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The University of Arkansas at Monticello has received multiple endowments through a grant from the Windgate Foundation totaling $6,240,000, the largest gift to the UAM Foundation in university history. The funding will target two critical areas: need-based scholarships and enhancements to the UAM School of Education and the UAM School of Nursing. 

Of the total amount, $6 million will establish four endowments that will generate sustainable funding each year through the UAM Foundation. An additional bridge grant of $240,000 will provide immediate support for these initiatives as the endowments begin to earn interest.

This significant funding package includes $2 million dedicated to need-based scholarships available to eligible students across all majors at UAM, removing financial barriers that limit student access to higher education. The additional $4 million will be allocated to bolster nursing and teacher education 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 faculty support endowment will be used to recruit and retain high-quality nursing and teacher education faculty and increase salaries for highly trained faculty in those areas. The funds will contribute to preparing a skilled nursing and teacher workforce capable of meeting evolving demands on healthcare and education.

The program enhancement endowment will provide support for equipment upgrades, incorporating new technologies into teaching methods and improving simulation labs and learning resources that ensure UAM’s nursing and teacher education programs remain competitive. 

The student scholarship endowment will fund merit and need-based scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students in nursing and teacher education programs.

The award is the result of a grant proposal submitted on behalf of UAM by Dr. Peggy Doss, chancellor of UAM, and a team of UAM Executive Council members. 

Dr. Doss highlighted the impact that the record-setting grant will have on UAM, stating, “This grant, the largest gift ever made to the UAM Foundation, marks a historic moment for the university. 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.”

Patricia Forgy, executive director of the Windgate Foundation, congratulated UAM and noted the importance of supporting student access to higher education, stating, “We are proud to partner with Dr. Doss and the leadership of UAM in advancing educational opportunity and strengthening nursing and teacher programs for many years to come. These endowments reflect our commitment to building essential professions and ensuring that students from all backgrounds have access to a high-quality education. We have witnessed the important work being done by UAM, and while the investment income realized from the endowments will help, we invite others to consider joining us in making an impact for these talented students by supporting the resources they need to succeed.”

The 2025 grant marks the fifth gift that the Windgate Foundation has awarded to UAM. In 2020, a $50,000 grant was awarded to support visual arts, enabling the establishment of a graphic design lab for the art program at UAM. Two years later, the university received $205,415, which was designated for need-based scholarships, nursing instructors and lab equipment. In 2023, UAM received a grant of $294,924 for scholarships and equipment upgrades for the UAM Colleges of Technology. Last year, the Windgate Foundation awarded UAM $750,000 for the renovation of an existing building for a new university art facility.

“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.”

The Windgate Foundation was established in 1993 and is a private, family foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas.