February 19, 2007

NORMAN – As part of the University of Oklahoma’s $100 million campaign for scholarships, the College of Arts and Sciences has spent the past 18 months raising funds to create 100 new scholarships for its students. At the recent Kaleidoscope Evening, which honors distinguished alumni from the college and benefits the Leadership Scholars Program, Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors Chair Dan Evatt announced that the college had raised more than $1.5 million, equal to 100 scholarships.

At its meeting the following day, the Board of Visitors raised the goal to $2.007 million to help commemorate Oklahoma’s centennial year. The campaign will continue through the year.

Norman alumna Sandy Kinney, who is also a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Visitors, is one of more than 500 donors who contributed between $5 and $359,000 to the scholarship campaign. Her endowed scholarship gift, which will benefit the student chair of the college’s Leadership Scholars, put the college over its financial goal.

“It was somewhat fitting that Sandy’s gift put us over our initial goal,” Dean Paul B. Bell Jr., said. “She represents all of our alumni and friends who have contributed their time, talent and financial resources to help us provide our students with the best education possible, anywhere. I am grateful for all the support we have received during our campaign and am encouraged by the board’s decision to raise even more scholarship funds for our students.”

The College of Arts and Sciences is OU’s oldest and largest college, with more than 8,300 students in 27 degree-granting departments and programs. The Leadership Scholars Program is a leadership development program for sophomores, juniors and seniors in the college. Students in the program who demonstrate financial need are awarded a $1,500 annual scholarship.

For additional information on the College of Arts and Sciences’ Second Century Scholarship Campaign, contact Von Allen, director of development, at (405) 325-3724 or vonallen@ou.edu.