Staff Senate Announces 2018-19 Scholarship Recipients

Russell Cothren, University Relations

Recipients of Staff Senate Scholarships, from left: Jessica Zaleski, Geri Cruz, Kayla McGrew and Tammy Knowles.

The University of Arkansas Staff Senate is excited to announce the recipients of the 2018-19 Staff Senate Scholarship. Additionally, Chancellor Steinmetz has once again matched gifts to the Staff Senate Scholarship Fund with a matching gift of $3,016. The continued support by Chancellor Steinmetz and the greater campus community allows this program to continue positively affecting the lives of staff.

The Staff Senate Scholarship is intended to support campus staff in their continued undergrad and graduate education. This year, six scholarships have been awarded a total of $500 each. The recipients were recognized and presented with certificates on Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the Arkansas Union Ballroom. Vice Chancellor Chris McCoy gave remarks in support of the recipients and the staff scholarship program, including a story of how similar programs had helped him in his career.

This year's recipients are Tammy Knowles, recipient of the Susan Imes Yell Scholarship; Kayla McGrew, recipient of the Rick A. Haley Memorial Scholarship and Barbara G. Taylor Scholarship. Four other staff members received the Staff Senate Scholarship, including Geri Cruz, Heather Parks, Stephanie Wade, and Jessica Zaleski.

About the Staff Senate Endowed Scholarship: The Staff Senate Scholarship was founded in 2000 with funds for one scholarship. 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. Thanks to support from the campus community, there have been more than 150 scholarships awarded to staff pursuing their education.

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 before the scholarship deadline and demonstrate financial need. Additional criteria are listed on the Staff Senate.

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.