El Dorado, Arkansas – The El Dorado Promise Scholarship Program is embarking on a new partnership to encourage growth and opportunity for students in South Arkansas. This initiative, facilitated by the El Dorado Promise, will incentivize success in Career and Technical Education (CTE), and lead students to regional employment opportunities.
Beginning with the El Dorado High School graduating class of 2024, the El Dorado Promise will pay for tuition and mandatory fees for part-time students who work in South Arkansas while enrolled in SouthArk’s Career Education Program or Teacher Preparation Program.
“These amendments to the Promise provide an incredible opportunity for those El Dorado graduates who have chosen their careers and want to further their education. As a community, we are so grateful to have their talent grow in South Arkansas,” explains SouthArk Interim President Stephanie Tully-Dartez.
Community partners expressed that expanding the El Dorado Promise will help meet the need for workforce development in the area.
“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, explains Bill Luther, President and CEO of the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to providing the opportunity for students to earn more college-level credits while in high school, the El Dorado Promise will pay for tuition and mandatory fees for eligible El Dorado High School students, allowing them to take a third concurrent college-level course at South Arkansas College before graduating from El Dorado High School; exceeding the State of Arkansas’ allowance, which covers only two concurrent college-level courses.
“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,” says Tiffany Hurley, Director of the El Dorado Promise.
Furthermore, this expansion will ensure a steady supply of qualified educators for local schools and strengthen the teacher pipeline in South Arkansas.
“I am continually amazed at how closely business, industry, and academics work together in our community. Thank you, Murphy Oil, for the gift that keeps giving, ” Luther adds.
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.