3 students selected Fleischer Scholars

FAYETTEVILLE — Three business students at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville this fall are the first to receive yearly $10,000 Fleischer Scholars Program awards aimed at helping low-income students and those who are among the first-generation in their families to attend college.

The program began at UA under a different name in 2015, bringing high school students to live on campus for a week in the summer to learn about business.

Financier and entrepreneur Morton Fleischer sponsors the yearly programs, which are free to students. He began the program at Arizona State University before working with UA’s chancellor at the time, G. David Gearhart, to bring the effort to UA. Fleischer is the co-founder and chairman of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Store Capital.

The scholarships, renewable for four years, are funded by businesses and donors that include Signature Bank of Arkansas, Bank of England, Bear State Bank, First Arkansas Bank and Trust, Jim and Glennis Nokes, and Greenway Equipment.

Barbara Lofton, director of the diversity office at UA’s Sam M. Walton College of Business, said the university is growing the program by raising money to offer more awards and by bringing more students to campus. She said about 100 students will take part next summer, up from the fewer than 40 who took part this year.