First Endowed Scholarship For Women’s Athletics At UAM

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Courtesy of
Media Services
  
    Betty Matthews isn’t your typical college English professor. An avid sports fan, particularly of the athletic teams of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Matthews admits to having a soft spot in her heart for student-athletes who excel in the classroom and on the playing field.

    A member of the UAM faculty since 1967 and a graduate of what was then Arkansas A&M College in 1958, Matthews recently presented an endowed scholarship for women’s athletics to the UAM Foundation Fund.

Photo Courtesy of Media Services

Giving Back -  English professor Betty Matthews (center) visits with Chancellor Jack Lassiter (left) and Athletic Director Alvy Early after presenting an endowed scholarship for women’s athletics to the UAM Foundation Fund.

       The scholarship is the second gift earmarked specifically for women’s athletics and the first to reach endowed status. status.

   “I have always been a sports fan for as long as I can remember,” said Matthews. “I love the Boll Weevils and Cotton Blossoms, but I have a special place in my heart for the women’s athletic program here. I have always believed that female athletes should have the same opportunities as male athletes and I wanted to give something back to the university to help young women achieve their goals.”

   The Betty A. Matthews Women’s Athletics Scholarship will be presented to a student participating in women’s intercollegiate athletics. The recipient must have a grade point average of 3.0 or better in any academic major and must be recommended by the director of athletics and coaches of the women’s athletic teams.

   Matthews comes from a family of athletes. Matthews played basketball at Star City High School while her daughter-in-law, Diane Matthews, qualified for the U.S. Olympic Diving Team in 1980 but was unable to compete due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

   Her son, Hank, was an all-conference quarterback at Star City High School. Her granddaughter, Courtney Matthews, is currently an all-state soccer player at Shiloh Christian Academy in Springdale.

   Matthews was one of the first women to achieve full professorship status at UAM.

   “I hope that by making this gift that I can encourage others to support the dreams and aspirations of young women who excel in both academics and athletics,” Matthews said.

   The first endowed scholarship fund for women’s athletics was established in 1994 by Drs. Glen and Mary Jane Gilbert. When the fund reaches endowed status, it will provide a scholarship for women’s basketball. Mary Jane Gilbert was the first coach of the UAM Cotton Blossoms basketball team and instrumental in the establishment of women’s athletics at UAM.

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