The Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation, Inc. has given $50,000 to endow a science education scholarship at the University of Central Arkansas.
The Willard and Pat Walker Bachelor’s in Science Education Scholarship Fund will aid the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in recruiting and retaining students who wish to become science teachers. Students who plan to teach in the life sciences or physical sciences are eligible for the scholarship.
The science education scholarship was established in 2010 with contributions from current and retired faculty and staff within the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The $50,000 gift from the Willard and Pat Walker Charitable Foundation Inc. will enable the university to make scholarship awards from this fund in perpetuity.
“The ability to give greater financial support to these students than we can currently offer will go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal of increasing the number of science and mathematics teachers who graduate from UCA,” said Dr. Steve Runge, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. “Our K-12 schools in Arkansas need more teachers in these areas and we are going to do everything possible to ensure that our graduation numbers go up and that the science and mathematics teachers that we send out into the schools are of the highest caliber. We greatly appreciate the Walker Foundation for supporting us in our science education efforts.”
The scholarship with be awarded for the first time this fall. Students interested in applying for the scholarship should contact the Office of the Dean in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at (501) 450-3199.
