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Jeff and Katherine Arnold Johnson have given a $1 million gift to Hendrix College to create an endowed scholarship fund in support of future generations of students.
This gift is made in honor of Jeff’s father, Bill Johnson, class of 1960, and Jeff’s grandfather, Boyd Johnson, class of 1933.
The Johnsons’ gift will fund the W. Jeff ’88 and Katherine Arnold ’89 Johnson Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to students with demonstrated financial need for whom attendance at Hendrix is not otherwise possible.
Preference will be given to students with an interest in entrepreneurship as demonstrated by summer and after school work/new business endeavors and whose high school records reflect academic achievement and leadership in areas such as team sports, student government, and community service.
“The Johnsons’ generosity in supporting future students honors the legacy of their family and reflects the importance of ensuring the life-changing benefits of a Hendrix education remain accessible to talented students. We are profoundly grateful that Jeff and Katherine believe in and support the value of a liberal arts education at Hendrix and chose to make the opportunity available to generations of students in perpetuity. What a beautiful way to honor Jeff’s father and grandfather and reward the entrepreneurship and determination of future students,” said Hendrix College President Karen Petersen.
“Hendrix has been a vital part of our family for generations, and our gift helps to ensure that our legacy and the legacy of the institution continue on for many future generations as well,” said Jeff and Katherine Johnson.
A graduate of the class of 1988, Jeff Johnson majored in economics and business and also played basketball at Hendrix. He started working for Gus Vratsinas, his mentor, while in college and eventually worked his way up to president of Vratsinas Construction Company, where he worked for 22 years.
With his entrepreneurial drive, he partnered with Witt Stephens, Jr. and the Stephens Group to form Summit Industrial Construction and led Summit to a highly successful exit last year. He remains CEO of Summit, a wholly owned operating company of publicly-traded Comfort Systems USA.
Katherine Johnson graduated from Hendrix in 1989 with a degree in accounting. As a student, she was also a cheerleader. Upon graduating, she worked in accounting for a management company in Little Rock until starting their family.
The W. Jeff ’88 and Katherine Arnold ’89 Johnson Endowed Scholarship will be awarded for the first time to students who enroll in the fall of 2026.
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by Talk Business & Politics staff
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