Hogans Create Engineering Scholarship for Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Members

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Mac and Sheila Hogan

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mac and Sheila Hogan of Mount Pleasant, Texas, and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, have created an endowed scholarship in the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas. Their gift of $100,000 will specifically help members of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity who are majoring in mechanical engineering at the university.

“Mechanical engineering is important to me,” said Mac Hogan. “I’d like more PIKEs to have the opportunity to become mechanical engineers, and I hope this scholarship gives the incentive to do it. There has never been a better time to choose engineering as a profession.”

“The College of Engineering is excited about this new opportunity for our students,” said Dean John English, “and we’re so grateful to the Hogans for this gift. I can’t think of a more worthwhile project than supporting future engineers.”

Recipients of the Mac and Sheila Hogan Endowed Scholarship must be members in good standing in the Alpha Zeta chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha who are enrolled in the mechanical engineering program.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering has the largest undergraduate population in the College of Engineering. Its faculty members conduct research into nanomaterials, aerospace, and sustainable energy. Mechanical engineering students participate in several design contests, building all-terrain vehicles, remote controlled aircraft, robotic mining equipment, rocket propulsions systems, and solar-powered boats for competitions. Recently, the department implemented the Conceive, Design, Implement and Operate initiative. Considered a state-of-the-art approach to engineering education, CDIO helps students master engineering fundamentals through design projects and partnerships with industry leaders.

The Alpha Zeta chapter of the national Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was founded in 1904 as the first Pike Chapter west of the Mississippi River. It was also the fourth fraternity at the University of Arkansas. In addition to Hogan, other notable alumni from the fraternity include Lance Alworth, Joe T. Ford, Gary George and Jim Faulkner.

In 2015, the chapter celebrated the renovation of its house on Arkansas Avenue. The renovation of the house, which was built more than 60 years ago, cost $7.6 million and increased the size of the house from 15,432 square feet to 28,000, making it the largest fraternity house on campus.  It is also ranked No. 13 in the top 20 most impressive fraternity houses in the south by COED.com and was featured in the Pi Kappa Alpha Shield & Diamond publication in spring 2015.

“Fraternities have accepted the responsibility of complementing the formal education provided by the university by teaching things such as social graces and leadership,” said Hogan. “I am still friends with brothers from 50 years ago. It’s important to make these relationships.”

Hogan is a 1965 graduate of the College of Engineering’s mechanical engineering program and received the distinguished alumnus award in 2012. He is chairman of Poloplaz Inc. and Air Tech Coatings Inc. and is also a member of the College of Engineering’s Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee. He and his wife, Sheila, are included in the Towers of Old Main, the university’s most prestigious giving society.