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Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ | Featured | First Generation | FoundationMarch 04, 2026

$3M in Scholarships Available to Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Students

Written By: Rachel Putman

Close to $3 million in private, donor-funded scholarships are available to University of Arkansas – Fort Smith students through the Lion’s Share scholarship portal, and university officials are urging students to complete required applications as soon as possible to maximize their financial aid offers for the 2026-27 academic year.

Lion’s Share connects eligible Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ students with Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Foundation scholarship opportunities through a single online profile. By completing or updating their profile, students are automatically matched with scholarships they may qualify for.

The application cycle for continuing Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ students opened in October 2025 and will remain available through June 1, 2026. While the deadline is several months away, financial aid officials encourage students not to wait.

β€œLion’s Share is an incredible opportunity for our students because one application can open the door to so many privately funded scholarships,” said Caleb Cash-Tobey, assistant director of scholarships. β€œWe truly want every student to have access to a Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ education, and that starts with completing their scholarship profile, filing the FAFSA, and submitting their SAMS applications as early as they can. Each step matters, and together they can make a real difference.”

Students may find more information on Lion’s Share at https://uafs.edu/tuition-and-aid/financial-aid/types-of-aid/scholarships/lions-share.php. *

The portal is available to enrolled Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ students, who must log in using their Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ account credentials. Admitted student may access their 2026-27 Scholarship Application through their Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Application Portal.

In addition to Lion’s Share, the Arkansas Division of Higher Education’s Student Aid Management System, or SAMS, is open for state scholarship applications at . The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, known as the FAFSA, is available at . University officials emphasized that SAMS and FAFSA must be completed separately form Lions Share and all three are incredibly important.

Studies show that each year in Pell Grants alone, simply because they didn't complete their FAFSA in time.

With Federal, State, and private aid applied, some students may owe nothing out of pocket in tuition and mandatory fees. In fact, at Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ, eligible Arkansas students who qualify for both Pell and Arkansas Challenge are guaranteed to have their tuition and mandatory fees completely covered thanks to the Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Tuition and Fee Guarantee. 

For additional information about scholarships and financial aid, students may contact the Financial Aid & Veterans Benefits Office.

 

*Lion’s Share is exclusively for Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Foundation scholarships. Separate applications are required for university-awarded scholarships, including merit-based and prestigious awards. New students entering Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ for the 2026-27 academic year complete Foundation scholarship matching through the Ί£½Η΅ΗΒΌΘλΏΪ Status Portal as part of the admissions process.