The Southwestern Electric Power Company Foundation will sponsor the first cohort of University of Arkansas students in a scholarship program designed to bridge financial gaps for lower-income Arkansans.
The Land of Opportunity Scholarship, first announced by the university in November 2024, held a signing ceremony Monday at the Cordia Harrington Center for Excellence in Fayetteville. Brett Mattison, president and chief operating officer of SWEPCO, joined University of Arkansas Chancellor Charles Robinson and Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement and development, to formalize the corporate sponsorship.
The scholarships support Arkansas students who qualify for Pell Grants by covering expenses that the grants or other means of financial support don’t address. For many families in the state, those uncovered costs — textbooks, housing, transportation — can be the difference between earning a degree or leaving school before graduation.
“This is the kind of investment that changes lives in a very tangible way,” Robinson said at the ceremony. “SWEPCO’s commitment to Arkansas students reflects what it means to be part of this state’s future.”
SWEPCO, a utility company serving customers across Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, has made educational outreach a pillar of its community work. The company’s foundation has previously supported workforce development initiatives and STEM programs in the region, but this scholarship marks its largest single investment in higher education access.
Mattison called the partnership a natural extension of SWEPCO’s mission. “These students are exactly who we want to help — Arkansans with the talent and drive to succeed, but who need that extra support to get across the finish line,” he said.
The Land of Opportunity Scholarship was created to address a persistent problem in Arkansas higher education: even with federal Pell Grants, many students from low-income families still face shortfalls that force them to work excessive hours or take on debt. The program specifically targets those gaps, aiming to reduce the financial burden on students and their families.
University officials said they hope to expand the program with additional corporate and individual sponsors in the coming years. The first cohort of recipients will begin receiving funds this fall.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
