FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Massey Family Charitable Foundation has committed $2 million to the Advance Arkansas scholarship initiative at the University of Arkansas. The foundation’s contribution counts toward Campaign Arkansas and will impact the university’s efforts to advance student success and make the U of A more accessible to Arkansans.

“Rick and Anne Massey are incredible champions of the Advance Arkansas scholarship program, and their gift will make a significant impact on the lives of many students,” Chancellor Joe Steinmetz said. “Retention and graduation are both key to advancing the number of degree-holding Arkansans in our state, and assisting our students financially helps make these goals possible. We are very thankful for the Masseys’ generous contribution and vocal support of this initiative.”

Advance Arkansas scholarships support new, returning and transfer students from Arkansas who exhibit some financial need and have records of academic success and civil engagement or community leadership. Recipients should show a deep sense of connection to the region and state and a strong desire to attend and graduate from the U of A. Preference will be given to students who are first in their families to pursue a four-year baccalaureate degree. Students can use the scholarships regardless of their field of study, and the scholarships are renewable with acceptable progress toward a degree.

“Anne and I embrace Joe Steinmetz’s vision of improving retention and graduation rates of Arkansans at the university,” Rick Massey said. “We normally make our donations anonymously, but we want to publically express how important we believe the Advance Arkansas scholarship program is to achieving Joe’s objective.”

This Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship fund will provide scholarships annually. As with all Advance Arkansas scholarships, the spending amount generated by the $2 million endowment will be matched by the university and double the award given to students.

Rick Massey is a 1984 graduate of the School of Law at the U of A. He is a member of the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee and the Campaign Arkansas Athletics committee and serves on the Razorback Foundation Board of Directors. His wife, Anne Goodman Massey, is a 1983 graduate of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in political science. The Masseys are counted as Thoroughreds for their four years of consecutive giving to the university.

About Campaign Arkansas: Campaign Arkansas is the ongoing capital campaign for the University of Arkansas to raise private gift support for the university’s academic mission and other key priorities. The campaign’s goal is to raise $1 billion to support academic and need-based scholarships, technology enhancements, new and renovated facilities, undergraduate, graduate and faculty research, study abroad opportunities and other innovative programs. The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in a wide spectrum of disciplines as it works to fulfill its public land-grant mission to serve Arkansas and beyond as a partner, resource and catalyst.

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.