$50,000 in scholarships awarded to college students by Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs

Thirty-four students who are starting or returning to college in the fall have been awarded $50,000 by the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs.

There are 13 new recipients of financial assistance and 21 renewal scholarship recipients. The clubs honored the 2023-24 scholarship recipients Monday during the June board meeting and luncheon.

Since 1985, the scholarship program has granted 947 awards to 387 individual club members, totaling over $1 million in assistance.

Applicants must have participated in the clubs' activities as members or volunteers for a minimum of two years. Financial need, community service and academic excellence are also key components of selections.

The scholarship program is one of the largest of any Boys & Girls Club organization in the country, said Beth Presley, CEO of the clubs.

“Our scholarship program has grown immensely since the first scholarships awarded. Thanks to the support of our dedicated donors and the hard work of our members, we look forward to growing the program to serve even more Club Kids in the years to come,” Presley said.

This year’s recipients plan to attend institutions across the nation, from the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith to John Hopkins University, and will major in a breadth of fields, including dental hygiene, business, elementary education, engineering and neuroscience.

Students who are continuing their education locally will have scholarships matched 100% through the UAFS Foundation.

The university’s new match initiative launched this year, demonstrating the institution’s commitment to support the civic organizations in the River Valley.

This year, both new and continuing scholarship recipients will receive matches, though in future years the UAFS match will apply to the first-year recipients only. This change is aimed to address the financial challenges of the first year in school and help the students earn Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship awards.

Blake Rickman, vice chancellor of advancement at UAFS, said, "These scholarships are game-changers. They open a world of opportunity for students who might not otherwise have been able to access higher education, and who will go on to be major players in our regional economy.”

Rickman is a Fort Smith native and a former Boys & Girls Club member and scholarship recipient.

“It's incredibly rewarding to see these young people taking their first steps into their future careers, and it is so energizing to know that the 10 students in this group who will be attending UAFS are the future leaders of our community,” Rickman said.

Hugh Maurras, chair of the scholarship program committee said, “We put a lot of time into growing this program and ensuring that the kids receive the support they need. We are proud to serve Fort Smith youths with this gift.”

One scholarship recipient, J.T. Thorne, has been a member of the clubs' Jeffrey Unit since he was 5 years old. He is now works at the Evans Unit while he earns his degree in business administration from Henderson State University.

“As a member and employee, this award is important because I feel like this is the Boys & Girls Club investing in me to create my own future. This is them believing in me,” Thorne said.

New college scholarship recipients: 

Valerie Alvarado-Mora: A first-year student at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, she plans to major in dental hygiene. She graduated from Northside High School. Currently, she is working at the Stephens Unit. She received the Wade Walker Family Scholarship.

Luke Barrie : A first-year student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he plans to major in business administration. He is a graduate of Southside High School and was awarded Miller Family Foundation scholarship.

Gordon Castlin: A first-year student at Ottawa University in Kansas, he plans to major in business. A Southside High School graduate, he received the Sean Amos Memorial Scholarship.

Kya Cole: A first-year student at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, she plans to major in dental hygiene. She is a graduate of Northside High School and was awarded the Janice H. & Robert M. Powell Scholarship.

Alex Crowder: A first-year student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, she plans to major in elementary education. She was recognized as the Evans Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and captured the Arkansas State Youth of the Year honor. A Southside High School graduate, she is currently working at the Goldtrap Unit and coached dance and cheer last fall. She is the recipient of the Kim & John McFarland Scholarship.

Sebastian Garcia:  A first-year student at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, he plans to major in exercise science. He is a graduate of Northside High School and was awarded the Meek Family Foundation Scholarship.

Kaiden Kuykendall: A first-year student at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, he plans to major in engineering. He graduated from Southside High School and received the Janice H. & Robert M. Powell Scholarship.

Mekel Miller:  A first-year student at the at Arkansas Tech University at Russellville, she plans to major in psychology. The Youth of the Year from Jeffrey’s Unit, she graduated from Northside High School and is the recipient of the Wade Walker Family Scholarship.

Evan Morland:  A first-year student at Arkansas Tech University at Ozark, he plans to specialize in HVAC. He graduated from Southside High School and received the Danielle & David Dixion Scholarship.

