Alumna Bequeaths Funds To Establish Scholarship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - A Fayetteville teacher’s $100,000 bequest will establish a scholarship in her name in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, University of Arkansas.

The Inez Meadors McNeal Scholarship will be awarded annually to a junior- or senior-level student concentrating in the child development area of the human development and family sciences major, which is offered by the School of Human Environmental Sciences in Bumpers College.

Mary Ella Earle, vice president of Arvest Asset Management, executor of McNeal’s estate, said, "Dr. McNeal was committed to education. When she retired from being a public school teacher in Northwest Arkansas, she took up tutoring and was always interested in education and children."

McNeal earned three degrees from the University of Arkansas: a bachelor’s in education in 1953, master of education in 1954 and a doctor of education in vocational education in 1976. She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the Daughters of the American Revolution and Central United Methodist Church.

UA Chancellor John White said, "We are grateful that Dr. McNeal chose to honor the University in her estate planning by making provisions for scholarship support in an area she held dear. Dr. McNeal’s commitment to education is obvious by her own educational background. Her bequest will go a long way toward providing much needed scholarship opportunities for University of Arkansas students and help us emerge as a nationally competitive student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world."

McNeal died this past February.

This gift will be counted toward the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century’s $300 Million Challenge, the University’s effort to raise $300 million for academic support by June 30, 2005. As of July 31, 2002, The Challenge total stands at $33.7 million. Campaign funds are being used to help the University achieve its vision for the twenty-first century. Campaign funds are being raised for six critical areas of need: endowed faculty positions and scholarship funds, academic programs, University Libraries, academic facilities and equipment and annual giving.