News
AGFC conservation scholarships lay path toward bright future
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas students interested in a conservation career may be able to find a little tuition assistance thanks to the colorful wildlife-themed license plates found on cars throughout The Natural State. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Conservation Scholarship Program is accepting applications for the 2025-26 academic year until Dec. 31, 2024.
The AGFC is giving the scholarship program a facelift this year with a renewed focus on creating a career path leading to a future in conservation.
“In the past, we gave a lot of scholarships that were worth a little money to help college students, but we’ve reduced the number of scholarships available and increased the money each recipient will receive,” Lauren Cannon, AGFC Facility Director at the Ponca Nature Center who is taking the lead in the scholarship program, said. “It will be more competitive, but it will also be more rewarding.”
Incoming freshmen who receive a scholarship under the new format will receive $2,500 per semester, an increase of $1,500 per semester over the previously awarded amount. The scholarship amount also increases as the student progresses in their college journey.
“They’ll get $2,500 per semester as freshmen and sophomores, but those who continue to qualify in their junior and senior years of college will receive $5,000 per semester. It’s a pretty substantial increase,” Cannon said. “But the money increase really is only one benefit of the revamped program.”
Instead of simply helping pay a bill to college registrars, the AGFC is stepping up to become a true sponsor of scholarship recipients through increased requirements and benefits. Scholarship recipients must complete at least 40 volunteer hours with the AGFC during their freshman and sophomore years, and they must complete a 400-hour internship during each of their junior and senior years.
Ava Smith, AGFC Social Science Research Specialist, said the change will make the program become much more immersive to help students on their career path.
“They will need to volunteer or work with at least four AGFC divisions, so they’ll get a good idea of the many career paths available to them in conservation,” Smith said. “A lot of scholarship recipients in the past may have veered from their original intent of conservation, and these requirements will help them discern what path is right for them. If they do decide to go a different direction, then the funds are available for other students who are interested in conservation fields.”
Smith says the paid internships also help fulfill another hurdle many conservation students face post-graduation.
“Hiring for entry-level positions has sometimes been difficult when students lacked the necessary technical or professional skills,” Smith said. “The internships and volunteer requirements will create opportunities for students to acquire those skills, and incorporate training that will create more qualified natural resource professionals.”
Smith says recipients of the new scholarships also will be paired with a mentor at the AGFC who is in their field of study. Mentors will be able to help students hone their college experience into a career path, laser-focused on the opportunities available at AGFC and other conservation agencies.
“The ultimate goal is to build a bench of conservation professionals to one day join the AGFC, but at the end of their college experience, scholarship recipients should be able to hit the ground running with a variety of organizations in the natural resource discipline,” Smith said.
Anyone who currently receives an AGFC scholarship will still be able to reapply for the traditional amounts with the previous qualifications, but they also will be eligible to compete for the new scholarship format.
“We didn’t want to just pull the rug out from under people who were already receiving a scholarship, so we’re allowing them to continue on their path through the transition and apply for the new opportunity, too,” Smith said. “As those students graduate, it will make more room for additional scholarships under the new format.”
All Conservation Scholarship Program requirements and the application and award timeline are available at https://www.agfc.com/
Funded by the sale of Conservation License Plates, the AGFC’s Conservation Scholarship Program has been helping Arkansas students since 2001, the year after the first Conservation License Plate was issued. Since that time, more than $8 million has been delivered to students pursuing careers related to conservation.
10:30 PM UPDATE
Statewide
All Arkansas state government offices are closed Thursday and Friday.
El Dorado
The El Dorado School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, and will be closed on Friday, January 10th. The district urges everyone to prioritize safety during the anticipated weather conditions.
The Boys and Girls Club of Union County will be closed on Thursday.
Westside Christian School
Westside Christian School will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, and will be closed on Friday, January 10th.
Bravo Dance Centre
All classes for the remainder of the week have been cancelled. Classes will resume on Monday, January 13th.
Camden Fairview
The Camden Fairview School District has announced that all classes will be canceled on Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, due to expected severe weather conditions. The decision was made to prioritize safety, with concerns about hazardous road conditions during afternoon dismissals.
All district events scheduled for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday have also been canceled. Updates regarding rescheduled events are already being shared, including the following:
- Basketball games originally scheduled for January 9 and 10 will now take place at the CFHS Gym on Tuesday, January 21, with start times to be announced.
