ASU-Beebe highlights mother/daughter education journey
BEEBE — Kathy Benton Ball and her daughter, Andrea Ball Cole, recently spoke about their educational and professional experiences and intersecting paths over the years at Arkansas State University-Beebe.
Kathy Ball began her college classes at ASU-Beebe in 1965, saying she was always encouraged by her family to go to college and took classes during her high school years that prepared her for the transition to college.
“At first, I was intimidated by the college environment, but after my audition for the choir, I became more involved on campus,” Ball said.
She served with the student government group and was a member of the Student Christian Association. She also enjoyed touring with the choir to locales such as Memphis and north Arkansas. She returned for fall classes in 1966 and ended the semester with 30 degree hours earned.
Around that time, Ball met her husband, Bill, a U.S. Navy veteran, and they eventually formed a business in Little Rock, designing signs for area businesses. He has attended Arkansas State University and later Memphis Art Academy. During his college years, he learned how to typeset for advertising and produce artwork using a laser printer. This helped the couple produce signs, silk screenings, T-shirts and decals for businesses in Little Rock, including the city’s train station, Union Station; Coleman Dairy; and Charlie O’s Soda.
“Bill was also a self-taught tool-and-die technician and machinist, which helped in creating various silk screenings,” Kathy Ball said. “He even built a ticker-tape machine to use in a commercial one time for a client.”
In 1983, the couple built their house in Floyd and commuted to Little Rock to continue their sign business. Both of their young children, Andrea and Andrew, attended the Beebe Public Schools. However, in 1985, Kathy’s husband had an accident, which forced the couple to close their Little Rock business.
Kathy Ball started working for Child Support Enforcement in Little Rock until 1989. She was then hired as head cashier in the business office at ASU-Beebe, which also allowed her to resume her college classes.
“It seemed right and felt like home,” Ball said.
In 2000, Ball changed positions at ASU-Beebe and began working for the Admissions office, retiring in 2007. In addition to Ball’s daughter, Andrea, other family members attended ASU-Beebe over the years. Her son, Andrew, attended the John Deere program, and her husband, Bill, took some art classes with longtime art instructor Bill Long.
Andrea Ball Cole enrolled and began classes at ASU-Beebe in fall 1995, 30 years after her mother. Her junior and senior years of high school, she took night classes at ASU-Beebe in psychology and reading.
“In high school, we used Apple computers and learned to use clip art, graphic arts and adobe print shop programs,” Cole said. “However, there weren’t many similar graphic-arts type programs at ASU-Beebe when I began.”
Cole majored in liberal arts, with an emphasis in physical education. Her career goal was to be a PE teacher.
“College also allowed me to be active on campus, so I volunteered as a Student Ambassador in the Admissions Office, giving tours and helping students feel comfortable on campus,” Cole said.
Ball and Cole both received their associate degrees from ASU-Beebe at the same time in 1997. Cole then transferred to A-State that fall to pursue business and computer classes. At A-State, Cole worked in the admissions and finance offices and volunteered for two years in the athletic department. Then in 2000, she began working full time for the athletic department’s marketing/fundraising areas.
The department provided marketing support for the Athletic Foundation, creating posters, tailgate “tent city” events, a kids zone, video boards and supporting the A-State band, she said.
During the mascot transition from the ASU Indians to the Red Wolves, Cole created the “Red” spirit character, and the department had a costume created for Red to represent a positive image. The athletic department also managed the massive search for the new mascot, which was eventually unveiled as Howl riding on a motorcycle into the stadium.
Then in 2018, Cole had the opportunity to return to ASU-Beebe, when she was hired as the development officer/major gifts in the Office of Institutional Advancement.
“It was like coming home,” Cole said. Her job scope includes working with the foundation, fundraising and scholarships. Both Ball and Cole agree that ASU-Beebe feels like “home and family,” which ultimately has kept bringing each back to the college over the years.
When asked about advice for students, Kathy Ball said, “Take advantage of community college, apply for scholarships, don’t work over 20 hours a week, and focus on college work.”