Dallas Chapter Establishes Endowment To Benefit Students

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Dallas Chapter of the Arkansas Alumni Association recently pledged funds to establish an endowed award to benefit students attending the University of Arkansas. Their gift of $2,500 per year for five years will be matched by the Chancellor’s Chapter Scholarship Challenge Fund for a total contribution of $25,000 within five years. This gift is in addition to the approximately $6,000 in scholarships awarded annually by the chapter.

“The Dallas Chapter has always led by example, and this gift is just the latest indication of that. We are grateful to the chapter’s alumni and leadership for doing all they can to promote the YOU of A to students in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area and make it possible for them to receive a degree here. This will be a wonderful addition to their growing offering of scholarship opportunities,” said Graham Stewart, associate vice chancellor for alumni.

Students with a permanent residence in the Dallas Chapter area, including Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Grayson, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, Rockwall and Van Zandt counties, are encouraged to apply for the award once the endowment level is reached. Once awarded, it is renewable for four years.

 “Providing scholarship support is the single best way for Arkansas Alumni Association chapters to spend their fund raising dollars,” said John Reap, president of the Arkansas Alumni Association and a Dallas resident. “While the Dallas Chapter has been awarding scholarships yearly from general operations funds, we felt that we must take the next step and set up an endowment. This truly starts laying a much firmer foundation fiscally for carrying on this critical effort."

The Dallas Chapter holds an annual gala to support its scholarship fundraising activities. This year’s gala will be held on March 26 at the Bent Tree Country Club. Sponsorships are available by contacting Heath Bowman at 479-575-4842 or habowman@uark.edu.