AT&T Awards Henderson State University $771,000 To Expand College Prep Outreach

AT&T has awarded Henderson State University in Arkadelphia $771,000 through a program aimed at helping reduce remediation rates in college.

The money, donated through AT&T’s Aspire program, will help expand HSU’s Southwest Arkansas College Preparatory Academy, which is a university-public school collaboration program developed to reduce remediation rates and increase college attendance and graduation rates.

The funding will be used to expand the program to more students and hire additional educators to maintain small class sizes that permit individualized instruction.

Henderson State was named a recipient of the AT&T funding along with 29 other schools, school districts and non-profits nationwide as part of a $12.5 million pledge from the Dallas-based telecom.

The contributions are a part of AT&T Aspire, the company’s signature education initiative focused on school success and career readiness.

“At AT&T we are making preparation of the next generation of workers a priority. We are excited that Henderson State University’s Southwest Arkansas College Preparatory Academy was selected to receive this competitive award,” said Ed Drilling, President AT&T Arkansas. “With this award, the Academy will be able to help more students develop the skills necessary to graduate from high school ready for college or to pursue a career.”

“The Henderson State University Southwest Arkansas College Preparatory Academy is thrilled to have AT&T partner with us in our continuing quest to build an even brighter future for the students of southwest Arkansas,” said Dr. Glen Jones, president of Henderson State University. “We believe that every student has the potential to be extraordinary and the generous support from AT&T will allow us to serve even more students as we expand the program into other Arkansas high schools.”

Founded in 2009, the Southwest Arkansas College Prep Academy was created as an academic intervention for high school students at-risk of dropping out, and to address graduates with insufficient college and career preparedness.

The academy provides targeted intervention and enhanced educational opportunities to use knowledge and critical thinking to prepare students to embrace the responsibilities of college, careers and active citizenship as life-long learners.

SWACPA students attend classes at Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University or one of three community colleges: the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, National Park Community College at Hot Springs, and College of the Ouachitas at Malvern. SWACPA currently serves 16 school districts in six counties in Southwest Arkansas.

Students participate in four years of intensive academic instruction and academic skills training led by teams of high school teachers and college professors in classes of 10 to 12 students. Students are exposed to college life through on-campus classes and on-campus social experiences.