El Dorado News-Times

El Dorado Promise scholarshi­p signing to take place Tuesday, April 9

Hogan Gidley, Vice Chair of the Center for Election Integrity & Senior Advisor for Strategic Communicat­ions at the America First Policy Institute, will be the keynote speaker for Academic Signing Day (ASD) in El Dorado, celebratin­g around 300 graduating seniors receiving the El Dorado Promise scholarshi­p. The event will take place on Tuesday, April 9, at 1:15 PM, in the El Dorado High School (EHS) Wildcat Arena.

The El Dorado Promise was begun by Murphy Oil Corporatio­n 17 years ago. The full scholarshi­p continues to cover tuition and mandatory fees at any accredited two- or fouryear post-secondary institutio­n, up to the cost at the most expensive public university in Arkansas. Over 3,544 Promise Scholars have taken part, attending 153 colleges and universiti­es in 35 different states.

Gidley grew up in El Dorado, Arkansas. Most recently, he served as National Press Secretary for President Trump’s Re-Election Campaign and Principal Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Assistant to the President in the Trump Administra­tion. Gidley is a communicat­ions, political, and marketing consultant with over twenty years of experience. He was Director of Communicat­ions for Mike Huckabee, Elizabeth Dole, and Rick Santorum.

Also scheduled to present at Academic Signing Day will be Murphy Oil Corporatio­n Board Member Madison Murphy, Representa­tive Matthew Shepherd, and El Dorado Mayor Paul Chaote.

“Every Academic Signing Day is as exhilarati­ng as the first, symbolizin­g a new chapter for El Dorado High School graduates. The El Dorado Promise ensures our graduates have the certainty of continuing their education,” stated EHS Principal Sherry Hill.

ESD Superinten­dent Jim Tucker stated, “We greatly appreciate Murphy Oil Corporatio­n and its continuati­on of the El Dorado Promise, which means so much for our district. We continue to grow a college-going culture by featuring a rigorous curriculum, plus one-of-a-kind innovative programs.”

El Dorado Promise Scholars can attend any accredited two or four-year college or university in the United States. As a universal, place-based scholarshi­p, any EHS graduate enrolled since at least the ninth grade can receive a college scholarshi­p, with no high school GPA, income limit, or competitiv­e applicatio­n

required. Graduates joining the military begin scholarshi­ps after completing one enlistment period.

Cheryl Patterson, Executive Director of the El Dorado Education Foundation (EDEF), stated, “The El Dorado Promise has significan­tly influenced students’ aspiration­s for higher education. Through the foundation, we can provide unique educationa­l opportunit­ies that begin as early as fifth grade.”

“Promise Scholars have completed studies from most Arkansas public and private universiti­es, as well as 124 out-of-state institutio­ns,” stated Tiffany Hurley, El Dorado Promise Director. “Currently, they are attending 63 post-secondary institutio­ns,” added Hurley.

Promise scholars will sign academic letters of intent to attend these in-state colleges and universiti­es: Arkansas Baptist College, Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University, Henderson State University, Hendrix College, National Park College, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Ouachita Baptist University, Southb Arkansas College, Southern Arkansas University, Southern Arkansas University Tech, University of Arkansas at Fayettevil­le, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas at Rich Mountain, University of Central Arkansas, and University of the Ozarks. Outof-state colleges and universiti­es acceptance­s include Grambling State University, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, Morehouse College, Northern Michigan University, Pennsylvan­ia State University, Prairie View A&M, San Antonio College, Southern University, and A&M College, Texas A&M University, Texas Southern University, and University of Pittsburgh.

Academic Signing Day’s title sponsor is First Financial Bank. The event is a partnershi­p of EDEF, ESD, MurphyOil Corporatio­n, and the El Dorado Promise. Other sponsors are the El Dorado News-Times.

Academic Signing Day committee members are Chair Alice Mahony, Michael Brookes, Ashlee Curtis, De’Anthony Curtis, Sherry Hill, John Jameson, Amber Murphy, Cheryl Patterson, Jim Tucker, Tiffany Hurley, Sylvia

Thompson, Lila Phillips, and Scarlett Gully.