ATU scholarship to aid officers’ kin

Peggy Hawkins alumna of school

RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University in Russellville recently announced a new endowed scholarship for dependents of law enforcement officers.

The Peggy Bibler Hawkins Scholarship through the ATU Foundation was established with a $780,000 gift from the estate of the scholarship’s namesake.

“My mother was an alumna of Arkansas Tech, and I am retired from the Russellville Police Department,” John Ben Hawkins said.

“It is our family’s intention for this to provide full-ride scholarships to ATU for the dependents of law enforcement officers.”

Peggy Hawkins taught in the schools at Waldron, Dover and Dardanelle.

She loved books, as was evidenced by her status as co-owner of Centennial Bookshop and librarian at Second Baptist Church in Russellville.

She also worked at the family business, Bibler Brothers Lumber Co.

Hawkins died on Dec. 21, 2019. She was 85.

Entering ATU students who apply for the Peggy Bibler Hawkins Scholarship must have a cumulative 2.5 high school grade point average on a 4.0 scale and a minimum ACT score of 17.

GED students must meet the minimum admissions requirements as set by the university.

Returning ATU students who apply for the scholarship must have demonstrated the potential to succeed and show academic progress toward a degree.

Peggy Bibler Hawkins Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum schedule of 12 hours per semester.

Each scholarship is for one semester with the possibility of renewal if the student continues to meet the criteria.

To learn more about supporting or applying for private scholarships funded through the ATU Foundation, visit www.atualumni.com or call (479) 968-0400.