The Eighth Annual OWJEF Scholarship Banquet 2025
Come and join us as we celebrate the 2025 OWJEF student scholarship recipients and educators of the year. Featuring a three-course dinner, a live jazz band, and our keynote speaker, Hugh McDaniel, we promise this will be a night you won’t forget!
General admission ticket sales will begin on March 15, 2025 and end on April 20, 2025.
Can’t attend but want to support the fund? Donate to the scholarship below.
Hourly Schedule
- 6:00 PM
- Doors Open
- Reception with appetizers by Xperience Kitchen and Lounge & cocktails provided by Delta Dirt Distillery
- 7:30 PM
- Program Begins
- 3-course meal with a live jazz band, followed by a speech from our keynote speaker and the presentation of our 2024 scholarship and EOTY recipients
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Speakers:
Hugh McDonald
Speaker
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Hugh McDonaldSecretary of the Arkansas Department of Commerce
Hugh T. McDonald was appointed Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Commerce by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2023. The Department of Commerce includes the Arkansas State Bank Department, Arkansas Securities Department, Arkansas Insurance Department, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, Waterways Commission, Division of Aeronautics, Reemployment, Workforce Connections and Policy.
He served as chief executive officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc. from 2000 until his retirement in 2016. Entergy Arkansas is the largest electric utility in the state, serving over 700,000 customers with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion.
Hugh joined Entergy in 1982 as an engineer at Waterford 3 nuclear generating plant in Louisiana. He held various management positions in the distribution, transmission, customer service, retail marketing and regulatory business functions in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas.
While serving as CEO of Entergy, Hugh became a friend of and mentor to our namesake, Oscar Washington Jr. Hugh recognized Oscar’s intellect and leadership potential and was the catalyst in Oscar becoming the first African American Vice President of Customer Service in Entergy Arkansas’ history. Additionally, after Oscar’s passing, Hugh was instrumental in the birth of OWJEF by securing $10,000 in seed money for the organization.
Prior to Entergy, Hugh worked for Black and Veatch Consulting Engineers in Overland Park, Kansas.
He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Nature Conservancy of Arkansas and the North Dakota State University Foundation.
Hugh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management from North Dakota State University, 1980; and earned an MBA from the University of New Orleans in 1987.
Hugh and his wife, Michelle, have 3 children.