The University of Arkansas at Fayetteville’s alumni organization has for the first time awarded $1 million in scholarships in a single academic year, officials announced Monday.
In all, 442 UA students will share in the awards - which range from $500 to $6,500 - from about 10 Arkansas Alumni Association scholarship programs.
“We are awarding to future alumni,” said Robin January, the group’s scholarship coordinator, Monday evening.
The association formally began its scholarship efforts in 1990, when its endowment could support them, said spokesman Tammy Tucker. A total of $6,200 was awarded through nine scholarships, two of which were endowed.
Before the 1990-91 academic year, the group was fundraising and awarding some limited, one-time scholarships, she said.
Today, the alumni organization has a variety of scholarship programs, Tucker said. They are funded by endowments and one-time gifts and offer both renewable and one-year awards.
A student doesn’t have to be a “legacy” - the child or relative of a UA graduate and association member - to be eligible for many of the association’s scholarships. However, the group does give out the Alumni Legacy Scholarship, which offers a partial waiver of out-of-state tuition to qualifying students; those awards were not counted in this year’s $1 million total.
Another program, called Roads Scholars, raises $25 for scholarships whenever an Arkansas driver buys a Razorbacks license plate at a state revenue office, Tucker said. The program counts 25,000 license-plate holders and is supporting 56 scholars this year, according to the association’s website.
Meanwhile, the association’s Black Alumni Society is supporting seven scholars this year and its Latino Alumni Society is supporting three.
“Every year, we have a scholarship-review weekend,” Tucker said. Alumni and other volunteers help the the Alumni Association’s staff and board members review applications.
“It’s usually about 100 people,” she said, adding that some travel from as far as California to help.
Tucker said the most prestigious, highest association scholarship is awarded through the Endowed Scholars program, which is supporting two scholars this year.
“That covers the bulk of tuition,” Tucker said. “So it’s not a full ride.”
Tuition at UA for 2013-14 is $6,354. Full-ride scholarships typically cover at least tuition, fees, room and board, and in some cases, more costs.
In general, the scoring for the association’s scholarships factor in not just grade-point averages, but also leadership, character and academic history. The renewable scholarships include a specific GPA in their renewal criteria.
January said the total amount awarded by the association has increased 550 percent in the decade she’s overseen its scholarship program.
“This million dollar milestone would not be possible without our more than 29,000 alumni members, 25,000-plus Razorback collegiate license plate owners, alumni chapters and societies across the country, and generous donors who contribute to our named scholarship endowments,” she said in a news release.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 10/29/2013