Tom and Jill King of Fayetteville have given $1.95 million to the Fay Jones School of Architecture & Design and the Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Arkansas.
The couple's gifts are counted in Campaign Arkansas, the university's recently concluded capital fundraising campaign that took in nearly $1.45 billion.
The Kings moved to Fayetteville in 2008 and became acquainted with the Fay Jones School after seeking out information about their new home, the Joe and Maxine Clark House, which was designed by renowned architect Fay Jones.
The university will use the money to establish three endowments.
- The JATK Endowment for Public Programs in Architecture and Design, created with $1.5 million — About half the proceeds from the endowment will be discretionary funds for public programs and activities, including a public lecture series, a public exhibition series, publications, tableau series, recital series, annual events and external exhibitions. Another 25% of the endowment will be used for an annual award to faculty for specific support of a faculty-based public program, including an exhibition or publication. The remaining 25% will be utilized as an annual award to a student, team of students or student organization for specific support of a student-based public program.
- The JATK Endowment for the Enhancement of Student Experience in the Fay Jones School and the JATK Endowment for the Enhancement of Student Experience in the Fulbright College — Funded with $450,000, the endowments may be used for travel expenses, field trips, conference fees, entry fees to museums and other educationally significant venues, class supplies, incentive awards for student competitions and events, as well as any activities that positively impact the recruitment and retention of superior and diverse students and faculty.
According to the university, the endowments may also be used to provide incoming first-year students with financial assistance in support of the schools’ efforts to recruit first-generation students and foster diversity, equity and inclusion.
Preference will be given to students who are graduates of a high school located in any county in the Arkansas Delta and who have been in the foster care system.