Alexander Naegle: A first-year student at Ouachita Baptist University, he plans to major in business. He graduated from Southside High School and was awarded the Bobby Needham Sr. Memorial Scholarship.

Griffin Weindel: A first-year student at the University of Tulsa, he plans to major in economics. He graduated from Southside High School and received the Vic Forsgren Memorial Scholarship.

Matthew Wewers A first-year student at the University of Oklahoma, he plans to major in aviation. He graduated from Subiaco Academy and received the Joel Gist Memorial Scholarship.

Jaden Williams: A first-year student at John Hopkins University, he plans to major in neuroscience. He graduated from the Arkansas School for Math, Science & the Arts and was awarded the Vic Forsgren Memorial Scholarship.

College Scholarship renewal recipients: 

Addi Branham: A sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in dental hygiene, she was the 2022 Evans Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year. She graduated from Southside High School and received the Janice H. & Robert M. Powell Scholarship.

Marlon Briggs:  A senior at the University of Arkansas majoring in recreation and sports management, he was the 2021 Goldtrap Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and the Arkansas State Youth of the Year. He graduated from Southside High School and received the Kim & John McFarland Scholarship.

Grace Browning: A senior at the University of Central Arkansas majoring in nursing, she graduated from Southside High School and was awarded the Bobby Needham Sr. Memorial Scholarship.

Jett Frazier:  A sophomore at Arkansas Tech University majoring in criminal justice, he graduated from Northside High School in Fort Smith. He earned the 2022 Jeffrey Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year award, and the Mollie & Jack Grober Memorial Scholarship.

Jackson Green: A sophomore at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville majoring in data science, he graduated from Northside High School and received the Meek Family Foundation Scholarship.

Jordian Green: A junior at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, he is majoring in accounting. He graduated from Northside High School and was awarded the Stuart C. Crews Memorial Scholarship.

Bryce Hindley: A sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in psychology, he graduated from Northside High School in 2022. He received the Vic Forsgren Memorial Scholarship.

Braeden Hindley: A senior at the University of Central Arkansas majoring in health service administration, he graduated from Northside High School. He was awarded the Mary & William J. Cooper Scholarship.

Carson Hunsucker: A junior at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in biology, she graduated from Southside High School. She received the Kate & Hugh Maurras Scholarship.

Brenda Infante:  A sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in elementary education, she graduated from Northside High School. She was awarded the June & Jim Alexander Memorial Scholarship.

Brennen Linson: A sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in finance, he graduated from Southside High School. He received the E.S. & Wanda Stephens Memorial Scholarship.

Yvette Martinez: A senior at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville majoring in elementary education, she graduated from Northside High School. She received the Vic Forsgren Memorial Scholarship.

Lynde Morland: A senior at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith majoring in nursing, she was the 2020 Evans Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and graduated from Southside High School. Currently, she is working at the Evans Unit. She received the Wade Walker Family Scholarship.

Te’Vion Releford: A senior at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, he was the 2018 Stephens Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year. He is majoring in sports management and received the Meek Family Foundation Scholarship.

Rachel Simpson: A senior at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville majoring in psychology. She is a graduate of Southside High School and was awarded the June & Jim Alexander Memorial Scholarship.

William Stites: A sophomore at Texas Christian University majoring in biology, he graduated from Northside High School and received the June & Jim Alexander Memorial Scholarship.

JaJuan "JT" Thorne: A senior at Henderson State University majoring in business administration, he was the 2020 Jeffrey Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year and is currently working at the Evans Club. He is a graduate of Northside High School and received the Mary & William J. Cooper Scholarship.

Khamille Warr: A sophomore at Allen County Community College in Kansas, she is majoring in business management and nutrition. She is a graduate of Northside High School and received the June & Jim Alexander Memorial Scholarship.

Khassidy Warr: A sophomore at Allen County Community College, she is majoring in business. She is a graduate of Northside High School and received the Janice H. & Robert M. Powell Scholarship.

Mary-Kate Wewers: A senior at UAFS majoring in biology, she graduated from Northside High School in 2020. She received the Robert A. Young IV Memorial Scholarship.

Luke Wyatt: A sophomore at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, he is majoring in sports medicine/pharmacy. He was the 2022 Youth of the Year at Goldtrap Boys & Girls Club and graduated from Southside High School. He received the Mollie & Jack Grober Memorial Scholarship.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club scholarships announced