EL DORADO -- Businesses, industries, individuals and the community of El Dorado have "all come together, and it is paying off -- El Dorado is the biggest comeback story in Arkansas," Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday during the ninth annual El Dorado High School Academic Signing Day.
Almost 300 graduating seniors, who entered the new Wildcat Arena wearing purple gowns and El Dorado Promise caps, signed letters of intent to further their educations after high school.
Many will be able to attend the colleges of their choice because of El Dorado Promise scholarship funds. The El Dorado Promise is a $50 million scholarship gift to graduates of El Dorado High School from Murphy Oil Corp. The program was announced in January 2007 by Claiborne Deming, who now is chairman of the board at Murphy.
Senior Suzanne Skinner said she plans to attend Sewanee: The University of the South, northeast of Chattanooga, Tenn., and will receive 100 percent of a Promise scholarship because she has attended El Dorado schools since kindergarten. She started school at Hugh Goodwin Elementary.
"I am very lucky" to get the Promise scholarship, Skinner said.
The Promise scholarship pays up to 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees to attend any two- or four-year college in the United States. The scholarship amounts are based on the highest cost to attend any public university in Arkansas, which is currently the University of Central Arkansas at Conway.
"I am so glad to be at El Dorado High School for this event. There is a real buzz and excitement in the air," Deming said during the signing ceremony.
"I can see the fruit of the El Dorado Promise tree," he said, commending El Dorado residents for passing a millage to build a new, state-of-the-art high school after the program was announced.
Deming said it was "with deep admiration and pride" that he announced Hutchinson as the keynote speaker for the academic signing. When the governor took the stage, he said that after the state's "long legislative session," he was "glad to hear those kind remarks."
Hutchinson said that earlier he was at the state Capitol to celebrate the 150th anniversary of state's ratification of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and "I was able to look back on history. Then I got on a plane and came down here to talk about the future," he told the crowd.
The governor mentioned several El Dorado businesses and industries and praised them for adding jobs to the city's economy. He also talked about the proposed El Dorado Arts and Entertainment District.
"The foundation of all of this success is the El Dorado Promise," Hutchinson said. "The Promise attracts families, businesses and by creating El Dorado High School graduates [with scholarships to pay for higher education], it has created a cycle of success in El Dorado. I like seeing all the smiles and optimism."
He said Arkansas is unique in that everyone pulls together -- no matter their political party affiliation -- to see the state succeed. The governor also said the state is set apart in having varied geography -- with mountains, oil fields, Delta and timberland.
"We also have a unique ability in that we can generate entrepreneurs," Hutchinson said. "Arkansas has lots of opportunities for the future, and I hope lots of students will return here to invest in the future of Arkansas."
The governor mentioned that the Legislature approved his plan to provide computer coding classes to all Arkansas high schools, a measure that he said will "make Arkansas a national leader in computer-science education." He encouraged juniors attending the signing ceremony to take the class next year.
He said Arkansans have a "willingness to embrace change," and he encouraged graduates to "expect and embrace the unexpected. The future is exciting. Today we are celebrating the El Dorado Promise -- a promise that has been made and kept."
Deming said two things in the El Dorado area that are now successful are the school district and the community.
"There are now more seniors going to college south of Little Rock," and while "all school districts except El Dorado have lost students, we've stayed stable. Our plants and factories are expanding, and we are starting an arts and theater festival district," he said.
Johnny Key, who was recently named Arkansas education commissioner, also attended the academic signing and told seniors that they are "pioneers."
"In 2003, we embarked on changing education in Arkansas, and you are some of the first to go through those changes. You are pioneers because of the El Dorado Promise. We are proud and excited about your future contributions to the state of Arkansas," he said.
Senior Harshil Dudhia said he will receive 70 percent of an El Dorado Promise scholarship and plans to attend the University of North Texas in Denton.
Spencer Hughes, another senior, said he plans to attend UCA and will receive 100 percent of a Promise scholarship because he has been enrolled in the El Dorado School District since kindergarten at Hugh Goodwin Elementary.
Lawson Smith, who has attended the El Dorado School District since second grade, will receive 95 percent of a Promise scholarship and plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Ashleigh Ogden started in the district in kindergarten at Yocum Elementary and will use her 100 percent Promise scholarship to attend the University of Texas in Austin, a university her aunt attended.
El Dorado High School Principal Alva Reibe welcomed everyone to the signing and introduced guests.
State Desk on 04/15/2015