Hill Scholarship Inspired by Interactions in Architecture

Charles Hill was drawing bridges and buildings before he started school and always knew he wanted to be an architect or civil engineer. He also realized the University of Arkansas was the place that could give him that opportunity.

As a student in the then-Department of Architecture, Hill interacted with early founders and pioneers like John G. Williams, Cyrus Sutherland, Ernie Jacks, Herb Fowler and the school's future namesake, Fay Jones.

"Their inspiration and direction really set my values and career path," Hill said. "They're the reason I wanted to get involved with the U of A. They were like family from the beginning."

Hill was the first in his immediate family to earn a baccalaureate degree and said scholarships played a role in that achievement.

"I could not have gone to the U of A without scholarships," he said. "It made all the difference in the world for me to complete my education. Making a gift was my opportunity to give back."

The Charles C. Hill Jr. Endowed Scholarship in Architecture and Design will be awarded on a rotational basis to students majoring in architecture, landscape architecture and interior design. Preference will be given to students who are graduates of high schools in Missouri or Arkansas. Hill's $50,000 planned gift will create the endowment for the scholarship, and additional annual gifts will be made to ensure the scholarship is awarded in the 2019-20 academic year.