Three students from the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service worked in collaboration with Arkansas Commitment, a leadership development and college access program in Little Rock, to assess the possibility of expanding the program to various communities across the state.
Clinton School students Austin Hall of Hot Springs, Ark., Florence Mueni of Nairobi, Kenya, and Dariane Mull of Little Rock, Ark. worked with Arkansas Commitment to identify the feasibility and resources needed to support expansion of the program. Their work involved collecting data through focus groups and evaluating three communities in Arkansas: El Dorado, Arkadelphia, and Jonesboro. Based on this research, they produced a set of recommendations for the expansion of Arkansas Commitment.
A formal presentation will be held on Monday, April 27th at 5:30 PM at the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce. All are welcome to attend.
Arkansas Commitment works with students from over twenty-five high schools across Central Arkansas. Students include National Merit and Gates Millennium Scholars (seven Gates Scholars in the last six years and two finalists this year). 100% of Arkansas Commitment seniors have attended the nation’s top colleges and universities, receiving between $900,000 and $1,000,000 in scholars and aid annually over the past six years.
“We identify, early on, talented students who have potential,” said Jason Hamilton, executive director of Arkansas Commitment. “Then we hone in, develop, and support that student and family throughout the academic process.”
This project is one of 12 to be completed by 45 Clinton School students across the state of Arkansas. These students are in their first year of classes in the school’s Master of Public Service degree program.
About Arkansas Commitment
Established in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1999, Arkansas Commitment aims to identify academically talented African-American high school students throughout central Arkansas and guide them to become leaders of society by providing college access and preparation and scholarship opportunities.
More information about Arkansas Commitment is available at www.arkansascommitment.org.
Responses