Endowed Scholarships Established In Two UA Colleges

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Brothers and UA alumni G. Curtis Harris and Stephen L. Harris of Norman, Okla., surprised their parents this past Christmas with unique gifts.

They honored Dr. Grover C. Harris Jr. and Sara Rhoades Harris of Fayetteville with a donation of $55,000 to the University of Arkansas to set up two endowed scholarships: the Dr. Grover C. Harris Endowed Scholarship in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the Sara Rhoades Harris Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education and Health Professions.

Dr. Harris is professor emeritus of animal and poultry sciences at the University of Arkansas where he began teaching in 1960. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees from West Virginia University and a Ph.D. in avian physiology from the University of Maryland. Dr. Harris received the Poultry Science Association Research Award in 1963 and is an elected fellow of the Association. He was honored with the UA Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award in 1969. He became professor emeritus in 1991.

Mrs. Harris graduated from the University in 1974, coincidentally, the same year her son Curt graduated. She began working toward her degree in elementary education in the College of Education and Health Professions while working at Fayetteville High School. After graduation, she taught elementary school in the Fayetteville school system until she retired in 1993.

UA Chancellor John White said, "The Harris brothers’ surprise gift to their parents will yield long-term benefits for our students in the Bumpers College and the College of Education and Health Professions. We are grateful for their desire to help these colleges attract and retain highly talented students."

Dr. and Mrs. Harris not only have long-time associations with the University, but they also have three sons who graduated from the U of A. Curt Harris received a B.S.Ch.E. degree from the U of A in 1974. He is the president of Octagon Resources Inc., an energy firm in Norman, Okla. Stephen Harris graduated from the University in 1982 with a B.S. degree in geology from the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and also works for Octagon Resources. Joseph Kyle Harris graduated with a B.S.Ch.E. in 1974 from the U of A and works for Exxon-Mobil in Houston.

Curt Harris said, "It was such an emotional experience when we told our parents. They were both shocked and delighted. We wanted their names to live on and honor their accomplishments."

Stephen Harris added, "They worked hard to give me and my brothers a college education. We wanted to give back to the University and enable other people to have the opportunity for this kind of education."

Criteria for the Bumpers College scholarship specify that the student must have 4-H Club experience and be a full-time undergraduate in the department of poultry science and adhere to the department’s application guidelines and standards. The scholarship will be for one academic year and will be renewable, providing the recipient maintains a satisfactory scholastic performance.

Consideration for the College of Education and Health Professions scholarship will be given to an outstanding, full-time elementary education undergraduate student within the college.

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