Walton College Student Awarded Royster Scholarship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Whitnee Boyd, a senior in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, has received the Nola Holt Royster Scholarship worth $1,000. Boyd is the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Boyd of Pine Bluff, Ark.

Boyd was nominated for the Royster Scholarship by two of her teachers, Heather Folley and Aaron Windeler. “It is a real honor to be selected for this scholarship,” Boyd said. “Having this support takes away some of the stress of having to work. I was also inspired to learn more about Nola Holt Royster.” 

Boyd, a marketing major and management minor, previously held a sales and management internship with Bridgestone Firestone in Baton Rouge, La. Her activities include serving on the Center for Retailing Excellence Advisory Board and the Dean’s Student Advisory Board. She also serves as a Walton College Ambassador and a University of Arkansas Career Center Ambassador. Boyd is the president of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, and the co-president of Greek Life Facilitators. She is also the recipient of the Silas Hunt Scholarship.

Royster received her doctorate of education in adult education from the University of Arkansas in 1993. That same year she was appointed as the director of the University of Arkansas Career Development Center and associate professor in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Throughout her working career, Royster educated students, took part in job development and employer relations, and researched the impact of diversity training on corporate, civic and public sector organizations. The scholarship was begun in her honor at the time of her death in 2001. In 2002, the Nola Holt Royster Suite was dedicated at the University of Arkansas Career Development Center to commemorate her contributions.