PCCUA’s Lydia Mondy among UA System students to receive mini-grant
PCCUA proudly announces that Lydia Mondy is among a select few UA System students to receive a $1,000 mini-grant from the endowment honoring Clinton School Dean Emeritus James “Skip” Rutherford III.
Mondy is a pre-nursing major at PCCUA-Helena, whose long-range goals include completing a bachelor's degree in pediatric nursing. A top student at PCCUA, Mondy has been inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa international honor society. The youngest of nine children, she works as a student worker on campus as well as a broadcaster for KJIW radio station in Helena and says she plans to use the grant toward the costs of obtaining her bachelor’s degree.
This is the third year for grants to be awarded from the fund, which was established in 2021 at the Univeristy of Arkansas Foundation to honor Rutherford and provide support to student leaders across the UA System. Each spring, undergraduate and graduate students from any UA System campus may apply for the grant. The grants were awarded by an independent committee appointed by Dr. Michael Moore, UA System vice president for academic affairs, in accordance with the terms of the endowment.
Commenting on this year’s selections, Eric Wilson, chair of the Rutherford Endowment selection committee, stated, “As is always the case, we thoroughly enjoyed reading more than 150 personal stories of applicants and tackling the difficult task of determining which ones were most compelling to receive awards. This year’s recipients each represent what this program is all about – providing support to those students who could use a boost to help reach their goals in higher education. I want to encourage those who we couldn’t fund this year to apply again next year.”
Other 2024 recipients included: Julio Alvarez, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; Chelsea Nichols, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; and Dorothy Tate, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Contributions to the fund are tax-deductible and can be made online or by mailing a check to the Clinton School at 1200 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201.
Rutherford served as dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service from 2006 to 2021. During his time there, he emphasized the unique project-based learning model in the school’s Master of Public Service degree program and built a nationally renowned public speakers’ program, among other accomplishments. Before becoming dean, Rutherford oversaw the planning, construction and opening of the Clinton Presidential Center. He also has an extensive private sector background in communications and public relations. The Rutherford Student Leadership Endowment was founded in 2021 by friends of Rutherford upon his retirement to honor his life and career in public service.
