Couple Donates $340,000 to Endow Messner Scholarship in Journalism

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Michael and Jenny Messner of Summit, N.J., have given $340,000 to Fulbright College to endow the Elizabeth Barnes Messner Scholarship in Journalism, named for Michael Messner’s mother, a 1938 graduate who was the first woman to be elected business manager of the Arkansas Traveler.

Elizabeth Messner, currently an Atlanta, Ga., resident, was active in campus life while at the U of A, serving as president of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and Pi Kappa, the women’s professional journalism sorority. She was also president of the Pan-Hellenic Council and a member of Octagon, an honorary organization for outstanding senior women, and of Blackfriars, the national honorary fraternity for drama.

“This scholarship will make a difference in the lives of generations of journalism students,” said Donald Bobbitt, dean of Fulbright College. “We are most grateful for the generosity of the Messners, who have chosen to honor the talents and contributions of Elizabeth Messner through this scholarship.”

Messner lived at Carnall Hall for seven years. Her mother, Emma Barnes, was the matron of Carnall Hall. When Messner returned to campus in September 2003 for the rededication of Carnall Hall, she said her mother would be pleased by the renovation. 

“What a wonderful memorial this is to women in the teaching profession,” she told a reporter from the Northwest Arkansas Times. “The developers maintained the ambiance of what Carnall was. They kept it exactly like it was.”

Messner’s uncle was Vol Walker, an 1877 UA graduate and former member of the Arkansas legislature who successfully championed the cause to keep his alma mater in Fayetteville when some in the state were working to move the university elsewhere.

“By making this very generous gift, the Messners both honor Mrs. Elizabeth Messner and her appreciation for excellence in writing, and support students who are pursuing the goal of being good writers,” said Patsy Watkins, chair of journalism. “The Messner Scholarship will be the centerpiece of the journalism department's efforts to help well-deserving students get a good foundation here at the University of Arkansas.”

The Elizabeth Barnes Messner ’38 Scholarship in Journalism will support a junior or senior undergraduate in journalism and be awarded based on high academic achievement and proven writing ability. The scholarship, which will pay for tuition, books and fees for one year, may be renewed for a second year.