Charles L. King Follows Father's Legacy With Land of Opportunity Scholarship Gift

Charles L. King, a two-time College of Engineering graduate and chief technology officer at Evergy, has committed $25,000 to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship. The gift will help Arkansas students with high financial need bridge the gap between a student’s grants and scholarships and the direct costs to attend college, including tuition, mandatory fees and housing.

“Charles King’s gift honors a remarkable family legacy while creating new opportunities for Arkansas students,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “His support of the Land of Opportunity Scholarship will help talented students overcome financial barriers, earn a University of Arkansas degree and build legacies of their own in communities throughout our state.” ​

King’s gift builds on a family tradition of investment in the College of Engineering. His late father, Jack L. King, earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas, spent 34 years in the utility industry and served more than two decades on the College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council, helping oversee the construction of Bell Engineering Center.

Charles King now serves on that same council, in the same seat that his father held.

"Literally about the time he stepped away from the Dean's Advisory Council, I was joining," King said. "It was a nice continuity, because members of that group knew my dad when he was a part of it."

King said he learned by example, watching his father's involvement with the college from a distance as he was growing up.

"For me, it's about following in his footsteps, but doing so in the current context," King said.

"Charles King's gift carries forward a legacy his father helped establish at this college. Jack King gave more than 20 years to the Dean's Advisory Council, and Charles now brings that same commitment to the same table," said Dean Kim Needy. "This gift to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship reflects a family belief in what engineering education can do for Arkansas students, and we are grateful for his continued investment in their success."

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship expands access to higher education for Arkansas students who are eligible to receive federal Pell grants, indicating high financial need. In addition to reducing financial barriers, the scholarship provides mentorship, academic coaching, financial planning and access to opportunities such as undergraduate research, study abroad and internships with Arkansas companies. Together, these resources strengthen student success as a key pillar of the university’s 150 Forward strategic plan and its land-grant mission, improving access and outcomes for students across all 75 Arkansas counties.

King grew up in Little Rock, where he attended Central Arkansas Christian School. He enrolled at Harding University for two years knowing that he would transfer to Fayetteville, using the time to complete science and math prerequisites. Along the way, he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics.

"You can never have too much math if you're going into engineering," King said.

At the U of A, King initially considered following his father into electrical engineering. However, his father pointed him toward a lesser-known discipline instead. That recommendation sent King to the course catalog, then to campus for meetings with the industrial engineering department head and former college dean, the late Neil Schmitt.

King earned a bachelor's degree in 1988 and a master's degree in 1990 in industrial engineering. As a student, he served as president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers student chapter and held membership in Alpha Pi Mu and Tau Beta Pi. He also joined the Engineering Ambassadors, a College of Engineering student group whose members wore red blazers and led campus tours for visitors. King still has his jacket.

King joined Kansas City Power and Light in 2011 after holding technology leadership roles at Sprint, Embarq and DISH Network. He rose to chief information officer and guided information technology through the company's 2018 merger with Westar Energy that formed Evergy, where he now serves as senior vice president and chief technology officer. He leads all information technology and cybersecurity functions for a company serving 1.7 million customers across Kansas and Missouri.

Alongside his gift, King has invested significant time in the college. He partners with industrial engineering department head Chase Rainwater to guest-lecture in classes. He has not missed a College of Engineering career fair in five years.

Charles King and his wife, Dana, are members of the Chancellor’s Society and are counted as ThoroughReds for their consecutive years of support for the University of Arkansas. Both are Life Members of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

"It becomes motivating, giving back, whether that's financial or finding ways to provide internships to students to make it real to them," King said. "It starts with a conversation with students."

"Charles’ leadership in supporting the Land of Opportunity Scholarship is essential for supporting meaningful opportunities for Arkansas students now and for generations to come,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “We are grateful for his generosity and for the many ways he continues to contribute to student success and the future of the University of Arkansas.”

For King, the scholarship embodies the public-private partnership he sees between companies like Evergy and the College of Engineering.

"At the end of the day, it's the students who are going to help us as companies to be more successful. And it's going to help the students from a career perspective," King said. "Whether it's a conversation in the classroom, whether it's being active with recruiting, whether it's serving on the Dean's Advisory Council, whether it's sponsoring a Land of Opportunity Scholarship, any of those are things I can relate to personally. But there are lots of other ways as well, and all of them go to the greater goal."

About the Land of Opportunity Scholarship: The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is an 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 July 31, 2026, the campaign has raised 71% of its $200 million goal through more than $141,383,441 in pledges and commitments.   

About the College of Engineering:  The University of Arkansas College of Engineering is the state's largest engineering school, offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, online studies and interdisciplinary programs. It enrolls more than 4,700 students and employs more than 150 faculty and researchers along with nearly 200 staff members. Its research enterprise generated $47 million in new research awards in Fiscal Year 2025. The college's strategic plan, Vision 2035, seeks to build the premier STEM workforce in accordance with three key objectives: Initiating lifelong student success, generating transformational and relevant knowledge, and becoming the destination of choice among educators, students, staff, industry, alumni and the community. As part of this, the college is increasing graduates and research productivity to expand its footprint as an entrepreneurial engineering platform serving Arkansas and the world. The college embraces its pivotal role in driving economic growth, fueling innovation and educating the next generation of engineers, computer scientists and data scientists to address current and future societal challenges.

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.