Applications Invited for Student Grants from Endowment Honoring Clinton School Dean Emeritus

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Students from across the University of Arkansas System are invited to submit applications for mini-grants awarded through an endowment honoring James L. "Skip" Rutherford III upon his retirement as dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in 2021.

Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to students for expenses such as technology, conference registration, interview expenses, research and evaluation, travel, test preparation, books, equipment or other supplies where a student can demonstrate need through the application process. This is the fifth year for awards from the endowment, which are given out each spring.

The endowment was established at the University of Arkansas Foundation to honor Rutherford and provide support to student leaders across the UA System. Undergraduate and graduate students from any UA System campus are eligible to apply for grants, which will be awarded by a committee appointed by Michael Moore, UA System vice president for academic affairs, in accordance with the terms of the endowment.

The application process requires students to submit information about themselves and their proposed use of grant funding, along with contact information and a letter of recommendation from a faculty, staff or administrative adviser at their home campus. The deadline for submission is March 13, 2026.

Ready to Apply?

Interested students are required to submit:

• A letter describing their grant proposal (need)
• A resume
• A letter of recommendation from a home campus faculty, staff or administrative advisor.
• To apply, these documents should be emailed as PDF files to rutherfordendowment@gmail.com no later than March 13. 

 For questions about the grant process please contact Shana Rolen, associate for administration at the UA System, at srolen@uasys.edu.