A new scholarship at UA Little Rock will soon be available to students who demonstrate volunteerism as well as financial need.

University of Arkansas at Little Rock alumni Jeanne and Harold Joyner Jr. have given the university $100,000 to endow the scholarship that will be awarded beginning in Fall 2019.

“The university is made stronger because of supportive alumni like Harold and Jeanne,” said Andrea Angel, associate vice chancellor for alumni and development. “This gift will be transformative for today’s students and for future generations.”

The Joyner Family Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to incoming students who have demonstrated volunteer and community service. Special preference will be given to applicants who have been involved in the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas, where Harold Joyner has been a volunteer coach.

The Joyners focus their personal philanthropy on education and young people, believing that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

“We are thankful for the opportunities we have had over the years and never want to miss an opportunity to pay it forward,” Jeanne Joyner said. “We are excited to be part of the great things happening at UA Little Rock, and we’re proud to offer the Joyner Family Endowed Scholarship each year to a deserving student attending UA Little Rock.”

The Joyners are alumni of UA Little Rock’s College of Business, where they met. They both earned Bachelor of Business Administration degrees – Harold  (‘81) in management and Jeanne (‘84) in marketing.

Harold has owned and operated Fence World, Inc. in Little Rock for 40 years. He has served on the boards of ACCESS Schools, the UA Little Rock Foundation Fund Board, and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Arkansas. He has been a volunteer coach for more than 25 years at the Boys & Girls Club and the RBI (Reviving Baseball in the Innercity) Baseball League at the historic Lamar Porter Baseball Field.

Jeanne Joyner has been a dedicated community volunteer for more than 25 years and has served on the boards of Episcopal Collegiate School, the Junior League of Little Rock, the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, the Arkansas Arts Center Fine Arts Club, and on the UA Little Rock “ALL IN” Campaign Steering Committee. She has been involved in and supported numerous other community organizations over the years.

The couple has two adults sons. Jason Joyner and his wife, Liza, live in Richmond, Virginia, while Jonathan Joyner and his wife, Lauren, live in San Francisco.

Photo courtesy of The Joyner Family. From left: Harold and Jeanne Joyner, Jason and Liza Joyner, and Lauren and Jonathan Joyner.