BEST-SELLING AUTHOR AND UA ALUMNUS ESTABLISHES SCHOLARSHIP IN MEMORY OF COLLEGE CLASSMATE

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - UA alumnus, and internationally acclaimed author, E. Lynn Harris has made a $25,000 gift to the University of Arkansas to establish a scholarship in the memory of his best friend, fraternity brother and former classmate, Carney L "Butch" Carroll, who died in 1995. The scholarship is designed to enhance the diversity of the student body.

The Carney "Butch" Carroll Endowed Scholarship will be in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, and will provide financial assistance to senior, pre-law students majoring in history or political science with a strong academic record and leadership abilities, whose ethnic, cultural or national background contributes to the diversity of the student body.

Carroll, born in Malvern, Ark., graduated from the U of A in 1977 receiving a BA in political science. An active participant in all phases of campus life, Butch, selected as one of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges once stated, "I feel my contributions are only significant in as much as they affect other students." He went on to pursue his life-long desire to practice law and upon graduation from the U of A, he earned his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Lonnie Williams, UA assistant vice chancellor for student affairs and the founder of the Black Alumni Society, said, "Having these scholarships available to minority students is extremely important for many reasons. They have stimulated black alumni interest in the University, and also encourage and support minority students’ attendance at University of Arkansas."

Harris, a 1977 journalism graduate with honors, was raised in Little Rock and now divides his time between Chicago and New York. He was president of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and holds the double distinction of being the first black cheerleader, and Razorback yearbook editor.

He is the author of six books, all of which have spent time on a variety of national bestseller lists, according to Doubleday. His book "If This World Were Mine" won the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence, and was nominated for the 1997 and 2000 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction.

In 1999 he was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by the Arkansas Alumni Association.

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "We are grateful that Mr. Harris has established this scholarship in memory of Butch Carroll. It’s a most fitting way to honor someone’s memory. And we are also pleased that this scholarship will help the University realize two key goals - to increase the quality and the diversity of the student body - by providing an educational opportunity for high-ability minority students. "

Before becoming a novelist, Harris sold computers for several large corporations. His literary career was launched when he quit his sales job to write his first novel, "Invisible Life." Unable to find a publisher, he self-published in 1991 and sold his books mostly to black-owned bookstores, beauty salons and book clubs before he was "discovered" by Anchor Books, a division of Random House Inc. Doubleday has since published his subsequent novels. To date, Harris’ novels have sold more than 2 million copies and continue to be a favorite in bookstores across the country and abroad.

Harris said, "It’s a tremendous honor to be able to give back to the University of Arkansas who gave me so much of their rich tradition while I was a student there. And while I regret it’s in the memory of my dear friend, Carney Butch Carroll, I know he would be proud that I would use my success as a novelist to further the education of our beloved Arkansas children."

In fiscal year 1999-2000, Fulbright College received $7,948,611 in private gift support.