The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) received multiple endowments through a grant from the Windgate Foundation.
The $6,240,000 total is the largest gift to the UAM Foundation in university history. The funding is aimed at two targets: need-based scholarships and enhancements to the UAM School of Education and the UAM School of Nursing.
Of the total, $6 million will establish four endowments that will build sustainable funding through the UAM Foundation each year. The additional $240,000 will serve as a bridge grant to provide immediate support for the initiatives as the endowments begin earning interest.
Two million dollars will be allocated to need-based scholarships for eligible students across all majors at UAM. This is to help students bypass financial barriers that limit student access to higher education.
The remaining $4 million will go to the nursing and teacher programs through three endowments.
The nursing and teacher education endowments include $1.5 million to establish the Windgate Foundation – Faculty Support Endowment, $1.5 million to establish the Windgate Foundation – Program Enhancements and Technological Integration Endowment, and $1 million to establish the Windgate Foundation – Student Scholarships Endowment.
The program enhancement endowment will allow for equipment upgrades, the incorporation of new technologies into teaching methods, and the improvement of simulation labs and learning resources that benefit UAM’s nursing and teacher programs.
The faculty support endowment will allow the university to recruit and employ high-quality nursing and education faculty. The endowment will also allow for increased salaries in those areas.
The student scholarship endowment will fund merit and need-based scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students in nursing and teacher education programs.
Chancellor of UAM, Dr. Peggy Doss, said the grant is a landmark moment for the university.
This grant, the largest gift ever made to the UAM Foundation, marks a historic moment for the university,” Dr. Doss said. “We are in awe of the Windgate Foundation’s support and deep understanding of our mission. This critical investment will have a profound effect on UAM’s nursing and teacher education programs, the university overall and the broader Southeast Arkansas community.
Doss submitted the grant proposal on behalf of the university.
The 2025 grant is the fifth grant the Windgate Foundation has awarded to UAM. It has come a long way since its inception in 2020, where a $50,000 grant was issued to support visual arts. Every year, the Windgate Foundation has increased its funding to UAM.
The ongoing support from the Windgate Foundation has been transformative for UAM, allowing us to strengthen our academic programs, enhance infrastructure and better serve the needs of our students and faculty,” Dr. Doss said. “We are immensely appreciative of our continued partnership, which is crucial for building a brighter future for Arkansas by making quality education more accessible and impactful for a greater number of individuals. We are reminded, once again, how generosity and collaboration can foster tremendously impactful change.
