• W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship Recipient •

Turning a Passion for Event Planning into a Lifelong Career

From an early age, Alex Robinson knew she had a talent for bringing people and plans together. Whether she is arranging a special gathering or organizing a major celebration, event planning has always been at the heart of her ambitions. As a student studying online at the University of Arkansas, she's turning that excitement into a career plan, one virtual class at a time.

"Event planning is what I want to do," Robinson said. "My biggest goal in life is to open my own event planning business and be able to do corporate event planning. I want to be the person that people call and say, 'Hey, I'm doing this,' and I can say, 'OK, I got it—I'll take care of it for you.'"

Robinson, 28, is on track to make her dream a reality by combining an online BSBA in Human Resources Management major with an Event Management minor.

Like many non-traditional students, Robinson paused her college education to start a family. After her children reached school age, she attended Northwest Arkansas Community College to start her education again. Following her graduation there, she set her sights on the University of Arkansas to reach her goals with a major in human resources and a minor in event planning.

"I found out U of A offers an in-person hospitality management degree, but it wasn't available online," she said. "Then I discovered they have the event management minor, which was exactly what I needed. Since that's what I really want to do with my life, I decided to add it."

Returning to college came after serious conversations with her husband about their long-term goals. Several large obstacles stood between Robinson and in-person enrollment at the U of A—limited access to child care and roots in Centerton, an hour's drive from the Fayetteville campus, being chief among them.

Online learning offered a sensible and affordable path forward.

"The online option gave us the opportunity to afford school and not have to commute," she explained. "It's flexible, and I can be there for my kids while still working toward my degree."

That flexibility has been essential for Robinson. She previously worked as a full-time bar manager in Bentonville while taking classes at NWACC, but she eventually left her job to focus on parenting. With the ability to complete coursework on her own schedule, she now successfully combines her household responsibilities with her academic progress.

"I don't have to worry about taking a specific set time out of my day to do a class," she said. "Instead, I can do it at my own pace and be there for my kids when they need me."

She discovered the University of Arkansas' programs through a simple web search, looking for schools in Arkansas that offered both a solid business degree and a path toward event planning. The dual offering of human resources and event management sealed the decision for Robinson.

One of her favorite aspects of the program has been the ability to choose courses that serve both her career goals and personal interests, she recalled.

"This degree plan has been really great," she said. "I love that I can focus on what I want to learn, like financial planning. It's going to help me in my future career—and in life."

She has also found inspiration through faculty members such as Robert W. Powell, a lecturer in the Hospitality Management program of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, who teaches some of the event planning courses.

"He's done everything I want to do with my life," Robinson said. "He actually responds, takes interest in your background, and makes class interesting. We had whole conversations about my past job in the bar industry. It was fun to learn from someone who is really involved in the field."

Before returning to school, Robinson spent years in the restaurant industry, working her way up from server to bar manager. Her experiences in customer service, team management, and the food and beverage industry led to her interests in coordinating large-scale events and exploring hotel and corporate planning.

"I want to stay in the hospitality world, just in a different capacity," she said. "This degree is going to open doors—especially for the types of jobs that require a degree to even apply. It's going to give me the credentials to pursue what I've always wanted."

Robinson is one of 35 recipients of the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship for online U of A students for the 2025-2026 academic year. The scholarship began with small gifts from many people who passionately believe in the transformative power of education. It was created in 2018 to financially assist students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate online degree programs.

Robinson applied for the scholarship through the university's financial aid office. The longer essay required for the Manning scholarship let her tell her story in depth—something she found surprisingly helpful.

"It was probably the easiest scholarship to apply for," Robinson said. "The essay let me express my feelings about school and why it matters to me. I really appreciated that."

Receiving the scholarship was more than just financial support—it was a boost of confidence at a critical time.

"I'm not working right now, so paying for school has been stressful," she said. "I am very, very grateful to be awarded this scholarship because it will help me pursue my academic goals, and I think it's really awesome that there are scholarships in place to help non-traditional students be able to finish their schooling."

To other non-traditional students or parents considering online education, Robinson offers thoughtful advice: take your time, know your goals, and don't be afraid to be authentic.

"Go through the course catalog and figure out what you want to do," she said. "Take your time to build a major and find the courses that count towards it, classes that you want to know more about, that interest you. The U of A and your advisers will help you shape your degree to fit your dreams. And when it comes to scholarships, just be yourself. That's what people want to see."

With every credit earned, Alex Robinson is bringing her future into sharper focus—one class, one event plan, one day at a time.