Global Campus Awards Scholarships to 27 Students in Online Degree Programs
July 6, 2023 | by Heidi Wells, Global Campus
The University of Arkansas Global Campus named 27 students to receive W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarships totaling $51,000 in the 2023-24 academic year.
The Manning scholarship helps support U of A students studying in online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Many of these students remain in their communities, work full time and take care of their families while earning a degree.
"The University of Arkansas’ academic colleges offer more online degree programs each year, expanding access to higher education for people regardless of location," said Cheryl Murphy, vice provost for distance education and leader of the Global Campus. "The Manning scholarship given by the Global Campus helps us remove another barrier to education – that of financial need. We continue to grow and support this scholarship, and we celebrate the Manning Scholars who are improving their lives and strengthening their communities."
For each of the 24 awardees who will receive a $2,000 scholarship, it will be distributed $1,000 per fall and spring semester. The remaining three awardees are graduating in December so they will receive an award totaling $1,000. They are studying in online degree programs offered by the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; the Sam M. Walton College of Business; the College of Education and Health Professions; and the College of Engineering.
Manning Scholarship Recipients
The recipients, their hometowns and their online degree programs:
- Janet Bean, Maben, Mississippi, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Audrey Briggs, Fayetteville, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Christina Castorena, Fort Smith, Professional Master of Applied Business Analytics
- Jayalakshmi Chinta, Centerton, Master of Science in Operations Management
- Amy Freeman, Corning, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Tressyn Gehl, Campbellsburg, Indiana, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Jennifer Heaslet, West Fork, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Emily Hoisington, Fayetteville, Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences
- Raegan Holyfield, Bentonville, Bachelor of Arts in English
- Brittney Laney, Springdale, Master of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning
- Saravanan Mani, Fayetteville, Master of Science in Engineering Management
- Jennifer Miller, DeWitt, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Julia Moura, Hot Springs, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in General Business
- Olawumi Olasesan, Houston, Texas, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Ruth Parcells, Fayetteville, Professional Master of Applied Business Analytics
- Emma Raines, Newport, Tennessee, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management
- Cassie Riddick, Siloam Springs, Bachelor of Arts in Communication
- Judith Sanders, Jacksonville, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Mycayla Sawyer, Farmington, Master of Education in Human Resource and Workforce Development Education
- Leynna Schamp, Lonoke, Master of Science in Operations Management
- Hattie Shelton, Fayetteville, Executive Master of Business Administration
- Beth Shironaka, Texarkana, Master of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning
- Kaitrin Swinford, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences
- Desiree Tibbs, Rogers, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Laura Wenger, Hot Springs, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Rachel Will, Pine Bluff, Master of Science in Human Environmental Sciences
- Hasnaini Wood, Fayetteville, Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies
The Global Campus scholarship committee selected recipients based on their financial need, academic merit and significant community service. Preference was given to first-generation higher-education seekers and Arkansas residents.
About the Scholarship
The number of Manning scholarship recipients grew to 29 in 2022, which is more than seven times the number given in the scholarship’s inaugural year in 2018, when four scholarships were awarded. In recent years, the Global Campus invested more than $1 million in the scholarship’s endowed fund. Generous donors have added to that amount through fundraising efforts such as "All in for Arkansas."
Friends and co-workers of W.E. Manning established the scholarship fund with about $4,000 soon after Manning died in 1993. At the time of his death, Manning was studying in a U of A doctoral program and managing independent study programs, a forerunner of today’s self-paced online courses.
Learn more about U of A online students on the Student Experience page of the U of A ONLINE website, where online degree programs are showcased. Anyone can donate to the scholarship fund online.
Heidi Wells
Content Strategist
Heidi Wells is the content strategist for the Global Campus at the University of Arkansas and editor of The Online Learner. Her writing spans more than 30 years as a communicator at the U of A and a reporter and editor at Arkansas newspapers. Wells earned two degrees from the U of A: a master's in 2013 and a bachelor's in 1988.
Wells can be reached at heidiw@uark.edu or 479-575-7239.
W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarships
Scholarship is for University of Arkansas students enrolled in online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. They can apply for up to $2,000 per academic year to use for tuition, fees, and college-related costs.
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