Ten U of A Freshmen Awarded Patterson Teacher-Education Scholarships

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James Patterson

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ten freshmen planning to major in elementary education at the University of Arkansas will receive the James Patterson Teacher Education Scholarship established last year by the internationally acclaimed New York Times best-selling author.

James Patterson created the scholarships last year with a gift of $48,000 to the College of Education and Health Professions to fund eight scholarships in the amount of $6,000 each. This summer, he doubled the amount to provide for a total of 16 scholarships this year. Two students of the eight who received the scholarship last year changed their majors so 10 scholarships were awarded to new freshmen.

Patterson, who also has created a website called readkiddoread.com, is focused on promoting literacy. He writes mysteries and children’s books.

“I do everything I can to try and get kids reading, but the most important piece is helping turn out better teachers with these scholarships,” Patterson said. “The students selected for Arkansas’ first class of Patterson scholars already have big plans – some hope to be elementary school teachers, one to be a school librarian, and one even wants to open an education center in Nicaragua – so why not keep a good thing going?”

Patterson initially contacted Chancellor G. David Gearhart to discuss the possibility of the scholarship.

“We are excited to announce this second group of recipients thanks to the generosity of Mr. Patterson,” Gearhart said. “We appreciate his confidence in us to double his gift and help twice as many students who want to become teachers and spread the gift of literacy.”

“Our faculty and staff who reviewed these applications had difficult decisions to make,” said Tom Smith, dean of the College of Education and Health Professions. “The applicants included many recent high school graduates who, at such a young age, already are passionate about their desire to help children learn to read, and many of them had extensive experience helping out in classrooms.”

The 10 students who will receive the scholarship this year:

• Catherine Crawford of Maumelle, a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy.
• Aubrey Edwards of Prairie Grove, a graduate of Prairie Grove High School.
• Kaylee Hamilton of Rogers, a graduate of Heritage High School.
• Arllyn Hernandez of Rogers, a graduate of Heritage High School.
• Allison Overdorf of Prairie Grove, a graduate of Greenland High School.
• Erin Phelan of Little Rock, a graduate of Central High School.
• Katherine Rembold of Chesterfield, Mo., a graduate of Parkway Central High School.
• Anne Schexnayder of Little Rock, a graduate of Central High School.
• Makayla Terry of Lincoln, a graduate of Prairie Grove High School.
• Madison Wortsmith of Little Rock, a graduate of Mount St. Mary Academy.