 million during her tenure. She is the first woman to lead ACF and one of the youngest senior executives at the organization, earning accolades such as being named to the 40 Under 40 list by the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and the Women to Watch list by Little Rock Soiree.
A 2002 graduate of Lyon College, Olvey discovered her passion for philanthropy while serving as philanthropy chair and dance marathon co-chair for Phi Mu during her time as a student. Her experiences at Lyon College shaped her lifelong dedication to service, which she now applies to her leadership in pediatric healthcare.
“We are honored to have Enid return to Lyon College to speak at this year’s Founders’ Day,” said Dr. Melissa Taverner, president of Lyon College. “Her achievements in philanthropy and her commitment to service embody the values we instill in our students. Founders’ Day is a time to celebrate those values, reflect on our history, and look toward a bright future.”
In addition to Olvey’s keynote address, the convocation will include a performance by the Lyon College Pipe Band and the traditional procession of members of the senior class, who will wear their academic regalia for the first time.
As part of the Founders’ Day traditions, Vice President for Student Life Danell Hetrick will announce this year’s Mr. and Ms. Lyon College. Dr. Alexander Beeser, associate professor of biology and Spragins House faculty mentor, will announce the winners of the SCOT Week cardboard boat race, who will receive the 2024 paddle plaque.
Founders’ Day is one of Lyon College’s most cherished celebrations, often likened to a birthday party for the institution. The day brings the Lyon community together to honor its past and look toward its future, embodying the spirit of the college’s founding mission.
The public is invited to attend.
Cathy Drew is a lifelong resident of the region that she loves to promote. She was born in downtown Batesville in the late ’60s, located in one of the eight counties she now enjoys encouraging people to visit.
Drew became associated with the Ozark Gateway Region in 1990 while working at the ad agency (The Media Market Inc.). The agency handled marketing for the regional association, where she and her co-workers produced an annual tabloid publication. She began working as the Ozark Gateway Region director in June 2000.
After Drew became director, she took the region to the next level by helping the tourism organization create a new website and moved it from the old newspaper paper tabloid publication to a color magazine format. She helped open a visitor center for the Ozark Gateway, allowing visitors to pick up information from the entire state 24/7. Over the years, Drew has helped the organization meet new marketing goals, such as in- and out-of-state marketing, assuring that all 100,000 copies of their magazines are distributed each year.
In 2016, she assisted in creating the first Ozark Gateway Region Golf Classic. The tournament continues to grow each year, allowing the organization to expand its co-op program and helping each county have dedicated promotion. Drew stays busy at Ozark Gateway as the ad sales manager, magazine editor, day-to-day office operations, trade show representative, and magazine distribution representative, all while ensuring that the region is represented all over Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Drew was featured in several local and statewide publications over the years, as well as the 1997 cover of the Ozark Gateway Region tabloid, along with her then 4-year-old son, Jon. She has received several awards, such as the Batesville Rotarian of the Year in 2010 and a three-time Paul Harris Fellow.
She also has served as an Independence County election commissioner for several years. She now serves as their co-election coordinator, helping with behind-the-scenes management of voting equipment, day-to-day election deadlines, and poll worker training.
Drew is Batesville Rotary Club Past President, and is the Rotary Clubs’ current membership chair.
In March of 2018, Drew was honored with induction into the Arkansas Tourism Hall of Fame for her many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.