The memory of an Arkansas Tech University student who died in August 2024 will be preserved on the campus he loved with the Jack Poole Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship has been established through the ATU Foundation by Ruby and Mike Shoesmith of Morrilton. Poole was their great nephew.
The Jack Poole Memorial Scholarship will be presented to ATU students majoring in nursing, which is the field of study that Poole pursued at Arkansas Tech.
“Jack loved Arkansas Tech,” said Ruby Shoesmith. “He loved his fraternity brothers. He loved his course of study. We felt like he needed to continue on this journey. Since he couldn’t do it physically, let’s get another student to go on the journey for him.”
Poole was a resident of Hattieville and a 2023 graduate of Sacred Heart High School in Morrilton. He was a sophomore at ATU at the time of his passing.
Arkansas Tech bestowed a posthumous degree upon Poole during a December 2025 commencement ceremony at Tucker Coliseum in Russellville.
In addition to his family, many of Poole’s Kappa Sigma fraternity brothers were in attendance for the posthumous degree conferral.
“Jack was a great all-around kid,” said Mike Shoesmith. “He always had a big smile on his face. In high school, he was very popular among his classmates. He liked to play basketball and was a big outdoorsman. He loved being outside. I was always impressed when we were around his high school teachers and how much they thought of him. He had a love for life, and he showed it.”
Individuals who wish to make a contribution to the Jack Poole Memorial Scholarship may do so by calling (479) 968-0400 or visiting www.atualumni.com/PooleScholarship.
