'Dr. Donna Lucas Graham Endowed Student Award' Created for Bumpers College Students

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Bumpers College students majoring in agricultural education, communication and technology will benefit from University Professor Donna L. Graham's gift.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Donna L. Graham, U of A University Professor of agricultural education, has created an endowed scholarship for students majoring in agricultural education, communication and technology.

Graham has been a faculty member in the Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences since 1985. She also serves as department's graduate coordinator.

Graham's gift has established the "Dr. Donna Lucas Graham Endowed Student Award." Up to three students each year in AECT will be selected for $1,000 awards. In addition to the endowment, additional funds were also provided to enable awarding of scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year.

"I received a scholarship to attend the U of A and without the scholarship, I may not have been able to finish my degree," said Graham. "I was a first-generation student struggling to pay for my education, so I want to assist students in the same situation. Many students need extra assistance and hopefully a scholarship will provide an avenue for them to continue their degree program."

The agricultural education, communication and technology degree includes concentrations in:

• Agricultural communications
• Agricultural education
• Agricultural leadership
• Agricultural systems technology management

"I believe education pays huge dividends and holds value in today's society," said Graham. "It provides for an improved way of life with social and economic benefits. I hope this scholarship will allow students to take advantage of experiences like study abroad, internships or undergraduate research."

In 2019, Graham was inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and named the nation's Outstanding Agricultural Educator by the American Association for Agricultural Education.

She has been with the U of A System since 1970, starting with the Cooperative Extension Service in Jefferson County. She was an area extension agent in Jonesboro from 1978-80, state extension specialist from 1983-85 and state extension education specialist from 1985-91.

In 1985, she moved to the Fayetteville campus as a faculty member and served 10 years as associate dean for academic programs. Graham has received the Spitze Land Grant Faculty Award for Excellence as well as recognition as a Distinguished Alumna from the U of A Alumni Association.

She received the Educator Award from the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture professional society in 2016. Graham is a past president of AAAE and also a Senior Fellow. She was elected to the U of A Teaching Academy in 2002, among other honors.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.