News

AGFC conservation scholarships lay path toward bright future

Published

5 months ago

December 5, 2024

Staff Reports

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/education/conservation-scholarships. The AGFC also will host a special applicant webinar on Zoom at 6 p.m. Dec. 3. Students and their families can register online. The webinar will be recorded and available upon request. Applicants may also contact scholarships@agfc.ar.gov with any additional questions about the program.

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.

News

Student Recognition, Budget Items Top El Dorado School Board Agenda

Published

16 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Grant Merrill

EL DORADO — The El Dorado School Board will hold its regular monthly meeting tonight, May 12, at 6 p.m., with a full agenda that includes financial updates, staff recognitions, and student honors across several campuses.

The board will begin by approving the minutes from its previous regular meeting held on April 14, as well as a special called meeting on April 22. Board members will then review and consider approval of monthly bills for payment and hear the annual audit report from Michael Cobb of Cobb & Suskie, Ltd.

One of the key financial items on the agenda includes a proposed update to the district’s extra duty pay stipends and salary schedule, followed by a review of lunch pricing for the 2025-26 school year.

A special moment of recognition will highlight students earning the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy. Honorees include Ignacio Chavez and Fredling Sarahy Mendoza Salmeron (10th grade), Abbigail Jasso, Daniela Peralta, and Samuel Ramirez (11th grade), and Denisse Hernandez and Ariana Jasso (12th grade). The award, presented by Heather Jennings, recognizes students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and at least one other language.

Two Southern Arkansas University student residents, Nealey Elkins and Cambell Warner, will also be recognized for their contributions to the district.

The board will hear from Yocum Primary and Yocum Elementary School, where several students and staff members will be honored. Katherine Briones Valerio and Zamarion Lowery were named Students of the Month for Yocum Primary and Elementary, respectively. Classified Employees of the Month are Melinda King (Primary) and Savannah Brown (Elementary), while Ashley Collinsworth and Nicole McAdams will be recognized as Teachers of the Month.

Principal Jessica Moore will provide a combined report for both Yocum Primary and Yocum Elementary.

The meeting will conclude with consideration of student transfer petitions and an executive session to discuss personnel matters.

News

Chamber Cash Mob Returns This Weekend

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce is rallying community support for local business with a special “Cash Mob” event this Saturday, May 17, at Especially For You, located at 522 W. 19th Street in El Dorado.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and shoppers are encouraged to stop by and commit to spending at least $25 in the store. In return, they’ll help boost a locally owned business — and be entered to win door prizes just for participating.

Cash mobs are grassroots efforts to support small businesses by encouraging a surge of customers during a short, targeted period. They not only provide a financial lift to businesses but also help generate visibility and build lasting community connections.

Especially For You, a longtime favorite in El Dorado’s retail scene, offers a wide variety of gifts, fashion, and home goods. The event aims to reward loyal customers and introduce new shoppers to what the store has to offer.

No advance registration is necessary. Shoppers can come by at any time during the three-hour window. For more information, visit the El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce on social media.

News

Junction City Schools Remind Parents Of Immunization Requirements

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — As the current school year nears its end, families in Union County are being reminded to prepare for upcoming immunization requirements for the 2025-2026 academic year.

In accordance with Arkansas state law, students must receive several key vaccinations before returning to campus this fall. The requirements include:

One dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Acellular Pertussis) for students 11 years of age
One dose of Meningococcal vaccine for students entering 7th grade
A Meningococcal booster dose at 16 years of age

School officials urge families to complete these vaccinations before the first day of school. Students will have a 30-day grace period from the start of school to submit proof of immunization. After that, those who are not up to date will not be permitted on campus.

Appointments can be scheduled through the local health department or other healthcare providers. The Union County Health Unit in El Dorado is available for appointments and can be reached at (870) 863-5101.

For questions or more information, parents are encouraged to contact school nurse Bailee McDaniel, RN.

Families are advised not to wait, as appointment slots may fill quickly over the summer.

News

Summer Meals Offered For El Dorado Youth In June and July

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — Children and teens in El Dorado will have access to free meals throughout the summer thanks to a seasonal meal program offered at El Dorado High School during June and July 2025.

The program, available to all children 18 and under, provides two convenient ways for families to receive meals — either in person or through a weekly pickup. All meals are served on a first come, first served basis.

From Monday through Thursday, children can enjoy breakfast and lunch at El Dorado High School, located at 2525 Parnell Road. Breakfast will be served from 7:15 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and lunch will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Adults may also purchase meals, with breakfast priced at $3 and lunch at $5.

For added flexibility, families may choose to pick up five days’ worth of breakfast and lunch on Mondays between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the same location, behind the high school. Children do not need to be present during pickup, and the meals remain free for anyone under the age of 18.

The initiative ensures that local youth continue to receive nutritious meals even when school is not in session, and it supports working families with limited access to daytime meal services.

No registration is required, and availability is based on a first come, first served basis each day and week. For more details, families are encouraged to contact El Dorado School District.

News

Area students encouraged to apply for ArFuture grant

Published

17 hours ago

May 12, 2025

Staff Reports

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Division of Higher Education is encouraging students to apply for the Arkansas Future (ArFuture) Grant, a program that covers tuition and fees for students pursuing high-demand careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as other critical regional fields.

The fall deadline to apply is July 1, and prospective students are urged to act quickly to take advantage of this opportunity. Applications can be submitted online at sams.adhe.edu.

The ArFuture Grant is designed to increase the education and skill level of Arkansas’ workforce by providing financial support to students enrolled in qualifying certificate and associate degree programs at public institutions across the state. The program was launched in 2017 as part of Governor Asa Hutchinson’s effort to boost workforce readiness and economic development by targeting tuition support to students pursuing credentials in fields that are essential to Arkansas’ future.

Eligible programs include areas such as computer science, healthcare, manufacturing, and other high-demand technical fields that meet state or regional workforce needs. The grant is a last-dollar award, meaning it covers remaining tuition and fee costs after other financial aid has been applied.

To qualify, students must enroll in an eligible program, maintain good academic standing, and agree to live and work in Arkansas for at least three years upon graduation. The program is available to both recent high school graduates and adult learners returning to school to upgrade their skills or change careers.

For more information on eligibility, program details, and how to apply, visit sams.adhe.edu.