FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – U of A alumni Ann and Gene Bordelon made a $100,000 planned gift to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship Endowment, bolstering a university initiative that will benefit students across Arkansas and addressing the critical funding gap limiting students’ access to education. 

“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Ann for years and have seen firsthand her dedication to the University of Arkansas and her commitment to improving the lives of our students,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “Ann and Gene’s generous gift to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship reflects their shared belief in expanding access and opening doors for all Arkansans. We are deeply grateful for their generosity and their unwavering support of our mission.” 

The university launched a three-year campaign in November 2024 to establish the ongoing Land of Opportunity Scholarships. The scholarships will expand educational access for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, strengthen partnerships between the university and businesses throughout the state and advance the university’s land-grant mission to serve the entire state through education and economic development. 

“I was a beneficiary of several academic scholarships that I pieced together to come to school here,” Ann Bordelon said. “And while I'm not a first-generation college student, I recognize the challenges that students with limited financial resources can have. When this scholarship was announced, I was very keen to support it.” 

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship seeks to remove financial barriers that might otherwise prevent students from pursuing a degree or fully engaging in campus life. As Bordelon noted, students from distant parts of the state often face higher costs and more obstacles, making such support essential. 

“Improving access to education for Arkansas students is the main reason the U of A exists,” Bordelon said. “Removing that [financial] barrier is a major step in improving outcomes for those students, particularly those who live a long distance from Fayetteville by giving them a chance to be fully engaged in the campus community.” 

Bordelon emphasized that providing financial relief enables students to both attend college and thrive while there. She stressed that the opportunity to focus on education and participate in campus activities is a key benefit of the scholarship and that closing the financial gap will enable recipients to explore pursuits beyond the classroom, engage their curiosities, and enhance their student experience. 

“Ann and Gene Bordelon are remarkable alumni who believe in the University of Arkansas. We are deeply grateful to Ann and Gene for their support of the Land of Opportunity Scholarship and their continued commitment to the success of our students,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “Ann’s connection to the university spans every stage — as a student to leader of the Division of Finance and Administration to philanthropic partner. This full-circle journey not only reflects her profound commitment to the U of A but also reinforces the enduring impact of the university’s mission. We are sincerely grateful to Ann and Gene for their generous gift and the legacy it helps to sustain.” 

Ann Bordelon is a graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and currently serves as the executive vice chancellor for finance and administration at the U of A. Gene Bordelon is a graduate of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.  

The Bordelons have been dedicated volunteers and financial supporters of the university for more than 35 years. Ann made her first $25 gift in 1989, encouraged by her employer, Ernst and Young, which stressed the importance of giving back to one’s alma mater — a habit she continues today and encourages in others. 

“I would urge other alums to think about the experiences they had as students here on campus,” Bordelon suggested. “It’s incredible to think about everything the U of A has to offer students now. Helping even one more student have access to that experience is a great way to pay it forward. It’s life-changing for people.” 

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About the Land of Opportunity Scholarship: The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is a three-year initiative to further educational access opportunities for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, improve graduation rates, create two-way engagement between the university and businesses throughout the state, and fulfill the institution’s land-grant mission to uplift Arkansas. As of May 31, 2025, the campaign has raised 66% of its goal in 19% of the time through more than $132,678,171 in pledges and commitments.

About University Advancement: University Advancement advances the mission of the University of Arkansas by raising private gift support from alumni, friends, parents, foundations, corporations, and other institutional supporters. Working in philanthropic partnership with academic leaders and volunteers, Advancement team members are determined to advance the people, work, and impact of the greater whole at the University of Arkansas.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.