The Arkadelphia Promise Board of Directors recently approved a $2,000 increase to the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship. The funding increase will be given to Arkadelphia High School graduates, beginning with the class of 2018. The announcement was made on Wednesday, May 16 at the annual Arkadelphia Promise Signing Day event.
As a result of the scholarship increase, students will receive an additional $1,000 per year for their freshman and sophomore years of college.
The maximum four-year value of the Promise Scholarship will grow from $12,000 to $14,000 and will match the Arkansas Academic Challenge (Lottery) Scholarship. Together, these programs provide up to $28,000 in scholarship support for graduates of Arkadelphia High School.
College freshmen receive $1,000 from the Arkansas Challenge Program and up to $5,000 from the Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship. Sophomores receive $4,000 from the Challenge Scholarship and up to $3,000 from the Arkadelphia Promise. Juniors receive $4,000 from the Challenge Scholarship and up to $3,000 from the Arkadelphia Promise. Seniors receive $5,000 from the Challenge Scholarship and up to $3,000 from the Arkadelphia Promise.
The Arkadelphia Promise Scholarship increase comes as a result of a growth effort aimed at providing support for Arkadelphia’s students. Increased funds are possible thanks to strong budgeting practices and the original gifts that established the Promise, which were provided by the Ross Foundation and Southern Bancorp.