Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) has announced the creation of the Dr. Roger Simons Promise Scholarship, which will provide financial support for high school graduates in Cotter, Flippin, Norfork, and Yellville-Summit school districts. The initiative, unveiled on Monday afternoon at a special event held at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center, aims to remove financial barriers and expand access to higher education in North Central Arkansas.
The scholarship was made possible through a substantial gift from Dr. Roger Simons and will start with the graduating class of 2027. Eligible students who enroll at ASUMH will receive financial assistance covering any remaining tuition and mandatory fees after federal, state, and institutional aid are applied. To qualify, students are required to enroll at ASUMH, complete the FAFSA and other relevant financial aid applications, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
“This is about much more than a scholarship. It’s about possibility,” said Dr. Bentley Wallace, ASUMH Chancellor. “There are talented young people across our communities with tremendous potential... Too often, the greatest obstacle isn’t ability or determination – it is uncertainty about how to pay for college.”
Designed to support a wide range of educational goals, the scholarship will be available for programs leading to associate degrees, technical certifications, workforce credentials, and transferable degree pathways. ASUMH officials emphasized that the program not only benefits individual students but also contributes to the long-term economic vitality of the region by addressing workforce needs.
“Our employers need skilled workers, healthcare professionals, technicians, tradespeople, educators, business leaders, and entrepreneurs,” Wallace said. “This initiative represents a long-term investment in the future of North Central Arkansas.”
The announcement event featured Dr. Roger Simons alongside leaders from each of the participating school districts: Jayme Jones of Cotter, Richard Blevins of Norfork, Kelvin Hudson of Flippin, and Wes Henderson of Yellville-Summit. Arkansas State University System President Dr. Todd Shields also attended the unveiling, where ASUMH revealed a new visual identity for the Dr. Roger Simons Promise Scholarship.
Chancellor Wallace credited Dr. Simons for his vision and generosity. “Dr. Simons could have chosen many ways to invest these resources. Instead, he chose to invest in people... This initiative will change lives,” Wallace said.
By encouraging students to pursue higher education, Wallace noted that the scholarship will strengthen the region. “Employers will hire graduates whose educational journeys were made possible through this initiative, and communities will be stronger because someone believed in the power of education and chose to act on that belief.”
Promise scholarship programs have gained traction nationwide as a tool to promote college access and workforce development while providing students and families with a clear financial pathway to postsecondary education. For North Central Arkansas, the launch of the Dr. Roger Simons Promise Scholarship underscores a shared commitment among ASUMH, area schools, and community leaders to creating new opportunities for students and the region at large.