Bookstore Gives $20,000 for ATU Scholarships

Barnes and Noble College donated $20,000 to fund scholarships for Arkansas Tech University students during a ribbon cutting ceremony marking the grand opening of the Barnes and Noble College ATU Bookstore on Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Cynthia Bader, regional manager for Barnes and Noble College, said that the beginning of the partnership between her organization and ATU has “exceeded all our expectations.”

Bader also introduced Tara Marshall, who serves as store manager for the Barnes and Noble College ATU Bookstore in the W.O. Young Building on the Russellville campus.

“We are a decentralized organization, which means that Tara has the authority to make decisions in the best interest of your faculty, staff, administration and most importantly, your students,” said Bader.

Arkansas Tech entered into an agreement with Barnes and Noble College to manage its on-campus bookstores in Russellville and Ozark following action by the Tech Board of Trustees in December 2016.

Under the terms of the agreement, Barnes and Noble College will guarantee to match the price offered by any outside source to Arkansas Tech students on textbooks and other instructional materials.

In addition, Barnes and Noble College will invest $250,000 over a span of three years in bookstore improvements at Arkansas Tech.

Learn more about the Barnes and Noble College ATU Bookstore.

Photographed: Cynthia Bader (center) and Tara Marshall (right) of Barnes and Noble College presented Bernadette Hinkle, vice president for administration and finance at Arkansas Tech University, with a $20,000 check that represents scholarship support for ATU students.