The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) honored the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Latino Destination Campus award Sept. 13 during LULAC Council 750 Little Rock Scholarship Gala at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center.

Receiving the designation as a Latino Destination Campus is a distinction awarded to a college or university that has a long-standing partnership with LULAC to provide support and scholarships to Latino students. 

UA Little Rock was the first higher education institution in Arkansas to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with LULAC to create a partnership to recruit and retain Latino students on campus. Since 2006, UA Little Rock has provided a dollar-for-dollar match for students who receive scholarships from LULAC of Arkansas. 

Since 2010, UA Little Rock has served as an Ambassador-level sponsor of LULAC’s annual scholarship gala. This year, 11 UA Little Rock students received LULAC scholarships, while nearly 90 UA Little Rock students have received scholarships since 2010.

Terry Richard-Trevino, professor emeritus of sociology and charter member of the Arkansas Council of LULAC, said there are several ongoing outreach efforts at UA Little Rock that make it a good selection as a Latino Destination Campus. 

“At UA Little Rock, a LULAC Council was established in 2008 and has functioned continuously as both a student organization and a council which qualifies for matching monies for students in the selection for national scholarship recipients,” Richard-Trevino said. “ UA Little Rock has also worked with faculty and the community to establish scholarships and internships, such as the Just Communities of Arkansas Internship Program and the endowed Jerry and Terry Richard Scholarship Award.” 

Sarah Beth Estes, dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, accepted the award and highlighted the importance of UA Little Rock’s relationship with the Latino community.

“UA Little Rock is thrilled to be honored as a Latino destination campus. We appreciate Dr. Richard’s leadership in this area and are honored to receive this special designation from LULAC,” Estes said. 

LULAC seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national level through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization focuses heavily on education, civil rights, and employment. Over the past 26 years, LULAC Council 750 Little Rock has awarded about $600,000 in college scholarships to 400 students.

In the upper right photo, Sarah Beth Estes, right, dean of the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences, accepts a LULAC award on behalf of the university. Photo by Ben Krain.