The Ozarka College Foundation is proud to announce the Wayburn Watson Memorial Scholarship endowment. The Watson Memorial Endowment will provide scholarship support in the amount of $500 annually to an Ozarka College student.  

In 2013, in partnership with Watson's family, the Foundation began offering the annual Watson Memorial Scholarship with proceeds from an annual Wayburn Watson Memorial Calf Roping fundraiser. The Watson scholarship has already awarded $8,500 in scholarship support and made a positive impact on 23 Ozarka students.

 "Dad loved coaching, but he also loved rodeos and the cowboy way of life just as much, " said Mike Watson, Wayburn's son and Ozarka College Trustee. "The calf roping and this scholarship combined the two things Dad was passionate about: education and rodeo. "

The fundraising effort exceeded expectations and with some additional support from friends, family, a whole host of community members and businesses, and many generous employees at Ozarka College, the Wayburn Watson Memorial Scholarship became endowed in summer 2023.  

"We've been awarding an annual scholarship for ten years, " continued Mike, "but it was always our goal to raise enough along the way to fully endow a scholarship in Dad's name for a student attending Ozarka. This is a proud moment for our family in memory of our dad. "

"Coach Watson was a relentless supporter of education and its value in our communities. He was a proud advocate of Ozarka College and the life-changing opportunities it provides students, " said Dr. Josh Wilson, vice president of advancement. "He was renowned as a gifted storyteller and those that knew him, knew he was as generous as they come. He left a mark on his hometown and education was its cornerstone. This scholarship is a great way to remember Coach Watson and keep telling his story. "

Born in 1930, Wayburn Watson was a lifelong resident of Melbourne, Arkansas and a 1947 graduate of Melbourne High School. After serving in the U.S. Army, Watson completed his degree in education from ASU Jonesboro and began what became a 23-year career with Melbourne School District as a history and science teacher and coach. He is well known for leading the Melbourne girls to win their first overall state championship in 1973, after which he was voted Arkansas Coach of the Year by the Arkansas Coaches Association.  Watson later retired from his second career as an inspector for Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission after 21 years.

For more information about Ozarka Foundation endowments or ways you can support Ozarka students, please contact April Killian, Ozarka College Director of Development, at 870.368.2059 or email:   development@ozarka.edu.