Seven Newport High School seniors have been named 2018 Arkansas Scholars. The Arkansas Scholars program encourages students to do well in high school by meeting a set of criteria that will prepare them for both the workplace and additional education after school. The program is centered on academic achievement for a broad range of students. Arkansas Scholars is sponsored locally by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and by the Arkansas Business and Education Alliance statewide.
The Arkansas Scholars program encourages students to do well in high school by meeting a set of criteria that will prepare them for both the workplace and additional education after school.
The program is centered on academic achievement for a broad range of students. Arkansas Scholars is sponsored locally by the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce and by the Arkansas Business and Education Alliance statewide.
The Arkansas Scholars program encourages academic achievement by high school students (grades 9-12) and begins with in-class presentations by local business leaders to second semester eighth graders.
Through a PowerPoint presentation and discussion, these students are told what businesses look for in employees, the salaries of various jobs and the importance of doing well in school. Students are asked to reach the following four goals while in high school: to make semester grades of “C” or above in all academic courses; to achieve a 95 percent or better attendance; to complete the recommended courses to prepare for post-secondary education; and to complete high school in eight consecutive semesters.
Graduating seniors who have achieved all of these specific goals are designated as Arkansas Scholars.
This year’s scholars are (from left to right) Oshae Pruitt, Caitlin Mueller, Jacey Poplawski, Luke Samaniego, Maryam Alhamdani, Dawsyn Smith and Jacob Keefe.
Scholars received a certificate at the high school’s awards event, and an Arkansas Scholars seal will be placed on their high school transcripts. Several in-state colleges offer incentives to Arkansas Scholars such as free books or tuition. The scholars, their parents and school administrators were treated to a cookout on May 10 at the Legion Hut. Cookout sponsors included Merchants & Planters Bank, ASU-Newport, Cash Saver, Morrison Healthcare/Unity Health – Harris Medical Center and several local businesses that donated items for goody bags.
During the cookout, the students each received a $300 scholarship from Arkansas State University-Newport in recognition of their success in the Arkansas Scholars program.
The Arkansas Scholars committee of the Chamber of Commerce organized job shadowing opportunities at area businesses for eligible juniors and a cake dessert for eligible sophomores who are still on track to become Arkansas Scholars when they graduate.
