Three U of A Students Earn Steele-Croxton Memorial Scholarships

Photo Submitted

l-r: Andrew Stephens, Bill Watkins, president of Beaver Water District's Board of Directors, and Shelby Sidney. Not pictured: Logan Draper

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas students Andrew Stephens of Rogers, Shelby Sidney of Springdale, and Logan Draper of Fayetteville were presented with Steele-Croxton Memorial Scholarships during the Feb. 16th meeting of the Beaver Water District Board of Directors.

The scholarship is funded with voluntary contributions by district board members and other interested individuals and organizations It’s named in memory of Joe M. Steele and the Hardy W. Croxton, leaders and past board members. The scholarship provides support to qualified students within the U of A’s College of Engineering and College of Agriculture who are studying and exploring careers related to water.

Stephens is a senior biological engineering major who has received the scholarship for three years in a row.

“I feel that I have had an audience rooting me on throughout my college career,” he said.

Sidney, a civil engineering major, is also a senior and received the award for a second year.

“I’m very grateful for your generous donation,” she said. “I want to serve my community by designing or consulting on either a water treatment system, wastewater treatment plant, or ‘natural’ developments with the community.” She plans to continue her education and complete a masters in the environmental area of civil engineering.

Draper, also a senior, is majoring in environmental science.

“I decided to focus my efforts on water because of my belief that clean water is important not only for public use, but for the flora and fauna that coexist in our community,” he said in his application for the scholarship. He plans to continue his education with a masters and possibly a doctoral degree.

About the Beaver Water District: The district’s mission is to serve customers’ needs by providing high quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements and is economically priced consistent with quality standards. The Beaver Water District supplies clean, safe drinking water sourced from Beaver Lake, to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, and Bentonville, providing water to more than 320,000 people and industries in their cities and surrounding areas. For more information, visit http://www.bwdh2o.org/service-area.

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.