New Boyer Fellow Selected in Walton College

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Forrest Roth, the son of Richard and Cary Roth, Rogers, Ark., has been selected as the ninth Boyer Fellow in the Sam M. Walton College at the University of Arkansas.

In 1999, alumni Tommy and Sylvia Boyer established the Boyer Fellowship to encourage outstanding students to pursue an education in the Walton College.

The fellowship is designed to encourage and attract outstanding Arkansas students who want to study business at the university. To become a Boyer Fellow, the student must demonstrate financial need and the potential to be a leader. The gift commitment provides the student with $12,500 a year for tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, travel and special equipment.

Roth graduated with a 3.905 grade point average this May from Rogers High School. He was an AP Scholar in 2007, a member of the National Honor Society in the 11th and 12th grades, and a semifinalist in the Ayn Rand Institute essay contest in 2007. Roth was also involved in track as a member of the cross country team, which was the state champions in 2005, 2006 and 2007; the indoor track state champions in 2008 and overall state champions in 2007 and 2008. Roth won first place in the 16- to 19-year-old division in Little Rock Marathon in 2007.

I’m excited to attend the nationally ranked Walton College,” said Roth. “Its faculty is exceptional and student-centered. The college’s technology is state of the art. I chose the Walton College because it provides students with a great mix of experience and education.”

At the time they made the gift for the fellowships, the Boyers said, “We’ve been very interested in helping young people, particularly those who have financial barriers in getting a quality education.” The program also supports three other Boyer fellows studying in the Walton College, including Robert Ivers, Texarkana; Amanda Wyatt, Fort Smith; and Sarah Wells, Arkadelphia. Previous Boyers Fellows include Tommy Vo of Fort Smith, Adrienne Jung of Van Buren, Brandy Wells of West Fork, Chenin Vadalma of Hot Springs and Kimberly Wilkes of Fort Smith.

The Boyers, who split time between Amarillo, Texas, and Fayetteville, have been long-time supporters of the University of Arkansas. Tommy Boyer, B.S.B.A. ’64, served as chair of the Walton College Dean’s Executive Advisory Committee and chair of the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame board. Mr. Boyer was presiding co-chair of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century from July 1, 2000, until June 30, 2002, and resumed service as presiding co-chair in July 2004. He led the campaign, which raised $1 billion for the University of Arkansas.

Mrs. Boyer, B.S.E. ’63, also served with her husband on the Campaign Steering Committee and was vice chair of the committee’s College/School/Unit and Regional Subcommittee. Mr. Boyer is chief executive officer of Micro Images in Amarillo.

In the past, the Boyers had also established seven endowed scholarships across the campus. For instance, in 1989, Mrs. Boyer established the Thomas E. Boyer Scholarship in the Walton College as a 25^th wedding anniversary gift to her husband. He reciprocated with the Sylvia Ann Boyer Scholarship in the College of Education and Health Professions.