“I brought a piece of diversity to the University of Arkansas,” she said, “and winning the scholarship made me realize that even more.”
Griswold, who is majoring in Communication Disorders, said the scholarship also allowed her to volunteer in the Mentor Me program at the Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M. Clinic in Fayetteville. T.E.A.M. is the acronym for Together Everyone Accomplishes More and the clinic is the largest out-patient pediatric therapy provider in Northwest Arkansas. Griswold plans to attend graduate school when she graduates in May.
“She had such a heart for young people,” said her sister, Lottie Holt Shackelford, a former mayor of Little Rock and member of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. “Even as Nola was juggling the demands of working on her doctorate with those of her job as a public relations manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, she still found time to work with public school students.”
What kind of student is awarded the Nola Holt Royster scholarship?
Annually Awarded
For Arkansans
Recipient Criteria
- Financial need
- Excellence in the classroom
- Participation in extracurricular activites
- Contribute to the diversity of campus
“I brought a piece of diversity to the University of Arkansas,” she said, “and winning the scholarship made me realize that even more.”
Griswold, who is majoring in Communication Disorders, said the scholarship also allowed her to volunteer in the Mentor Me program at the Children’s Therapy T.E.A.M. Clinic in Fayetteville. T.E.A.M. is the acronym for Together Everyone Accomplishes More and the clinic is the largest out-patient pediatric therapy provider in Northwest Arkansas. Griswold plans to attend graduate school when she graduates in May.
Jazimne Griswold
“She had such a heart for young people,” said her sister, Lottie Holt Shackelford, a former mayor of Little Rock and member of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame. “Even as Nola was juggling the demands of working on her doctorate with those of her job as a public relations manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, she still found time to work with public school students.”
What kind of student is awarded the Nola Holt Royster scholarship?
Annually Awarded
For Arkansans
Recipient Criteria
- Financial need
- Excellence in the classroom
- Participation in extracurricular activites
- Contribute to the diversity of campus
“When she was only twelve, Nola would have her nieces and nephews perform for the family lessons that she taught or that were learned in Vacation Bible School. She was so creative—and was already helping children learn in a fun way!”
When her sister suddenly passed away in 2001, Holt Shackelford said Nola’s friends and colleagues approached her about not only setting up the scholarship as a tribute, but dedicating the Nola Holt Royster Suite at the Career Development Center to her as well. The Nola Holt Royster Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually on a competitive basis to undergraduate students who have graduated from an Arkansas high school and who will be in their final year at the university in the fall. Additional qualifications include: financial need, excellence in the classroom, campus extracurricular activities and contributes to campus diversity.
Kemmian Johnson
“At the time, I was so humbled and honored to receive the scholarship,” he said. “Although I never had the privilege of knowing Dr. Royster, through my colleagues, professors and administrators, I learned of her extraordinary leadership, commitment to diversity and of the positive tone and temperament she brought to academic achievement.” Lambey said he was proud to represent her as an African-American male student and in helping to carry on her legacy.
Johnson is currently in his third year of medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Johnson is considering a residency in Internal Medicine and subspecialty in Gastroenterology.
“Nola was a mentor and friend of mine,” said Williams. “She was passionate about students’ success– inspiring many with her infectious smile and amazing words.” Williams said it was common knowledge that Dr. Royster felt that working with young people was not so much a job as a life-long passion.
“Nola was so highly thought of and successful not only at the University and in the community, but at the state and national levels too,” Holt Shackelford said.
Angela Williamson, assistant vice chancellor for Career Services, viewed Royster as a mentor in her life.
“There’s not a day that goes by that someone doesn’t comes up to me and tell me something that Nola helped them achieve,” said Holt-Shackelford. “Her life had an extraordinary impact on so many people. She was a very humble, sharing person and I know she would be elated about this scholarship,” she said. “Because sometimes a scholarship like this can make all the difference in the world to students in helping them complete their education.”
