Students at Arkansas State University Mountain Home will receive additional scholarship support due to the generosity of Rhonald and Betty Morris of Dallas. The Morrises recently endowed two scholarships to benefit graduates of Baxter County.

The scholarships award $2,000 annually to two different high school graduates of Baxter County who meet specified academic merit and financial needs. In addition, the scholarships stipulate the recipient’s intent to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

The Douglas Family Scholarship, named on behalf of Mrs. Morris’ parents, Lee and Wilma Douglas, holds deep significance because of her family’s heritage in the Mountain Home area. Mrs. Morris, a 1955 graduate of Mountain Home High School and class valedictorian, feels a commitment to the community in which she was raised, a press release from ASUMH stated.

“We are grateful to the Morris Family for their commitment to academic excellence. The students of Baxter County are fortunate to have the support of Ron and Betty Morris,” said Carol Gresham, vice chancellor for development. “Their passion for education is very apparent in the numerous academic endowments they have bestowed across the state. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide educational opportunities to recent graduates of Baxter County that have aspirations of pursuing a bachelor’s degree.”

“I understand from my own personal experience that there are many bright and capable young people who have a strong desire to continue their education, but are unable to because of economic circumstances. It gives my wife and me great satisfaction to lend a hand to those in Baxter County,” said Mr. Morris.

The Morrises are University of Arkansas graduates and majority stockholders of Lyons Manufacturing Inc. Mr. Morris received a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering in 1958 and later earned a master’s degree in business administration from Southern Methodist University. He received the 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University Of Arkansas College Of Engineering and is a member of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

Mrs. Morris received a bachelor of arts degree in 1959 and in 1961 earned a master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University.

The Morrises were inducted into the Towers of Old Main, a giving society which recognizes benefactors at the highest level of cumulative giving at the University of Arkansas.

Information from: www.baxterbulletin.com

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