Campus Talk: El Dorado Promise turns nine years old
by January 26, 2016 2:24 pm 173 views
Editor’s note: Each Tuesday, Talk Business & Politics provides “Campus Talk,” a recap and roundup of education news.
EL DORADO PROMISE TURNS NINE: It flew under the radar as most nine-year anniversaries do, but last week the El Dorado Promise celebrated nearly a decade of existence. The Promise, which was funded by Murphy Oil Corp. with a $50 million contribution, helps graduates of El Dorado Public Schools go to college tuition-free.
Over the course of the last nine years, officials say school district enrollment has increased in El Dorado, standardized test scores have improved, and Promise scholarships have been awarded to 1,797 students.
Of the most recent graduating class, 86% of students of the Promise enrolled in Arkansas colleges or universities and 14% chose to go out of state. This year, 415 students have taken 828 AP classes.
CHAMBERS TO CHAIR ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY BOARD: John Ed Chambers III of Danville was elected to serve as the 2016 chairman of the Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees. Chambers, CEO of Chambers Bank, is in his third term as a member of the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees. His grandfather, Judge John Ed Chambers, served on the Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees from 1925-37, 1939-53 and 1955-63. His father, John Ed Chambers II, was an Arkansas Tech trustee from 1965-67 and 1987-88.
Also serving as 2016 Arkansas Tech Board of Trustees officers are Leigh Whiteside of Russellville (vice chairman) and Charles Blanchard of Russellville (secretary). They are joined by fellow board members Fritz Kronberger of Russellville and Tom Kennedy of Little Rock.
UALR NAMES NEW FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS: Seven people have been added to a governing board for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The UALR Foundation Fund board of directors has added the following members:
- Shash Goyal, CEO of I Square Management
- Ryan Holder, CPA, CFO at Strategic M&A Advisors
- Linda Marshall, administrative law judge
- Jessica Sabin, partner at Areté Strategic Partners
- Dr. Marcia Smith, faculty emerita at the UALR Department of Rhetoric and Writing and former associate director of the UALR Donaghey Scholars program
- Sam Walls III, COO and president of Arkansas Capital Corp.
- Greg Williams, CEO of Nabholz Construction Services
Marshall, Sabin, Smith, and Walls are UALR alumni. With the seven additions, the board now includes 30 members. Each can serve up to six years, with a three-year term and the potential for one renewal.