Beck Family establishes scholarship for ASU business students

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 112 views 

Upper-level students majoring in business at Arkansas State University have a new form of financial assistance available to complete their degree, university officials said Monday (Dec. 14).

 Through a gift commitment to the university, Dr. Lowery and Teresa Beck of Jonesboro established the Beck Family Scholarship to encourage and support these students. Dr. Beck, a pediatrician, established Apache Drive Children’s Clinic in Jonesboro in 1991 and it continues to operate in the community.

“Students in their last two years can often encounter financial difficulties that could potentially leave them falling short of degree requirements” according to the Becks. “We wanted to provide an avenue for these upperclassmen to qualify for assistance, giving particular notice to those with a compelling need or difficulty.”

The annual scholarship will be based on earnings from the scholarship endowment.  Initially the award will be $1,000 until the endowment reaches maturity. To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a full-time junior or senior-level student majoring in one of the programs of the College of Business; must have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.75; and must submit a resume’ along with a letter or essay detailing either financial need and/or a physical or mental barrier with which the student needs assistance or has overcome.

The scholarship recipient will be selected by the College of Business Scholarship Committee in consultation with the Beck Family.  If the recipient remains in good academic standing with a 2.75 GPA, the scholarship will be renewed for a second year.

“All of us in the A-State College of Business are incredibly thankful to the Beck family for permanently endowing this new scholarship,” said Dr. Shane Hunt, dean of the College of Business.

An Arkansas State alumna, Mrs. Beck earned her bachelor’s degree and master’s in business administration degree from the College of Business.

After completing his bachelor’s in zoology at the University of Arkansas, Dr. Beck earned his medical degree from UAMS.  He served his medical internship and residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.