Bill filed to establish ASPIRE Scholarship for Crittenden County students

Local legislative contingent lauds benefits of proposal

ralphhardin@gmail.com Local members of the Arkansas state legislators have filed a bill that would provide college tuition to any student graduating from a Crittenden County high school. Senate Bill 661 would establish the ASPIRE Scholarship Program which would cover tuition for Crittenden County students enrolled at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro or ASU Mid-South in West Memphis.

“Access to a quality education is critical to the success of our communities, and it's our job to make sure our students have the tools and access they need to succeed,” said Sen.

Keith Ingram (D-West

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Memphis), the bill's primary Senate sponsor. “Our students in the Delta are as important, deserving, and as promising as any students anywhere else in the state or nation. With this scholarship, we hope to make it easier for them to further their education and improve their lives and our community.”

With the ASPIRE Scholarship Program, Sen. Ingram said he hopes to increase the educational opportunities for Arkansas students.

“As the bill is written, the funding for the scholarships will come through excess purse money from Southland Casino Racing,” said Sen. Ingram. “We are very excited about the potential this has for our students.”

The scholarships will be administered by the Arkansas State University System Foundation, Inc.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to create a path for every student in Crittenden County to go to college,” said Rep. Deborah Ferguson (D-West Memphis), the bill's primary House sponsor. “We want to remove barriers to getting a quality education, and it's our hope that when students realize that cost is not going to be a barrier, they'll graduate, attend college, and pursue their dreams in our community.” In order to qualify for the scholarship program, a student must graduate from a Crittenden County high school and enroll in ASU Mid-South, seeking a certificate or two-year degree. Aspire scholarship recipients who graduate with an associate degree from ASU Mid-South will be eligible to continue the scholarship at Arkansas State University, to obtain their baccalaureate degree.

“I believe this will be a great thing for Crittenden County,” said Rep. Milton Nicks (D-Marion). “If we can help pave the way to an education for students, and hopefully keep them here in Crittenden County, this will be good for everyone.”