The University of Central Arkansas honored John L. Ward among a host of family and friends during a luncheon on Tuesday as the UCA Foundation announced the John Ward Scholarship Fund reached endowment level.
Ward, a former campaign manager and advisor to both Winthrop Rockefeller and Win Paul Rockefeller as well a former editor of the Log Cabin Democrat, served on the UCA staff for eight years. From 1988 to 1996, he was vice president for public affairs, a journalism instructor and president of the UCA Foundation.
Upon his retirement in 1996, a roast was organized to celebrate his career and to begin raising funds for a journalism scholarship in his honor.
Recently, the fund reached $25,000, which is endowment level for a UCA Foundation scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to a journalism student who has completed 60 credit hours and has at least a 2.75 grade point average.
During the luncheon, President Lu Hardin unveiled a plaque honoring the scholarship fund for achieving endowment level.
Once a fund is endowed, it is permanently established with the foundation. Only the interest earned from the fund is used for scholarship support.
Ward, who was a UCA (then Arkansas State Teachers College) student in the early to mid-1950s, said he was only able to attend college because of a scholarship.
?I didn?t have one red cent to go to college. I know the value of a scholarship, even a modest one,? Ward said. ?Betty and I are delighted to reach the point that we can see this scholarship reach maturity and soon be awarded to a deserving journalism student.?
?The John Ward Scholarship Fund is critical in that it is named after someone who is a legend in Arkansas politics, in journalism and in public affairs,? President Hardin said. ?We are proud of you, John, and we are proud of your association with the University of Central Arkansas.?
For more information about the scholarship fund or to make a contribution, please contact the UCA Foundation at (501) 450-5288.
