FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — Eighteen University of Arkansas students were honored this past week for exemplifying the outstanding attributes that Brandon Burlsworth possessed. Each student received a $5,000 Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarship.

Jim Lindsey, University Board of Trustees member and chairman of Lindsey Management Company, Fayetteville, Ark., and Stanley E. Reed, University Board of Trustees member and agricultural businessman, led a statewide effort this summer to establish a fund for the memorial scholarships. The fundraising began with a series of nine Brandon Burlsworth memorial golf tournaments played around the state, and resulted in excess of $300,000 for the scholarships.

Burlsworth, a football All-American at the University, was tragically killed on April 28 in an automobile accident while returning to his home in Harrison from the Fayetteville campus. His life was characterized by high moral standards and unimpeachable integrity on and off the football field.

Lindsey said the scholarships commemorate Burlsworth as an accomplished athlete and as someone who excelled in the classroom.

The scholarship recipients include from the J. Williams Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences - John Cooksey, Elkins; James Harrington, Bentonville; and Virginia Lewis, Hazen; from the College of Engineering - David Ross, Conway; from the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences - Caramie Edwards, Waldron; from the College of Education and Health Professionals - Lindsay Hennarichs, Harrison; Pamela Hull, Gentry; Kimberly Lucy, Siloam Springs; from the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration - Linda Brown, West Fork; F. Clint Elcan, Harrison; Heather Grant, Heber Springs; Corey Horton, Marshall; Jenise Huffman-Parker, Springdale; Laura Lacy, Fayetteville; Lela Lyman, Huntsville; Brandy McChristian, Huntsville; and Kate Moffitt, Rogers; and from the School of Architecture - Gerald Fason, Hot Springs.

Requirements for these scholarships include being a resident of Arkansas or a son or daughter of a UA alumnus; being a full-time student at the University of Arkansas; completing 30 hours of study prior to the awarding of the scholarship; and having a minimum grade point average of 3.4.

In addition to the 18 academic scholarships, a $10,000 Burlsworth Memorial football scholarship is to be awarded to a walk-on player and will be presented at a later date.

Burlsworth was a disciplined player on and off the field, one who did not drink, smoke or use foul language. His trademark on the field, black horn-rimmed glasses, gave him the look of an intellectual, and he became the first Arkansas player to have earned a master’s degree before playing his last game. Razorback fans will remember Burlsworth for anchoring the offensive line that produced a 9-3 winning record and a trip to the Citrus bowl. On April 17, 1999, he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of NFL draft, the 63^rd selection overall.

Reed said, "With this scholarship, we want to reward students who, like Brandon, come to Fayetteville with little scholarship assistance but prove themselves exemplary in their academic achievement and moral conduct."

Chancellor John A. White added, "The University was honored to be a part of the effort to create the Brandon Burlsworth Memorial Scholarship Fund. The scholarships give the gift of opportunity to these students who, like Brandon, are highly effective student leaders with a passion for excellence."

Of the over $300,000 raised by Lindsey and Reed, part went to the initial scholarships and the rest went into an endowment. The ultimate goal is to build an endowment of $2 million to support the Burlsworth Memorial Scholarships in perpetuity.

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