PINE BLUFF, Arch. – Simmons Bank today announced unprecedented support for female student athletes through a multi-varsity initiative in which she will be the Principal Sponsor of Women’s Track and Field at Arkansas State University, Oklahoma State University, SMU, TCU, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Central Arkansas, University of Memphis, University of Missouri, and Vanderbilt University.

At the heart of sponsorship is a goal of expanding beyond traditional sponsorship elements to focus on personalized programming and enhanced career opportunities for student-athletes. Simmons Bank works with each university to create distinct programs ranging from financial education program and leadership training to mentorship, internship programs and women in business development initiatives. Deemed to be the first corporate sponsorship of its kind across multiple schools and encompassing every team in the women’s athletic program at every university, the initiative was created through a relationship between Simmons Bank and UCA Athletics.

“The ability to partner with leading universities in our footprint to provide financial support while developing programs to further enhance the qualities that student-athletes acquire through competition is an incredible honor for our organization,” said said George A. Makris, Jr., president. and CEO of Simmons Bank.

“Sport teaches intangible leadership skills that cannot necessarily be taught in the classroom, while also creating characteristics that include a strong work ethic, the value of teamwork and the determination to bring projects to fruition – characteristics that translate easily from the sports world to the corporate world, where we all play from the same tees, ”added Makris. “We applaud the talent and sportsmanship of these young women and believe that our partnership with their universities will position them for even greater success in the future.”

Based on a global study of male and female C-Suite executives conducted by EY and espnW between 2013 and 2016, there is an undeniable correlation between athletic and business success. The results of the study show:

• 94% of female executives have training in sport and more than half have participated in university levels
• 80% of Fortune 500 women executives had practiced competitive sports
• 74% of all executives believe that playing sport can help accelerate a woman’s career
• 61% of female executives who responded believed that sport contributed positively to their professional success and advancement

The Multi-University Signature Program is an extension of an already strong sports sponsorship platform that Simmons Bank has built over the past few years. Earlier this year, the bank announced that it was in negotiations to acquire the naming rights to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, with the stadium being renamed Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. In Nashville, Simmons Bank is the title sponsor of the PGA TOUR’s Korn Ferry Tour event – the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation. The bank also has brand ambassadorial relationships with professional golfers, including 2021 Masters sensation and 2021 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year winner Will Zalatoris.

In St. Louis, Simmons Bank is proud to sponsor the St. Louis Blues, a member of the National Hockey League, as well as the official Bank of the Ascension Charity Classic, a new PGA Champions Tour event. In Fort Worth, the bank is the official banking partner and naming rights holder for the Simmons Bank Plaza and the Simmons Bank Pavilion at Dickies Arena, as well as a major sponsor of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. In Arkansas, the bank is the main sponsor of Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, and Simmons Bank Field and Simmons Bank Pavilion at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

In October, the bank announced that it was in negotiations to acquire the naming rights to the War Memorial Stadium land and, when completed, the land would be renamed Simmons Bank Field. In partnership with the Tennessee Golf Association and the Arkansas State Golf Association, the bank is the main sponsor of the Simmons Bank Cup, a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring amateur champions from both states.

“People are passionate about sport and partnerships like this give us the opportunity to connect with our customers on a more personal level while supporting the communities we serve,” said Elizabeth Machen, Executive Vice President Marketing and Communications at Simmons Bank. “Sport is also associated with values ​​that fit perfectly with the cornerstones of Bank Simmons’ culture: better together, integrity, passion, high performance and the pursuit of growth. We believe that sponsorship at this level allows Simmons Bank to make a real difference for female students. athletes, with programming that supports young women not only as rising athletes, but also as future business professionals and community leaders. ”

According to the sports director of the UCA Dr Brad Teague, the partnership with these sports should be seen as a real game changer when it comes to supporting women’s athletics:

“Simmons Bank’s decision to recognize the achievements of women’s sport is extremely impactful. We appreciate Mr. Makris and Simmons Bank for their thoughtful thinking on improving women’s athletics in many college programs. We are proud to be associated with this type of vision.