$100 million gift from Jane and Bryan Hunt on behalf of the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt family transforms access to higher education for promising, low-income students from 75 counties

The University of Arkansas closed its 2025 fiscal year with one of the most significant philanthropic moments in its history: a $100 million planned gift from Jane and Bryan Hunt on behalf of the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt family.

The donation serves as the cornerstone of the university’s ambitious Land of Opportunity Scholarship, a three-year, $200 million initiative designed to transform access to higher education for promising, low-income students from every one of Arkansas’s 75 counties.

Announced in November 2024, the campaign has already surged to $132.8 million—two-thirds of its goal—in less than twelve months.

University officials note that the Hunts’ commitment not only provided the most significant single boost in the institution’s recent fundraising history but also set a tone of bold ambition for what the scholarship program can achieve.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship is not a traditional, one-dimensional financial aid program. In addition to covering tuition and fees, it will incorporate wraparound services, including academic mentoring, career-readiness training, financial literacy programs, and internship connections.

By coupling resources with robust support systems, the initiative aims to ensure that students not only enroll but also thrive—and graduate prepared to contribute to Arkansas’s economic and civic life.

For Jane and Bryan Hunt, the gift is deeply personal.

Both are alumni of the University of Arkansas and children of J.B. and Johnelle Hunt, the legendary founders of J.B. Hunt Transport Services. J.B. Hunt left school in the seventh grade to help support his family, yet through grit, entrepreneurial vision, and hard work, he built one of America’s largest trucking and logistics companies.

The Hunts’ decision to channel such a substantial portion of their giving toward education reflects their belief in the transformative power of opportunity—the same opportunity their father found in Arkansas.

When the gift was announced, Jane Hunt spoke candidly about her father’s influence and her educational background.

“Arkansas was the Land of Opportunity for my dad,” she said, noting that her years as a teacher shaped her conviction that education remains the surest path to a better future.

Johnelle Hunt, the family matriarch, echoed that sentiment, saying that supporting Arkansas students is “especially meaningful” and expressing confidence that the scholarship will elevate both educational and economic prospects across the state.

University leaders have been quick to emphasize the generational impact of the Hunts’ generosity. Chancellor Charles Robinson described the donation as a catalyst for a new era of student access and success.

Vice Chancellor for Advancement Scott Varady highlighted not only the scale of the gift but also the values behind it, calling it a reflection of the Hunts’ compassion, humility, and enduring commitment to the people of Arkansas.

This is far from the family’s first act of transformative giving. Over the years, the Hunts have supported a wide range of projects that impact nearly every aspect of life in Arkansas.

They have invested in healthcare, donating $250,000 to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest Regional Campus to bolster its capacity to train future healthcare providers.

They have championed athletics, contributing $5 million toward the construction of the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Baseball Development Center. This facility has enhanced the resources and competitiveness of Razorback Baseball.

Jane Hunt has also turned her attention to the earliest stages of education, establishing the Early Childhood Champions Fund through the Arkansas Community Foundation to expand access to quality preschool programs and provide scholarships for early childhood educators.

Her philanthropy extends to social services as well: she has committed $1 million to New Beginnings, a housing initiative in Northwest Arkansas that provides stability and support to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Taken together, these efforts reveal a philanthropic philosophy that is both deeply rooted in Arkansas and forward-looking in its scope. The Hunt family’s giving is guided by the belief that investing in people — whether through education, healthcare, or housing—creates ripples of opportunity that strengthen entire communities.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship represents the most comprehensive expression of that philosophy to date. University officials anticipate awarding the first scholarships in fall 2026, with hundreds of students expected to benefit each year.

As the campaign approaches its $200 million target, the Hunts’ leadership gift has already inspired other major donors to join the cause, forming the Leaders of Arkansas Founders’ Circle—a group of supporters each contributing $1 million or more.

For the University of Arkansas, the momentum generated by the Hunts’ generosity comes at a time of record progress under its 150 Forward Strategic Plan.

Retention rates have reached 86 percent, the six-year graduation rate has surpassed 70 percent, and research activity has reached all-time highs, resulting in a $3 billion annual economic impact on the state. The following goals—$500 million in research activity and an 80 percent graduation rate—are ambitious. Still, university leaders believe that the philanthropic surge ignited by the Hunts will be central to achieving them.

Ultimately, the Hunt family’s $100 million gift is more than just a donation. It is a declaration that Arkansas’s young people deserve the chance to rise, that education is the foundation of both individual and community prosperity, and that opportunity, once given, has the power to echo across generations.