Arkansas Tech University President Dr. Russell Jones announced on Wednesday, Oct. 7, that the ATU Foundation has received a $3.15 million donation from the Windgate Foundation.
The majority of the gift — $3 million — is earmarked for the Windgate General Endowed Scholarship and the Sue M. Frueauff Memorial Endowed Scholarship.
The additional $150,000 will be utilized by the ATU Foundation to help bridge gaps for students in immediate need of financial assistance to continue their studies.
“With this latest show of support for Arkansas Tech University, its mission and its students, the Windgate Foundation has now contributed more than $9 million to the ATU Foundation since 2018,” said Jones. “The Windgate Foundation’s support has enabled Arkansas Tech to expand opportunities for individuals to study the visual arts and nursing. It has created pathways for ATU students who wish to pursue medical degrees following the completion of their undergraduate education. Furthermore, the Windgate Foundation has helped Arkansas Tech beautify its campus through projects completed by artists in residence and it has allowed ATU to provide meaningful professional development to art educators during the summer months.
“When you add it all up, the Windgate Foundation has made a significant and positive impact on Arkansas Tech,” continued Jones. “This latest gift will help Arkansas Tech meet one of its foundational objectives: ensuring access to higher education. Scholarships change lives, and due to the generosity of our partners at the Windgate Foundation, many lives will be changed for the better at Arkansas Tech in the years and decades to come.”
Data shows that 43 percent of Arkansas Tech students are first-generation college students, and 57 percent of ATU students come from low-income backgrounds. Ninety-four percent of Arkansas Tech students are residents of Arkansas.
“Arkansas Tech serves a student body that benefits greatly from the support provided by privately-funded scholarships through the ATU Foundation,” said Bryan Fisher, ATU vice president for advancement and executive vice president of the ATU Foundation. “This $3.15 million gift from the Windgate Foundation will have a generational effect on the families and the state that Arkansas Tech serves. Today is a day to celebrate, but the true impact of this gift will not be fully realized until the Arkansas Tech students who will benefit from it complete their studies, earn their degrees and go forth to make our communities stronger through their careers and their service to others.”
Arkansas Tech enrolled more than 9,500 students through campuses in Russellville and Ozark for the fall 2026 semester. Curriculum at ATU supports learners at the certificate, associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral levels.
Headquartered in Little Rock, the Windgate Foundation states on its website that its work “is inspired by organizations that craft equitable and innovative resources to help artists, makers, educators and communities thrive.” The Windgate Foundation was established in 1993.
