FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas natives and music aficionados Bob and Carolyn Evans are helping to ensure that talented student musicians have an opportunity to benefit from a college education. They are doing so through their $50,000 gift to the University of Arkansas department of music to establish scholarships.

The Robert P. Evans and Carolyn Simms Evans Music Scholarship in the Department of Music was established through the Evanses’ gift. The scholarship will be to provide financial assistance to two exceptional undergraduate students annually who major in music at the U of A, with preference given to piano majors.

The couple live in Shreveport, La., but the Evanses are both originally from Arkansas. Their loyalties have remained strong and they feel bonded to this institution, thus prompting them to make this gift. Mrs. Evans attended the University of Arkansas and their daughter graduated from the University with a degree in philosophy. She currently lives in Newton County, Ark. Mr. Evans is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and a retired independent petroleum geologist.

Stephen Gates, department of music chair, said, "It is through the generosity of people like the Evanses that we are able to attract and teach the very best students. Gifted students for years to come will benefit from this very generous scholarship, and be able to benefit from the fine faculty in the music department."

UA Vice Chancellor G. David Gearhart said, "We are most grateful to Bob and Carolyn Evans for making this gift to the music department. Their gift demonstrates the ways in which people can pay tribute to their lifelong interests and pursuits while providing opportunities for others. It will go a long way to helping us attract exceptional student-musicians to the University of Arkansas."

The Evanses are charter members of the Chancellor’s Society, Old Main tile donors and longtime supporters of the Razorback Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Evans are honorary members of the National Development Council.

The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is home to 18 academic departments, including the department of music. In the 1999-2000 fiscal year the Fulbright College received $7,948,611 in private gift support.