A student who received a scholarship at one of Arkansas’ outstanding college because of our college fund recently wrote to thank this association for that scholarship. “I just want to say thanks for the contribution to my education- and my life!”

We pass along that expression of thanks and that of hundreds of other students who are beneficiaries of your generosity in this year, our 50th, for raising and distributing private funds for deserving students. The money you give goes to student-leader scholars, first generation scholars and teacher-education scholars.

College is an important and increasingly necessary step in achieving dreams. Education-learning to learn-and to keep on learning are, in fact, big parts of life. And these small, non-tax supported independent colleges and universities in Arkansas play a significant role in helping to set the quality curve for higher education in the state. They continue to enroll only 10 percent of the college population, but they award, every year, 20 percent of all bachelor degrees and 34 percent of all natural science degrees given in the state and have on-time graduation rates two and one-half times greater than public, tax supported universities.

Should colleges make it their business to instill values and foster personal growth in their students? Our answer is a resounding “YES!” Our schools feature student-oriented faculty members who teach and model the kinds of values we all hold dear, because they are small, there’s a whole lot of one-on-one time students get to spend with faculty.