Latest news with #ArkansasChallengeScholarship
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UA Little Rock launches new scholarship program with $7.5 million gift
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Little Rock launched its new scholarship program Friday with the support of a $7.5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation to provide need-based scholarship support in perpetuity. UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said the gift includes a $5 million endowment with a challenge for the university to raise another $1.5 million as part of their centennial campaign. 'The remaining funds will be used for scholarships over the next several years while we grow that endowment,' Drale said. University of Arkansas at Little Rock sees record-breaking enrollment growth for Spring 2025 Drale said the Windgate Foundation has been a major supporter in the university's investments in the student experience. 'As we look forward, I invite all of you to dream big with me and help grow this endowment many times over,' Drale said. In her announcement, Drale also pledged her own $25,000 to the scholarship fund. 'We hope that others will be inspired to join us as well in ensuring that affordability is forever,' Drale said. Trojan Transition and Assistance Center event coordinator An Le said all students who will come to UA Little Rock will qualify for the scholarship. 'While it will help first-generation students, it will help other college students as well who just need a little assistance to start their college journey,' Le said. 'We're here to help you get your education.' In 2023, the university launched their Trojan Guarantee that offers full tuition coverage for Pell eligible Arkansas students who also qualify for the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship. Back in 2020, the university also launched its 'half off' scholarship that offers a 50% reduction in tuition for incoming freshmen for up to four semesters, regardless of income. To date, Drale said, their scholarships have benefited over 41,000 students. Fifty-eight percent of whom are first-generation students, 43% are working students and 6% are veterans. 'In order to sustain this momentum, our goal has been to create a structure that will help us offer these opportunities on a permanent basis regardless of what our annual income is as an institution might be,' Drale said. 'We want to make sure these scholarships are available forever.' UA Little Rock receives $1.5 million donation to create business programs The Windgate Foundation supports contemporary craft and visual arts in the United States and prioritizes the advancement of contemporary craft programming and educational outreach and scholarships, as well as aiding visual arts programming and scholarships at colleges and universities and the expansion of visual arts in K-12 schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship program announces extension
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Arkadelphia High seniors are only a few school bells away from graduation, and on Wednesday, the organization that provides scholarships for Arkadelphia seniors made a big announcement. Officials announced that the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarships for graduating seniors, due to expiration this year, are now extended for 12 years. The program began in 2010. UA Little Rock launches new scholarship program with $7.5 million gift Side by side with college t-shirts on, graduating senior Xe'nai Harper and the class of 2025 are excited for the next step in life. 'Arkadelphia is family to me, I've been here most of my life,' Harper said. Harper is headed to Louisiana State University to study theatre. 'I was considering going to a smaller school if I wasn't able to get money from the Promise, so it's really helped me a lot,' Harper said. Jason Jones, the director of Arkadelphia Promise, says the Ross Foundation and Southern Bancorp fund the program. 'We help fund our Arkadelphia High School graduates that go on to college or two-year schools or technical training,' Jones said. 'We help pay for their schooling.' This year's graduating class was set to be the last to receive the scholarship. However, as of Wednesday, that's changed. 'From our 11th grade all the way down to our kindergarteners, the Promise is still going to be around for them,' Jones said. Sara Adams was in the first Arkadelphia Promise class. Now, she's a special education teacher in the school district. 'With the Arkadelphia Promise, I was able to go to Henderson all four years,' Adams said. She gives the Promise an A-plus, as now her children will also graduate with it. 'Not only was I the very first class to receive access to that, now my biological children are going to be doing that also, and I think that's really cool,' Adams said. As Xe'nai signs the Promise letter, she's ready to be an LSU Tiger, but remains proud to be an Arkadelphia Badger. 'I'm glad the school sponsors a Promise because it helps out a lot of kids, and I know it helps me,' Harper said. Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin visits Little Rock as over $70 thousand in scholarships were given to young men Certain scholarships are available for each year of school, paired with the Arkansas Challenge Scholarship. Ouachita Baptist and Henderson State are also partnering with the Arkadelphia Promise to help out graduates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
