🌟 Exciting News from El Dorado Promise 🌟
The El Dorado School District is thrilled to announce a major expansion of the El Dorado Promise Scholarship Program, opening up new avenues of opportunity for students in South Arkansas! In collaboration with SouthArk, ESD is introducing changes that will incentivize success in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and lead students to regional employment opportunities.
Starting with the El Dorado High School graduating class of 2024, the El Dorado Promise will cover tuition and mandatory fees for full or part-time enrollment in SouthArk’s Career Education Program or Teacher Preparation Program. These enhancements will enable more students to benefit from Promise scholarships while attending SouthArk.
Roger Jenkins, CEO of Murphy Oil Corporation, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "The El Dorado Promise is an important part of Murphy’s legacy of commitment to El Dorado and South Arkansas. We look forward to working with South Arkansas College to increase the post-secondary options available to El Dorado High School graduates. This partnership significantly furthers the mission of the Promise to invest in the future through education."
SouthArk Interim President Stephanie Tully-Dartez highlighted the incredible opportunity these amendments provide for El Dorado graduates interested in furthering their education and careers. "As a community, we are so grateful to have their talent grow in South Arkansas," she added.
Community partners also voiced their support, emphasizing that expanding the El Dorado Promise will help meet the need for workforce development in the area. Bill Luther, President and CEO of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce stated, "The expansion of the El Dorado Promise to include Career and Technical Certification Training if enrolled at South Arkansas College, is a significant step in filling the tremendous need for the technical professions that support our large manufacturing and healthcare base."
Moreover, this expansion will ensure a steady supply of qualified educators for local schools and strengthen the teacher pipeline in South Arkansas.
Tiffany Hurley, Director of the El Dorado Promise, highlighted the broader access to higher education that this expansion brings, stating, "With this expansion, we can now embrace numerous valuable career paths that don't necessarily demand a traditional college degree. This opens doors for even more students to access higher education and its endless possibilities."
Expanding the El Dorado Promise scholarship program is expected to have a positive economic impact by enabling students to acquire valuable skills and qualifications for high-demand careers, thus contributing to a more skilled workforce and a stronger economy in El Dorado and Union County.
Together, we're building a brighter future for our students and our community! 🎓