This fall, dozens of Arkansas students will pursue their higher education dreams with financial assistance from scholarship funds managed by the Community Foundation. Congrats, 2015 scholarship recipients!
Scholarship Recipient Yvonne Dominguez Matadamas
The Haskett Jacoway Scholarship was established by the late Mary Helen Haskett Jacoway (1916-2011), a Little Rock Central High School graduate who loved education and volunteering. Her niece, Ann Ivey, recalled, “She was not able to go to college herself, and that was her desire – she wanted to be able to help others go and thought a scholarship would be a good use of her money.” After a career in medical records at the V.A. hospital at Fort Roots in North Little Rock, Jacoway went on to an active second career as a volunteer at St. Vincent Infirmary, logging almost 4,000 hours of service.
Celebrating Jacoway’s commitment to learning and giving back, the Haskett Jacoway Scholarship is awarded annually to a Central High graduate who has shown dedication to volunteerism and school activities, while maintaining a minimum 3.5 grade point average.
This year’s recipient, Yvonne Dominguez Matadamas, shares Jacoway’s love of volunteerism. “I feel like helping others is important because not everybody has the same opportunities,” she said. “I know my parents struggled while I was growing up. I want to be the help for others that I wish had been available for my parents.” Dominguez plans to attend the University of Arkansas, where she will major in chemistry. Her ultimate goal, she says, is “to become a doctor and help people in my Spanish-speaking community.” While attending Central High, Dominguez interned at Baptist Health and participated in the French Club, National Honor Society and Beta Club.
“I’m very pleased that Yvonne was this year’s winner,” said Ann Ivey. “She’s just the kind of student my aunt would have wanted to receive this scholarship.”
We’re honored to partner with the local families, businesses and individuals who have created these scholarship funds to invest in Arkansas students. Each scholarship has its own special story, encompassing the lives of the people who create and inspire the scholarship and the people who benefit from its support.