Aug 8: For many prospective graduate students, the biggest challenge isn’t deciding they want to earn an advanced degree – it’s taking the first step toward that degree.
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Get Your Feet Wet Scholarship makes that first step easier by covering the cost of in-state tuition for one three-credit-hour graduate course during a student’s first semester. The competitive scholarship encourages students to experience graduate-level coursework while reducing the financial barrier of beginning a degree program.
“The purpose of the Get Your Feet Wet scholarship is to encourage people considering a graduate degree to apply to one of our programs and take at least one graduate class,” said Dr. Karen Kuralt, associate dean of the Graduate School.
Kuralt said the scholarship was inspired by conversations with prospective students who were excited about graduate school but hesitant about the cost or uncertain whether they were ready to return to the classroom.
“Some have been in the workforce for years and worry that their study skills are rusty,” Kuralt said. “Some aren’t sure they would enjoy graduate coursework enough to complete a program, or they aren’t sure how to finance the degree.”
The scholarship gives students the opportunity to experience graduate school with less financial risk. Kuralt said the program has produced encouraging results, with more than 80% of Get Your Feet Wet scholarship recipients going on to complete their graduate degrees since the program began.
“We’re confident that once these students try a graduate class here, they will see that they can do the work,” Kuralt said. “They will find it rewarding, and we can help them find financial support.”
For scholarship recipient Rose Milnes, the award provided both financial assistance and affirmation as she began pursuing her Master of Business Administration after earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from UA Little Rock.
“The Get Your Feet Wet Scholarship helped me get a jump start on my academic goals by easing some of the financial burden of earning a degree,” Milnes said. “It also supported my professional goals by helping me continue my growth in the field of higher education.”
Milnes, who serves as an accounting coordinator and teaching assistant at a two-year community college, said the support she received from UA Little Rock faculty and the flexibility of the university’s programs made returning for graduate school an easy decision. After graduation, she hopes to advance into leadership positions such as assistant controller, controller, or chief financial officer while continuing to support students through a career in the business office.
Valerisse Bell-Ovwiomoriemu credits the scholarship with giving her confidence as she continues her education. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music education from UA Little Rock, she is now pursuing a master’s degree in education with an emphasis in gifted and talented education. She also serves as the president of the UA Little Rock Graduate Student Association.
“I was inspired to continue pursuing higher education at UA Little Rock because I feel at home here,” Bell-Ovwiomoriemu said. “I know the faculty and administration, and I love and appreciate the support I receive from them.”
Bell-Ovwiomoriemu recently began her career as a music teacher and plans to continue her education through a doctoral degree. She said earning an advanced degree will create new opportunities while providing greater financial stability and allowing her to pursue the career she loves.
Joe Guzman, a master’s student in sport management, said the scholarship gave him the confidence to discover he could succeed in graduate-level coursework.
“The first step of this process is always the most uncertain, and having the scholarship gave me a high reward, low risk option to pull the trigger,” Guzman said. “It led to me taking a full course load by showing me that I would be able to handle the coursework.”
Guzman hopes to utilize his master’s degree alongside professional certifications and practical experience to pursue his goal of becoming a parks and recreation director, and make a positive impact on his community.
For Kuralt, the scholarship’s greatest reward comes years after recipients receive the award.
“The most rewarding aspect of administering this scholarship is watching the recipients complete their degrees and cross the stage at commencement,” she said. “In many cases, these recipients are the first people in their families to earn a graduate degree. They’ve taken a bold step toward advancing their current career or making a career change that will better their lives.”
Kuralt hopes the scholarship also sends an important message to prospective students.
“I hope this scholarship shows graduate school applicants that we believe in them, and that they, too, should take that next step in achieving their dreams.”
How to Apply
The Graduate School will award approximately 25 Get Your Feet Wet Scholarships for the Fall 2026 semester. The final application deadline is Aug. 14, 2026.
The scholarship is open to first-semester graduate students who are U.S. citizens, have been fully admitted to an eligible UA Little Rock graduate program, and meet the program’s additional eligibility requirements.
Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply online through the Graduate School’s Get Your Feet Wet Scholarship webpage, and those with questions can contact Dr. Karen Kuralt.