Red, White and True Reflection: Staff Senate Scholarship Sees Boost in Funding

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Recent recipients of the Staff Senate Scholarship.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- As faculty and staff enjoy time with family and friends this Thanksgiving, members of the Staff Senate want to say "thanks-for-giving" to the Staff Senate Scholarship!

The University of Arkansas Staff Senate Scholarship Fund began 13 years ago and was originally created to offer one staff scholarship per year. However, thanks to private donations and a significant match from the Chancellor’s Society Fund, it has grown into a robust fund that has already impacted 70 student staff members who have received the scholarship and worked toward or graduated with degrees from the university.

“A lot of the money comes from staff through the Red, White & True faculty and staff giving program,” said Trish Watkins, chair of Staff Senate, who notes that approximately $30,000 in private donations have been received from faculty and staff on campus over the years.

“This fund is designated to support the staff on the University of Arkansas campus who are seeking degrees,” Watkins said. “Every dollar raised goes toward assisting them with the educations they seek and bolstering our program to increase its longevity. Thanks to the generous gifts from our faculty and staff, we’ll be able to give out more scholarships than ever before. It’s exciting to see the amount of commitment from across campus.”

Three years ago, when the Staff Senate Scholarship Fund reached its minimum endowment level of $25,000, Chancellor G. David Gearhart announced that the endowed total would be matched with private gift dollars from the Chancellor’s Society Fund. This year, Gearhart announced that another $20,000 would be transferred from the Chancellor’s Society Fund to support Staff Senate scholarships. Only the gifts designated specifically to this fund will be used to build on the achievement of the Staff Senate.

“It is my pleasure to continue supporting this worthy scholarship program, as well as the educational endeavors of our staff,” said Gearhart. “The Staff Senate has worked for years to raise funds for scholarships at the university, and many of our own staff have contributed to making it happen. This is more important than ever, as the university seeks to increase the number of bachelor’s degree-holders in the state of Arkansas. The Staff Senate has done an excellent job encouraging University of Arkansas staff members to continue their educations and makes it easier for them to do so. When we have a more educated workforce, it makes us a stronger university for our students.”

Staff members planning to take classes next year can already apply for the scholarship. Applicants must be 100 percent appointed, full-time staff members on the Fayetteville campus for at least one year prior to the scholarship deadline, which will be announced in the spring.

More information about the Staff Senate Scholarship, including the online application, can be found on the Staff Senate Scholarship website. Interested employees may also contact Elon Turner, scholarship committee chair, at (479) 575-8498.

As faculty and staff start thinking about their year-end giving, please consider contributing to the Staff Senate Scholarship Fund.  Gifts can be made online or through payroll deduction, and donations made all year long count in the annual Red, White & True employee giving program.