Will Feland Contributes $1M to University of Arkansas Scholarship

(University of Arkansas)

University of Arkansas alumnus Will Feland has contributed $1 million to the university’s Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign.

The gift establishes the Will Feland Land of Opportunity Scholarship and aims to address funding gaps that can limit students’ access to education.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is a three-year initiative to increase educational access for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas. The campaign also seeks to strengthen connections between the university and businesses across the state.

As of April 1, the campaign had raised 64% of its goal in 14% of the time through more than $127 million in pledges and commitments.

“When I learned about the Land of Opportunity Scholarship, I immediately saw its value,” Feland said in a press release. “The dropout rate among Pell Grant students is unfortunately high, often due to financial hardship. By supplementing Pell Grants, this program can level the playing field, giving these students the same opportunities as those with greater resources. It’s both a game changer and a life changer, and I commend the University of Arkansas’ leadership for their vision in supporting these students.”

Feland said in the release that he hopes programs like the Land of Opportunity Scholarship will enable students to reduce work hours and fully experience what the university offers, both academically and socially.

Feland’s father, Armstead Feland, was actively involved with the Southern Farmers Association. In recognition of his contributions to Arkansas agriculture, Armstead received an honorary Ph.D. from the U of A in 1978.

Upon graduation, Feland worked briefly for a federal agricultural lending agency before pursuing a law degree. He then served on U.S. Sen. David Pryor’s legislative staff in Washington, D.C.

After returning to Arkansas, Feland was elected as a prosecutor for four terms, and Gov. Mike Beebe later appointed him as a circuit judge. In 1994, Feland co-founded Pinnacle Structures, a Cabot-based manufacturer of pre-engineered metal buildings for schools, churches and businesses.

The company started with six employees in a double-wide trailer and has since grown to more than 200 employees. Operating two shifts seven days a week, Pinnacle has expanded its Highway 321 facility three times and the company’s metal buildings are sold nationwide.

Feland has a history of supporting education. He contributed to the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History Endowment at the U of A and served on the Cabot school board for a decade. In 2014, the Cabot Scholarship Foundation established the Will Feland Scholarship.

“Exposure to new ideas is essential and helps build a stronger, more connected community,”Feland said in the press release. “That is the true value of a university education — not just earning a degree but developing a broader intellectual and cultural awareness.”