FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas alumnus Tracy Young  and his wife, Lisa Johnson-Young, have stepped up to assist students from El Dorado and Eureka Springs with a new Advance Arkansas scholarship. A $60,000 gift from the couple will create the Tracy Young and Lisa Johnson-Young Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship and count toward Campaign Arkansas, the university’s $1.25 billion capital campaign to advance academic opportunity at the U of A.

“My wife and I wanted to give back to students, and we know every little bit helps,” Tracy Young said. Young said he and his sisters were the first in their family to earn a college degree and his wife is a first-generation college graduate as well.

The Tracy Young and Lisa Johnson-Young Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship will support new, returning and transfer students from Arkansas who exhibit financial need, records of academic success and a strong desire to complete their degree at the university. Preference will be given to high school graduates from El Dorado High School and Eureka Springs High School and students who are pursuing a major in the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

The couple plans to contribute additional funding annually while their scholarship endowment builds, so students can benefit sooner.

“El Dorado holds a special place in my heart,” Tracy Young said. “I enjoyed growing up and going to high school there. I hope this scholarship can provide some extra help to a student from there, and I know my wife feels the same way about supporting students from Eureka Springs as well.”

“The Youngs’ generous Advance Arkansas scholarship gift to benefit El Dorado and Eureka Springs students who wish to attend the Walton College will help educate business leaders for all of Arkansas,” said Matt Waller, Walton College dean and holder of the Sam Walton Leadership Chair. “I thank the Youngs both for their gift and for their vision of building a better business future for students and for our state.”

Tracy Young majored in accounting at the University of Arkansas and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Walton College. He has worked for BKD, LLP since graduation and is a partner with the firm. He also serves on the Accounting Department Advisory Board in the Walton College.

Lisa Johnson-Young grew up in Eureka Springs and attended the University of Arkansas before graduating from the University of Central Arkansas. She and Tracy are life members of the Arkansas Alumni Association and are counted as Thoroughreds for their eight 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 $1.25 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 fewer than 3% of colleges and 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.