UA Little Rock Alumni establish $50,000 scholarship for Delta students

May 5-11, 2025

By Angelita Faller

UA Little Rock alumni Jay and Darwana Hall have donated $50,000 to establish the Darwana and Jay J. Hall Endowed Scholarship, a new fund designed to support students from the Arkansas Delta region.

Jay Hall, a 1986 graduate of UA Little Rock with a degree in psychology, grew up in Brinkley, Arkansas, and understands the financial challenges many students from the Delta region face. The scholarship gives preference to undergraduate students from public school systems in Lee and Monroe counties.

“I recognize the financial challenge for students from the Arkansas Delta region,” Hall said. “We wanted to give back to the community in appreciation for the encouragement and support we received.”  

Hall’s time at UA Little Rock was filled with hard work and perseverance as he balanced his studies with employment and ROTC training.

“My time at UA Little Rock reiterated the importance of setting goals and persevering through life’s challenges,” he said.

Jay and Darwana Hall, who studied business at UA Little Rock, met, fell in love, and married while they were students. After Jay received his bachelor’s degree in psychology, he was commissioned as a U.S. Army officer. He received his master’s degree in national security affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. 

Darwana Hall completed her bachelor’s degree at Northwestern State University and her J.D. at the University of Alabama. She practiced law in Huntsville, Alabama, for seven years before relocating to Washington, D.C. She currently serves as privacy senior counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C.

Jay Hall served as a professional military officer in the U.S. Army with assignments in Korea, Germany, and Russia. He completed combat tours in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning two Bronze Star medals. He currently supports the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s Institute for Security Governance, serving as the regional program coordinator for Southern Africa.

The couple, who now reside in Office Hill, Maryland, hope their scholarship will provide meaningful opportunities for students from their home state.

“We hope it will encourage students to continue pursuing their academic endeavors and dreams,” Jay Hall said.  

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Darwana and Jay Hall (photo provided)