academic signing

Academic Signing Day Program to Celebrate El Dorado Promise Students

El Dorado Education Foundation

April 27, 2021

To celebrate around 300 graduating seniors receiving the El Dorado Promise scholarship, the 14th Academic Signing Day (ASD) will take place Wednesday, April 28, at 1:30 PM, in the El Dorado High School (EHS) Wildcat Arena.

Presenters will include Murphy Oil Corporation Board Member Madison Murphy, Arkansas Speaker of the House Matthew Shepherd (from El Dorado), and El Dorado Mayor Veronica Smith-Creer. Via video, the keynote address is scheduled to be given by Eric Musselman, University of Arkansas Head Men’s Basketball Coach,  

CDC/Arkansas Department of Health guidelines will be followed. Masks and invitations are required for entry. The program also is planned to be live-streamed and recorded. For updates, on that day, please see: www.eldoradopublicschools.org.

 The El Dorado Promise was begun by Murphy Oil Corporation 14 years ago. The full scholarship continues to cover tuition and mandatory fees at any accredited two- or four-year post-secondary institution, up to the cost at the most expensive public university in Arkansas. Over 2,850 Promise Scholars have taken part, attending 153 colleges and universities in 35 different states. 

“Every Academic Signing Day is every bit as exciting as the very first one, because it represents a potential new chapter for El Dorado High School graduates,” stated Murphy. “The past year was without precedent and caused dislocations, hardships and uncertainty. It also caused or necessitated looking at many things in a new or different way,” he added. “Amid this shifting landscape and uncertainty, the Promise provides certainty of the opportunity for EHS graduates to continue their educations. I am pleased Murphy Oil Corporation is able to keep the El Dorado Promise intact.”

ESD Superintendent Jim Tucker stated, “We greatly appreciate Murphy Oil Corporation and its continuation of the El Dorado Promise, which mean so much for our district. We continue to grow a college-going culture by featuring a rigorous curriculum, plus one-of-a-kind innovative programs. In addition, this year, we were the only one in this area to place a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The district also is happy that Coach Musselman, who knows how practice and continuous improvement work together to build a team, will be able to join us via video, to celebrate the academic achievements of Promise Scholars,” he added.

Musselman recently completed his second season with the Razorbacks and returned the program to heights it had not seen since the mid-1990’s. This past season, Arkansas advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 1995, and won 25 games overall, which tied for the eighth-best total in the NCAA, and was the program’s 13th time to reach the mark in 98 years of basketball. The Razorbacks won 13 SEC games to finish second in the conference.  Arkansas finished sixth in the final USA TODAY coaches poll and #10 in the Associated Press poll. It was the first time since 1995 that Arkansas ended the season among the nation’s top 10. He became the first Arkansas coach to win at least 20 games in each of his first two seasons, win as many as 45 games in his first two seasons, and take the Razorbacks to the Elite Eight within his first two seasons.

EHS Principal Sherry Hill stated, “In addition to being an exemplary basketball coach for the University of Arkansas, Coach Musselman has a heart for academics, specifically literacy. Partly through his efforts, the University already has become a partner in our elementary virtual reading program for students in the district. Through a video link, we will be thrilled to see him impart principles of success for our Promise students.”

Promise Scholars have completed studies from most Arkansas public and private universities, as well as 39 out-of-state institutions, stated Sylvia Thompson, El Dorado Promise Director. Currently, they are attending 70 post-secondary institutions. “Over 75% of last year’s Promise Scholars are attending college, higher than both state and national averages. Since the majority of Promise Scholars are first-generation to college, the success of this program is especially gratifying,” she added,

Alice Mahony, vice-president and co-founder of the El Dorado Education Foundation (EDEF), stated, “The Promise has positively affected students’ college attainment goals. The high school offers 20 AP (Advanced Placement) courses. This year, the district also received an award from the College Board for strong female diversity in AP Computer Science classes.” With the foundation, the district offers an endowed chair program in math, science, and literacy, with pre-AP courses beginning in fifth grade.   

El Dorado Promise Scholars can attend any accredited two or four-year college or university in the United States. As a universal, place-based scholarship, any EHS graduate enrolled since at least the ninth grade can receive a college scholarship, with no high school GPA, income limit, or competitive application required. Graduates joining the military begin scholarships after completing one enlistment period. 

For 2021, students will sign academic letters of intent to attend 33 separate institutions. They have been accepted at the following in-state colleges and universities: Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech University, Harding University, Henderson State University, Hendrix College, National Park Community College, Ouachita Baptist University, South Arkansas Community College, Southern Arkansas University, Southern Arkansas University Tech, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, University of Arkansas at Monticello, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas Community College – Rich Mountain, University of Central Arkansas, and William Baptist University.

Out-of-state colleges and universities acceptances are: Austin Community College, Baylor University, Clark Atlanta University, Grambling State University, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Tech University, Memphis State University, North Carolina State University, Rice University, Texas A&M University, Texas A&M University – Commerce, Texas Southern University, University of Oregon, University of Texas – Arlington, University of Washington, and Wichita State University.  

Academic Signing Day’s title sponsor is First Financial Bank. The event is a partnership of EDEF, ESD, Murphy Oil Corporation, and the El Dorado Promise. Other sponsors are: the El Dorado News-Times, Greg Owens Photography, and Art Attack.  Academic Signing Day committee members are: Chair Alice Mahony, Jim Tucker, Sherry Hill, Beth Weldon, Sylvia Thompson, Steven Jones, Lila Phillips, and Michael Brooks. 

For further information about Academic Signing Day, please contact EDEF: edef@arkansas.net. 

Links: