Online Students Use Scholarship to Benefit Communities, Improve Lives

A nurse who wants to better serve her community.

A military veteran who wants to transfer skills he learned as a Marine to the supply chain management profession.

A single mother of three who has experienced homelessness and wants to become either a professor or a child advocacy social worker.

A government employee in strategic preparedness and response who wants to explore a new career in human resources management.

These University of Arkansas students studying in degree programs delivered online – and many more – received financial assistance through the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship awarded by the Global Campus.

The scholarship application period for next year is now open with the deadline set for Feb. 15.

 

Student Experiences

"(Receiving the scholarship) helped cover all my tuition so I'm not having to pay any out of pocket for tuition, so that's amazing," said Emily Burtnett, who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting program. "To complete this degree in accounting and earn a CPA license, I need scholarships to have more financial freedom and focus on my studies."

"The application process was very easy, very black and white," said Victoria Heigle, who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences program. "You basically tell your story and upload information. The best advice I can give is to be honest. I've read about people using AI programs to write their essay. A computer can never grasp the full depth of a person's feelings. Just explain your story in your own words. Don't be afraid to share things because you never know. This was the first time I could be proud about the hardships I've endured and overcome."

"Nobody else in my family had further education," said Colton Hinrichs, who earned a Professional Master of Applied Business Analytics degree. "I was a remote student working full time. It was essentially exactly a scholarship for what I am."

 

Scholarship's History

The scholarship honors a man long involved in adult education. W.E. Manning worked as director of credit studies at the U of A's Division of Continuing Education, which would later become Global Campus. He served the University of Arkansas for 19 years, providing leadership in the areas of independent study, national and international credit studies, and off-campus studies, according to a resolution adopted by the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees in his memory.

He also held leadership positions in the National University Continuing Education Association and the American Association of Colleges and Independent Studies.

Manning joined the U of A Division of Continuing Education in January 1975 as director of the department of independent study. He also served as director of the departments of national and international credit studies and off-campus studies. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in Liberal Arts from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now Louisiana Tech), and he graduated from high school in Hahnville, Louisiana, as valedictorian.

At the time of his death in 1993, Manning was pursuing a doctorate in adult education. The degree was awarded to him posthumously.

A group of his colleagues wanted to honor Manning with a scholarship designed to assist students in online degree programs. After it was established, the fund reached the endowment level in two years, and the first Manning scholarships were awarded to four students in 2018. Since then, the fund has grown significantly with 34 students receiving the scholarship for the 2025-26 academic year.

 

How to Apply

The scholarship named for Manning is open to students in both undergraduate and graduate online degree programs. Applicants fill out a scholarship application that includes an essay. The students are studying in online degree programs offered by the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; the School of Law; the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences; the Sam M. Walton College of Business; the College of Education and Health Professions; the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design; the Graduate School and International Education; and the College of Engineering.

Instructions and the scholarship application are available online. Applicants must submit the application by Feb. 15.

Students are encouraged to demonstrate financial need, academic merit or significant community service. Preference will be given to first-generation higher education seekers and Arkansas residents.

The Global Campus Scholarship Committee will review all applications and consider each applicant's information (academic achievement, résumé, essay, etc.). Scholarship decisions will be emailed to successful applicants approximately 90 days after the deadline.

 

Benefits

Scholarship recipients receive $2,000, broken into $1,000 each for the fall and spring semesters. A recipient must be enrolled to receive funds for a semester.

The majority of students in degree programs delivered online work full time and have other responsibilities.

According to a 2024 survey of U of A students in online programs, 81% were employed full time. Half of them were parenting and 70% owned their own homes. Recipients can use the scholarship to pay tuition and fees as well as to purchase books and other supplies.

 

Changing Lives

"[The Manning Scholarship has] definitely helped out a lot," said Saben Strode, who earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management degree. "I am trying to transition out of the military and aim to become some type of project manager at a corporate level with a construction company once I'm out. I have about two years left, so I didn't really want to extend anymore, which means I had to find my own way to pay out of pocket. My wife is completing a doctorate degree which has already generated an abundance of student loans, so being awarded the W.E. Manning Scholarship has been a huge burden off my chest. I can pay my own way through school without having to incur extra debt."

"I was really surprised, honestly," said Emily Hoisington, who graduated from the Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences program. "I worked very hard on the essay and questionnaire. The fact that the people who viewed them deemed me worthy enough to get this scholarship felt really great. And, of course, it's going to help with my college education journey. Not only did it give me a boost of confidence after the gap year that I had to take but also the money aspect of it. It's no surprise, college is expensive, so having that extra income coming in for this upcoming semester is allowing me to continue to do the online program at an affordable rate."

"I am very grateful for the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship because I would not have been able to go any farther into the program without it," said Amy Freeman, who was enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. "When I first went to school, I went to become a teacher. When I was in my fourth year and about to graduate, I decided that was not what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a nurse. I had used up all my Pell Grant at that time. If I didn't have this scholarship, I wouldn't be able to afford this college. I would have had to take out more loans or just wait. With this help, I can reach my goals in a timely manner. I am more than grateful for this opportunity."

You can read about more Manning Scholarship recipients and other students studying online on our website.

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