ASU Committee Holds ‘Signing Day’ Of Sorts

Over 900 incoming freshmen at Arkansas State University will soon get a letter through the mail. The letter will thank the now-high school seniors for picking ASU as well as welcoming them to Jonesboro, chamber officials said Thursday.

The members of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce ASU Committee signed letters and stuffed envelopes Thursday.

Committee chairman Dawn Layer said this was the first time the chamber has worked on a project of this sort.

Chief Operating Officer Cari White said the chamber sent letters several years ago to prospective students, trying to recruit them to ASU.

However, this approach will educate students about Jonesboro and what the city has to offer, Layer said.

“They need to hear from people from Jonesboro,” Layer told the committee. “They need to know: what is Jonesboro like?”

The letters will also direct students to the chamber’s website, letting them know how to find information. Many students, especially those from outside Northeast Arkansas, may not be familiar with Jonesboro and where businesses are located, Layer said.

The website, www.jonesborochamber.org, has a civic guide, a church directory and information about businesses that belong to the chamber.

Layer said university officials have expressed their support for the project.

The students are expected to receive the letters by Thanksgiving.

CHILI POT CHALLENGE
The committee also heard from Layer about hosting a chili cook-off next year.

The chamber has hosted a Chili Pot Challenge for the past several years for businesses and individuals. However, the event could not be held this year due to logistical issues as to when to host the event.

A tentative plan for 2015 is to have the event during a weeknight football game, possibly one in which the game is televised.

Layer said the committee would be looking at several sites at the football complex for possible locations and that nothing is set in stone.

The schedule for the Red Wolves has not been released as of yet. However, according to published reports, ASU has an away game with USC in Los Angeles to start the season Sept. 5 followed by a home game against Missouri Sept. 12.

Based on this year’s schedule, ASU should have home games scheduled next year with Idaho, Georgia State, Texas State and Louisiana-Lafayette.