- The Ivory Intermediate Spelling Bee will now be held on Wednesday, January 15, with 5th grade at 8:20 AM and 4th grade at 9:30 AM.
Thanks to five built-in inclement weather days in the school calendar, students will not need to make up the missed days. The district will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates.
CFSD employees are advised to check their work emails for updates. The district encourages everyone to stay safe and warm.
Parkers Chapel
The Parkers Chapel School District will dismiss early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, due to anticipated weather conditions. Schools will remain closed on Friday, January 10.
Smackover
The Smackover-Norphlet School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, due to forecasted inclement weather and potentially hazardous road conditions. Buses will begin lining up at 12:30 p.m., and all after-school preschool classes are canceled.
Classes and all extracurricular activities are also canceled for Friday, January 10. The basketball game against Centerpoint has been rescheduled for Monday, January 13. District officials emphasized that the safety of students, staff, and the community remains their top priority.
Magnolia
The Magnolia School District will dismiss classes early at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2025, due to anticipated inclement weather. While officials believe it is unlikely schools will be open on Friday, a final decision will be made after assessing actual weather conditions. The district will continue to monitor updates and communicate any changes.
Hampton
Due to the threat of inclement weather Hampton Schools will be closed Thursday, January 9, 2025. The decision was made for the safety and the best educational outcomes for students and staff.
EL DORADO –
Winter weather sweeping through the region has left thousands of Entergy Arkansas customers without power. As of 7:30 a.m. on Friday, 1,510 customers in the El Dorado area and over 3,700 customers in Columbia County were reported to be without service.
Entergy Arkansas stated that crews are actively assessing the situation and working on restoration efforts where it is deemed safe. “It is on these assessments that we base our estimated restoration times. We will communicate these estimates with you and will provide updates as new information becomes available. Our crews will simultaneously be restoring service where it is deemed safe to do so,” the utility provider said in a statement.
Ice accumulation is a major factor in the outages, as it adds significant weight to power lines and tree limbs, causing them to stretch, bend, or snap. A half-inch of ice can increase the weight of a tree limb by up to 30 times, potentially bringing down power lines and causing widespread interruptions.
Entergy advised customers to turn off electrical appliances and heating units to avoid overloading the system once power is restored. Additionally, the company emphasized safety precautions for residents:
- Stay away from downed power lines, as live wires can be deadly. Report downed lines or damaged equipment by calling 1-800-9OUTAGE or 1-800-968-8243.
- Avoid trimming trees or removing debris near power lines, as this task should be left to power company crews or contractors.
- Keep clear of work zones where crews are making repairs.
- If using a generator, ensure it is installed by a licensed electrician and disconnected from the utility system to prevent safety risks.
Residents are encouraged to remain patient as restoration crews work to safely return service. For the latest updates, visit SouthArkansasNow.com or monitor Entergy Arkansas’ communications.
LITTLE ROCK – In anticipation of severe winter weather expected to impact Arkansas on January 9, 2025, Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has issued Executive Order 25-01, declaring a state of emergency and allocating $150,000 from the Governor’s Disaster Response and Recovery Fund. This proactive measure aims to address potential dangers, hardships, and property damage caused by the approaching storm.
Emergency Funding and Assistance
The funds will be managed by the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management and can be used for both program and administrative costs to aid recovery efforts. The declaration emphasizes the potential for significant impacts on citizens and public infrastructure across the state, highlighting the need for supplemental assistance to local governments and communities.
Winter Weather Threat
According to the National Weather Service, the incoming winter storm is expected to bring heavy snow, freezing rain, and dangerous ice accumulations, creating hazardous travel conditions and potential power outages. The emergency declaration underscores the seriousness of the threat and prepares state resources to respond swiftly.
Governor’s Statement
“Severe winter weather poses a serious threat to the safety and well-being of Arkansans, as well as to public property throughout our state,” Governor Sanders stated. “This emergency declaration ensures we are ready to provide critical support where it is needed most.”
Preparedness Measures
The declaration follows warnings from meteorologists and emergency management agencies urging residents to prepare for the storm by stocking up on essential supplies, avoiding unnecessary travel, and staying informed about road conditions and weather updates.
This state of emergency enables rapid mobilization of resources to protect lives and property as Arkansas braces for potentially devastating winter weather.
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