Hendrix College announced it has received a $4.6 million bequest, one of the largest estate gifts in the college’s history, from the estate of Dr. William “Bill” Roberts.
The college will use the funding to support new academic and co-curricular initiatives in liberal arts through the Dr. William “Bill” Roberts Innovation Endowment Fund.
Roberts, a Conway native, graduated from Hendrix in 1965. He served 12 years as a board member of the college, all while advising pre-med students and serving in a volunteer supervisory role for health care on campus.
Hendrix President Karen Petersen is leading efforts to identify initiatives suitable for investment from the funds, the college in Conway said in a news release. New initiatives supported by the Roberts Innovation Fund are intended to become self-sustaining within three years, and the board of trustees will review them annually to measure their success based on increased enrollment and revenue growth.
“With the Roberts Innovation Fund, we can support bold and creative ideas that build on our tradition of excellence and further enhance the academic and student life experience at Hendrix,” Petersen said in the release. “I cannot think of a more appropriate way to honor one of our most loyal supporters than to connect his legacy to programs that ensure Hendrix thrives for the next 150 years.”
Sign up for Daily E-news
