By: Maddy Dean
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The University of Arkansas’ Senior Walk is a celebrated tradition for graduates, however, for a first-generation student, that honor holds even more significance.
One first-generation Arkansas student, Bryan Reyes, is preparing to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in May, and plans to begin law school shortly after.
When choosing a major, Reyes believed it was important to find something that was realistic, but would help boost him up in the world after growing up with a lower economic background. This thought process eventually led him down the pre-law path.
Reyes jokingly said, “I really loved ‘Law and Order’ growing up, so I thought I could just do that.”
Although loans and grants are also available, scholarships are a vital part of getting an education for many students who come from a lower socioeconomic status.
Since freshman year, Reyes has relied on both external scholarships and university scholarships to help avoid debt. However, when he began searching for this extra financial help, he faced some roadblocks.
Reyes said, “Since I’m first-generation, I didn’t really have anyone to talk to about it. I couldn’t talk to my parents about it, no uncles or aunts, like I just kind of had to figure it out on my own.”
One in four students at the University of Arkansas is a first-generation, many of which face accessibility issues when searching for financial support.
A new award, the “Land of Opportunity Scholarship”, aims to help students such as Reyes.
This award is available for all in-state students who are Pell Grant eligible and or show financial need. Laura Jacobs, the Senior Director of Philanthropic Initiatives for the University believes that all students should have equal opportunity for an education, regardless of their financial situation.
Jacobs said, “Students can apply with whatever GPA, if they have an ACT score, but the ones we are really targeting are Arkansans who have a high need for support through financial aid.”
This scholarship encourages recipients to engage in high-impact practices. High-impact practices are any variation of hands-on experience within a career field.
“This could be an internship, participating in an undergraduate research experience, studying abroad, there are a million different types of high-impact practices,” said Jacobs.
Participating in a high-impact practice tends to encourage students to become involved, and ultimately leads to a higher retention rate and graduation rate.
Jacobs explained, “Research shows that students who participate in a practice feel more ingrained in the campus community and want to stay.”
The fundraising campaign for this award began in mid-November shortly before the award’s event kickoff. So far, $125 million of the $200 million goal has been raised. The Hunt family began the donations with a substantial gift in early November.
Jacobs said the goal of this award was to simply provide more access for Arkansans.
“We need to create more access for more Arkansans. We want more students to graduate. We want Arkansans to graduate on par with their peers who are adequately resourced,” said Jacobs.
The award will be included on the general scholarship application this June and will be awarded for the first time in fall 2026.
