FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Advance Arkansas Scholarship is making a difference in the lives of Arkansas students as the first recipients prepare to graduate this semester and the selection of next year’s recipients is underway.

“The cost of a college education has concerned me ever since I was a first-generation college student working 30 hours a week just to make ends meet,” said Chancellor Joe Steinmetz. “I hope all Arkansans who want a college education have the opportunity to reach that goal. That’s why we created the Advance Arkansas Scholarship Program.”

The U of A has dedicated $2.5 million to match the earnings generated by donations to the program with a goal of raising $10 million for these scholarships to ensure Arkansas students can stay in school and earn their degrees.

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.