SPRINGDALE — Community leaders and businessmen descended on the outskirts of the Springdale School District on Thursday night for the announcement of $450,000 in scholarship money for district students.
Members of the Springdale Education Foundation unveiled two scholarships to be given to students at the end of the school year.
The Don Tyson Endowed Scholarship will give $1,000 each year to selected students enrolled at the University of Arkansas’ College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. The Coach Kevin Johnson Memorial Scholarship also has been established, although the organization’s board has not yet decided the details of the scholarship, said Chris Stecklein, foundation organizer.
The foundation has $450,000 in scholarship money available, but Stecklein said he expects that number to grow before the end of the school year.
“We’re always looking for more. We feel we have an obligation to these students,” Stecklein said.
Gerald and Vicki Harp of Harps Food Stores dropped by the fundraising event to announce they will match the first $25,000 of the money raised for the night.
“I thought that would be the best way to get it started,” said Gerald Harp. “We have to make sure to provide for our grandkids.”
Stecklein said the money raised at the fundraiser will go toward the organization’s general operating fund to allow the foundation to hold more events and establish a community and web presence.
State Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, said the work of the organization is an example of why people need to take the initiative themselves to help forge a better future.
“We have to do better than just what is required,” Pritchard said. “We’re not going to look for the government to do it. We’re going to step up.”
The nonprofit Springdale Education Foundation was formed in June by combining the Springdale Schools Alumni Foundation and the Partners in Education organization. The foundation also carried over three scholarships from the previous organizations.
Organizations like the foundation have become a necessity as costs for schooling grow, Stecklein said.
“It’s getting harder and harder and more expensive to help these kids,” he said.
Bob Arthur, a Springdale planning commissioner, said the money from the scholarship funds and fundraiser are part of a bigger effort by community leaders to help Springdale turn a corner.
“Some of our next greatest days are ahead of us,” Arthur said. “The schools have to be clicking. The city has to be clicking. It all has to come together.”
Fayetteville established an education foundation in 1992. It distributed $150,468 in grants to teachers and $16,696 in scholarships for students in 2010. The foundation has a $2 million endowment.