University of Nevada, Reno students now have a new scholarship pool of $25,000 available to fund a University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) study abroad opportunity, thanks to a gift from the Frances C. and William P. Smallwood Foundation. The scholarship pool is designed to expand students’ world experience and to help make them more cognizant of other countries and cultures.

The Frances C. & William P. Smallwood Foundation gift will provide 25 $1,000 scholarships to University students who are residents of Washoe, Douglas, or Carson City counties. Preference will be given to first-generation university students and those with financial need.

Applications for spring 2011 will be due Oct. 15. Applications for summer 2011 will be due April 15. More information can be requested at scholarships@usac.unr.edu

The Frances C. & William P. Smallwood Foundation was established on the death of William P. Smallwood in April 1968. Smallwood, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, resided and worked in Dallas where he was a co-founder of First Southwest Company, a prominent regional investment banking firm specializing in public finance, bond underwriting and the raising of capital for developing regional companies.

The establishment of the foundation represented the culmination of their lifetime support of a broad spectrum of charitable organizations and endeavors.

In 1991 following the death of Mrs. Smallwood, a native of St. Paul, Minn., significant new resources were transferred to the Foundation in furtherance of its charitable purposes, enabling the Foundation to substantially increase its future levels of support to worthy charitable and educational organizations, projects, and endeavors.

The University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) has been located at the University of Nevada, Reno campus for almost 30 years. USAC consists of 33 U.S. universities and offers quality study abroad programs at 39 locations in 24 countries.