New Scholarship Created for Students From Pulaski, Jefferson Counties

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Cathy and Kevin Crass

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas alumna Cathy Crass and her husband, Kevin, want to help students achieve their educational dreams. The Little Rock couple has established the Cathy and Kevin Crass Advance Arkansas Endowed Scholarship with a $50,000 gift directed toward students from Pulaski and Jefferson counties. 

“Cathy and Kevin care very deeply about education,” said Mark Power, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are very grateful for their support of Advance Arkansas, as it’s one of the most meaningful initiatives that came out of Campaign Arkansas. We’ve already seen the impact these scholarships can make on students from our state, and I think it’s fantastic that Cathy and Kevin are adding to the support we can offer students from the Little Rock and Pine Bluff areas.”

Cathy Crass, who is originally from Little Rock, says her first introduction to Fayetteville was sitting on the grassy hill in the end zone. The daughter of two U of A alumni, Crass earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the university in 1981 and was a member of Pi Beta Phi. 

“I loved my college experience,” she said.

Since then, she has remained involved with her alma mater and served on the Campaign Arkansas Steering Committee for eight years. Campaign Arkansas concluded in 2020, raising nearly $1.45 billion to advance academic opportunity at the U of A.

“The campaign committee is where I heard about the Advance Arkansas scholarship initiative,” she said. “I liked that many of the scholarships could be directed to first-generation college students.”

Cathy’s husband, Kevin, grew up in Pine Bluff and is a partner with Friday, Eldredge & Clark in Little Rock. They are both actively involved in their community and believe education is a vital component to strengthening communities.

“We raised our two sons in Little Rock and they both graduated from schools in the U of A System,” Cathy Crass said. “We see the value of education and are glad we can play a small role in helping students achieve an education with the support of an Advance Arkansas scholarship.”

The Cathy and Kevin Crass 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 of Arkansas. Preference will be given for students who attended high school in Pulaski County or Jefferson County.

Cathy Crass is a life member of the Arkansas Alumni Association. She and Kevin are members of the Chancellor’s Society and are counted as Thoroughreds for their 13 years of consecutive giving to the university.

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.