Campaign Arkansas Gift Creates Two Scholarships in Walton College

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Scholarships named after John and Elizabeth Campbell are being established with a $200,000 planned gift to assist finance students in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas alumnus Kevin Campbell wanted to honor the sacrifices his parents made to pay for his education, so the Harrison native created two scholarships in their names. The John O. Campbell Endowed Scholarship and the Elizabeth Ann Campbell Endowed Scholarship are being established with a $200,000 planned gift as part of Campaign Arkansas to assist finance students in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

“Thanks to Kevin’s generous support, finance students will benefit for years to come through these endowed scholarships,” said Matthew A. Waller, Walton College dean and Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair. “Finance is a bedrock of business education, and many more students will now be afforded opportunities in finance and the insurance industry through the Campbell scholarships.”

The John O. Campbell Endowed Scholarship and the Elizabeth Ann Campbell Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students in the Walton College who are majoring in finance. Students with an insurance concentration will be given preference, as will students from high schools outside of Arkansas.

“I wanted someone from out of state to see the beauty and greatness of Arkansas people,” Campbell said.

Campbell’s father, John, was an insurance agent in Harrison, and Kevin returned to his hometown to work there for five years after graduation. In 1986, Kevin Campbell moved to Florida and started his own business, The Campbell Agency. Campbell says it is now the largest workers’ compensation agency in Florida.

Campbell’s family has an extensive legacy at the U of A. His sister and brothers, uncles, parents and an aunt all attended as well. His father was on the Razorback basketball team, and his brother was on the Razorback football team.

Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Walton College and was in one of the inaugural finance and insurance classes taught by professor Bob Hall, who pioneered the finance and insurance program for the college.

“I learned two things in college,” Campbell said. “First, you learn how to learn. Second, you learn how to understand all kinds of people.”

About Campaign Arkansas: Campaign Arkansas is the ongoing capital campaign for the University of Arkansas to raise private gift support for the university’s academic mission and other key priorities. The campaign’s goal is to raise $1 billion to support academic and need-based scholarships, technology enhancements, new and renovated facilities, undergraduate, graduate and faculty research, study abroad opportunities and other innovative programs. The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in a wide spectrum of disciplines as it works to fulfill its public land-grant mission to serve Arkansas and beyond as a partner, resource and catalyst.

About the Sam M. Walton College of Business: The Sam M. Walton College of Business is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in business education and research. Since its founding at the University of Arkansas in 1926, the Walton College has grown to become the state's premier college of business – as well as a nationally competitive business school. The Walton College is ranked 26th among public business colleges by U.S. News & World Report, which ranks the supply chain management/logistics specialty 14th among public business colleges.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.