The University of Arkansas Staff Senate is excited to announce the recipients of the 2015-16 Staff Senate Endowed Scholarships. This scholarship is intended specifically to support campus staff in their continued undergrad and graduate education. This year, a record 19 scholarships have been awarded. The recipients were presented with certificates on Aug. 13 during the regularly scheduled Staff Senate meeting in Old Main, Giffels Auditorium.

This year's recipients are: Jeff Puckett, the Susan Imes Yell Scholarship; Audrey Briggs, the Rick A. Haley Memorial Scholarship; and Betsy Bennett, the Barbara G. Taylor Scholarship. Six $500 Staff Senate Scholarships were awarded to Kim Parks, Lori Foster, Phyllis Todd, Carrie Sparks, Erin Griffin and Marcy Bookout. Ten additional $250 Staff Senate Scholarships were awarded to Jacquelyn Edwards, Lacey Gebhart, Vicki Martin, Christopher Wimberly, Jerrica Burns, Travis Hefley, Chris Shapley, Mandy Curry, Elizabeth Friday-Brown and Rachel Gerner.

"Congratulations to all of our scholarship recipients. We are honored to be able to assist you continue your education. We wish you best of luck in your continued success in your academic endeavors." said Trish Watkins, Staff Senate chair.

About the Staff Senate Endowed Scholarship

The Staff Senate Scholarship was started in 2000 with just enough funds for one scholarship. In 2008, the Staff Senate began to campaign for a scholarship endowment, and due to the overwhelming support, the scholarship reached its $25,000 endowment level in 2010. In celebration of the Staff Senate's hard work and success, Chancellor G. David Gearhart matched the endowment with private gift dollars from the Chancellor's Society Fund, bringing the account to $50,000. Another $25, 000 was awarded by Dr. G. David Gearhart in 2014. The endowment fund is now over $96,000 level thanks to the generous donations of the University community and its supporters.

The Staff Senate annually awards at least three need-based scholarships — the Rick A. Haley Memorial Scholarship, the Barbara G. Taylor Scholarship and the Susan Imes Yell Scholarship. Since the program's commencement, 104 Staff Senate Scholarships have been awarded with a value totaling more than $30,000.

The scholarships were created to promote and encourage staff development through higher education in undergraduate and graduate studies. Applicants must be 100 percent appointed, full-time University of Arkansas, Fayetteville staff employees for at least one year prior to the scholarship deadline and demonstrate financial need. Additional criteria are listed on the website at staffsenate.uark.edu.

The Staff Senate is an employee group on the University of Arkansas campus whose primary function is to work with University administrators to address staff concerns related to the quality of work life on campus. The Staff Senate represents nearly 3,600 employees on the Fayetteville campus.

Further information may be found on the Staff Senate website. Questions may be referred to Elon Turner, Staff Senate Scholarship Committee chair, at elon@uark.edu or 479-575-8498.