• W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship Recipient •

Building a Future at the U of A: Undergraduate to Graduate and Beyond

Balancing a full-time job at the University of Arkansas, graduate coursework and wedding plans, Jesús Avila Rojas is steadily working toward his next career goal while continuing to support students like himself.

While working full-time as a financial aid specialist in the U of A's Financial Aid Office, Avila Rojas, 27, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from the Sam M. Walton College of Business with minors in International Business and Spanish. Having since been promoted to scholarship program coordinator, he is now pursuing a Master of Science in Supply Chain Management delivered online and expects to graduate in May 2026.

"I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a bachelor's degree in supply chain in 2020," Avila Rojas recalled. "To this day, I still remember all the great connections I made with students that came from different backgrounds compared to myself. To me, this is one of the most valuable aspects of being a Razorback."

After a few years' break following his undergraduate studies, Avila Rojas decided to continue on to the graduate level. Earning a master's degree will make him stand out in the eyes of potential employers, he said.

"I felt like I needed something after earning my bachelor's degree some years ago to refresh my mind on the topic, and to learn the newest technology, especially since I want to continue in supply chain later on in life," he said. "A lot of the concepts are still there in my mind, obviously, since I studied supply chain for four years, but the master's degree will make me look more competitive when I start applying for these corporate jobs."

As a Fayetteville resident and on-campus employee, Avila Rojas could have earned his master's degree in-person. However, the online option fit much better with his life and work. Between the demands of work, school and his upcoming marriage to his fiancée, any time saved is valuable, he said.

"I was initially interested in doing a master's in marketing in Fall 2024, but that program was brand new and only offered in person full time," Avila Rojas said. "That is when I made the decision to do a master's in supply chain as this program offered the flexibility I was looking for. I don't have a set schedule to attend in-person classes. I can open my book or laptop whenever and wherever and go the pace that I want."

As for where he wants to go in his career, Avila Rojas is leaving his options open.

 "I potentially see myself moving either to a different position here on campus or possibly seeking a corporate job," he said. "I don't know how I feel about that yet. I'm kind of stuck right now whether to keep working at the U of A. I love working here. I love helping students who are going through a similar situation as me, with all of them asking the same question: 'How can I afford college in the current economy?' But also, my first goal for getting the master's degree was to move to corporate. So I think I'm stuck right now, but ultimately earning this master's degree will either help me get a better position here on campus or it will land me that corporate job that I wanted when I started this program."

Avila Rojas attended Sheridan High School in Sheridan, Arkansas, where he graduated in the top 10 of his class, he said. After a tour of several universities, including the U of A in Fayetteville, he fell in love with the campus.

"I think that was just a wow factor for me," Avila Rojas said. "I started my undergrad here at the U of A in Fayetteville as an in-person engineering student but quickly realized that was not for me. My second semester here, I made the switch to business. As I approached graduation, I joined the entire student population in transitioning from in-person to fully online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As many of you may remember, when COVID hit, many companies went into a hiring freeze. I graduated at the start of the pandemic. As a result, I was unemployed for several months, until the staff at the U of A's financial aid office offered me a full remote position within the call center. For this kind action, I will forever be grateful."

Avila Rojas 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.

"I'm the first one in my family to graduate; my siblings never graduated from high school," he said. "I believe that always educating yourself is so important to your personal growth, not just for professional growth. In the economy that we live in right now, sometimes it's hard with our salaries. Getting this scholarship opportunity, it just kind of pulled a weight off my shoulders."