Travis Rowan named Taste of Little Rock honoree

February 19-25, 2024

By Angelita Faller

UA Little Rock annual fundraiser set for April 2

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will honor Arkansas radio personality and celebrated alumnus Travis “Tre’ Day” Rowan as the 2024 honoree of the 19th annual Taste of Little Rock event.

“Being named the 2024 Taste of Little Rock Honoree is quite surreal,” Rowan said. “As an attendee of past Taste of Little Rock events, I have always looked up to the honorees. To now be included among them is very humbling, and my heart is filled with gratitude. I annually highlight Taste of Little Rock on my calendar as it neatly combines two things I love, food and, of course, giving back to Little Rock. It’s the perfect combination and extremely appropriate as I have always viewed the importance of investing in higher education not as getting students full of knowledge but rather making them always hungry for more.”

UA Little Rock’s highly anticipated culinary and social event, Taste of Little Rock, is set for Tuesday, April 2, from 6-8 p.m. at the Jack Stephens Center. The event annually raises more than $100,000 for the UA Little Rock Alumni Association Scholarship Fund while introducing guests to some of the best food in the city from the finest restaurants in Little Rock.

This year’s honoree has a passion for his alma mater and has a long history of providing support for students at UA Little Rock.

“Our honoree is not just a familiar voice on the airwaves but a familiar symbol of community spirit and support for UA Little Rock,” said Kristi Smith, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. “Time and again, Tre’ Day has unselfishly utilized his time and talents to support student scholarships, professional development, and equipment at UA Little Rock. We are so happy to honor Tre’ Day as the 2024 Taste of Little Rock honoree, a shining example of the profound impact one person can have.”

Education has always been important to Rowan, who graduated from UA Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication in 2000 with a 4.0 GPA. Once supported by a scholarship from UA Little Rock, he has continuously and generously invested in education through his longtime endowed scholarship program for mass communication students at UA Little Rock. The money is raised on Labor Day weekend with his award-winning “TreDay.com Charity Classic,” which consists of a tennis tournament, a celebrity party, and his locally famous silent auction. 

Additionally, Rowan has also donated the equipment for two new audio production studios at the university, is a two-time recipient of UA Little Rock’s Meritorious Service Award, is a lifetime member of the UA Little Rock Alumni Association, and serves on the School of Mass Communication Board of Directors. His service also includes serving as a guest speaker to mass communication classes every semester, hosting tours of campus with international delegations, producing commercials, speaking with high school students about the benefits of attending UA Little Rock, and doing live broadcasts with the university’s TRIO programs.

Rowan’s professors in the School of Mass Communication praise him as an outstanding graduate who has done so much to support and inspire UA Little Rock’s students.

“It’s wonderful to see Tre’ Day honored in this way,” said Dr. Jamie Bryne-McCollum, professor and undergraduate program coordinator. “He is a fiercely loyal alum of the School of Mass Communication and has done everything he can to support the school and its students. He has hosted numerous interns over the years at Power 92, and he has endowed a scholarship that will continue to provide opportunities for students to complete their education with us. Tre truly believes in paying it forward. He speaks to students in our classes and is a great representative of the school in the larger community. On top of everything else, he is a wonderful husband, father, and friend.” 

Through his generous support, mentoring of interns, and establishment of a scholarship, Rowan exemplifies the spirit of paying it forward and remains deeply committed to the growth and success of future generations of students.

“He is truly deserving because of his commitment not only to UA Little Rock but specifically to the School of Mass Communication,” said Dr. Tim Edwards, professor of mass communication. “He is the personification of the engaged alum. When I call on him to speak to a class or to present his scholarship during our annual awards ceremony, he always delivers. I think students who engage with him come away inspired because of what he has been able to accomplish after leaving UA Little Rock. Giving back is a part of his DNA.”

Rowan began his radio career in 1996 right out of high school. The name of his popular radio personality was given to him by his basketball teammates after hitting nine three-pointers in a single game. While a full-time student at UA Little Rock, he worked his way up from an internship to a popular host at KIPR 92.3 FM. He worked as the music and production assistant for KIPR and KOKY from 1998-2002. Currently, Rowan is the assistant program director of Power 92 - Little Rock, the host of the No. 1 rated afternoon drive show in Arkansas, “Take it to the House,” and the creator and host of the podcast, “Through My Two Blue.”

General admission tickets for Taste of Little Rock are $75, while tickets for UA Little Rock faculty and staff, alumni association lifetime members, and graduates within the last five years are $35.

For sponsorship or ticket information, please contact the UA Little Rock Alumni Association at alumni@ualr.edu or 501-916-6438 or visit https://ualr.edu/giving/event/taste-of-little-rock-2024/.

Photo Captions:

1. Travis “Tre’ Day” Rowan / Photo by Ben Krain

2. Top Right: Elizabeth Small, director of business networks and instructor of real estate development at UA Little Rock, and her friend, Mary Lynn Laning, enjoy catching up during the 2023 Taste of Little Rock event in the Jack Stephens Center.

3. Bottom Left: Christian O’Neal, left, vice chancellor for university advancement at UA Little Rock, and Dr. Aresh Assadi, center, director of counseling services at UA Little Rock, congratulate James Bobo, right, the honoree of the 2023 Taste of Little Rock celebration.

4. Bottom Right: Klansee Tozer, left, senior graphic designer at UA Little Rock, and her husb and Mark Tozer, right, enjoy delicious food and drinks during the 2023 Taste of Little Rock event held April 25 at the Jack Stephens Center.

(Photos by Ben Krain)