APEX Communications Endows Scholarship for Students in Accounting
JONESBORO – APEX Communications of Jonesboro has endowed a private scholarship in the Neil Griffin College of Business for future accounting majors at Arkansas State University.
“Private scholarships are a tremendously impactful way for our alumni to pay it forward to the next generation, and to help reduce the overall cost of completing a university degree,” Vice Chancellor for University Advancement Erika Krennerich Chudy said. “We are very thankful to the trio of alums who stepped up with a $25,000 gift to endow a scholarship for a Griffin College student with financial need.”
All three owners, Tim McNatt, Randal Caldwell and Jay Caldwell are #AStateMade alumni. McNatt and Randal Caldwell were also first-generation university graduates in their family.
“APEX Communications has been greatly blessed since its inception in 2000,” McNatt said. “And for Randal and I who both grew up on a farm, getting a college education was our dream. We know first-hand about the real financial challenges, and we wanted to do something to help future A-State students with that same life-changing dream.”
“On behalf of our future students, I want to say thank you to the leadership at APEX for providing this generous gift for the future,” Executive Director for Development David McClain said. “It’s always a privilege to create these type of scholarships, but when you get the chance to hear their stories and about how they want to make a difference for future Red Wolves, well, it’s just inspiring.”
Within the next four years, the endowed scholarship will begin to generate opportunities for financially needy students, with a preference for those majoring in accounting.
“Growing up on a farm, my dream was to become an accountant,” McNatt said. “The skills and knowledge I received from my instructors not only fulfilled that dream, they instilled in me the ability to take an offer from Arthur Andersen, one of the world’s top accounting firms. That launched my career.”
While students can begin applying for the APEX Communications scholarship in 2025, there are several scholarships available now for students in need in both accounting or the Griffin College.
“Thanks to alumni and friends, Arkansas State literally has hundreds of individual private scholarships across a wide range of areas,” Chudy said. “Sometimes students and families overlook the chance to receive these scholarships.”
The portal for applying for privately funded scholarships at A-State is open until Feb. 1, 2021, at at AState.edu/Scholarships/Private.
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