Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association/Lorie Harris Tudor Endowment Scholarship Established at UACCM

 

The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton (UACCM) has established the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association/Lorie Harris Tudor Endowment Scholarship.

 

The endowment is established by former Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) Director Lorie Tudor, along with the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA), for non-credit workforce training programs, the first-ever endowed scholarship aimed at students in non-credit workforce programs.

 

“The Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association/Lorie Harris Tudor Endowment Scholarship is the first of its kind at UACCM,” said UACCM Dean of Workforce Education and Training Dr. Jessica Allred.

 

“This is the first endowment earmarked for short-term training at UACCM and allows for additional support and opportunities for students,” Allred said.

 

Tudor presented a personal gift of $20,000, and the AAPA made a $5,000 contribution, making the endowment a total of $25,000.

 

“The Foundation is extremely thankful for people like Lorie and partners like the AAPA, who not only see the potential and quality of UACCM, but have chosen to support it through this endowment,” said UACCM Development Officer Lauren Bryan.

 

Bryan continued, “This endowed scholarship will benefit countless students in our non-credit workforce programs for many years to come.”

 

Tudor retired in January after 41 years of service to ARDOT. In March 2020, she was named as ARDOT’s first female Director. Following her appointment as Director, Tudor overcame many immediate challenges, such as the COVID pandemic and the emergency closing of the Hernando de Soto I-40 Mississippi River Bridge in West Memphis in May 2021 after a fracture was discovered.

 

The AAPA was founded in 2000 to give Arkansas contractors a collaborative voice, promoting quality asphalt in Arkansas. The AAPA currently represents over 50 asphalt plants and over 97 percent of the hot mix suppliers and lay down contractors in Arkansas.