Gladys McPike Hudgins Scholarship

The Gladys McPike Hudgins Scholarship was established in 1992 in honor of Mrs. Hudgins, an Arkansas State University faculty member for 32 years. Mrs. Hudgins received her bachelor’s degree in physical education, along with a math certification, from the then-Arkansas State College in 1949. She received her master’s degree in physical education from the University of Arkansas in 1957. After teaching in the Swifton and Walnut Ridge school systems, Mrs. Hudgins joined ASU as a member of what is now the Health, Physical Education and Sport Sciences Department. She introduced the Indian family as mascots of ASU athletics; was a varsity cheerleading sponsor for 27 years; and was the originator of the Arkansas State University Cheerleading Clinics, serving as director for 27 years. During her tenure at Arkansas State, she taught many classes, but in later years became the Elementary Physical Education Specialist, having completed further graduate work at Ohio University. Mrs. Hudgins served Delta Kappa Gamma Society International at the local and state levels, served as chapter president of Pi Chapter, founder of Beta Chi Chapter, president of Kappa State (Arkansas), and founder of the Kappa State Education Foundation in 1979. She is also a member of Alpha Omicron Pi International sorority.