Siloam Springs High School graduates received $4.5 million in scholarships -- including $544,000 in local money -- during the 42nd annual Scholarship Awards Program on Thursday night.
A total of 187 students from the class of 2018 received 490 scholarships during the evening, according to Amber Carter, scholarship director. In addition to those distributed by the local scholarship program, students received academic challenge, college and technical school scholarships.
The local scholarship program was formed by parents Nancy Van Poucke and Leah Houston, and Principal Burton Elliot during the 1976-1977 school year. Including those distributed on Thursday night, local businesses, individuals, memorial funds and non-profits have given more than $12.24 million in scholarships over the program's 42-year history.
Houston spoke during Thursday's program to honor Van Poucke, who died in December.
"I want to pay tribute to her for her contributions to the founding of this wonderful fund," she said.
In May of 1976, Houston and Van Poucke sat together to watch the high school awards ceremony. Only three scholarships were given, two from the hospital and one from the local PEO chapter.
"Nancy looked at me and I looked at her, and she said, 'We've got to do something about this,'" Houston said.
After the program, Houston and Van Poucke talked several times over the summer before meeting with Elliot and his staff. A parent teacher association was formed that year, and Houston and Van Poucke were asked to chair the association's scholarship committee. The following year, more than $10,000 in local scholarships were presented to Siloam Springs High School graduates."From then, it just kept going and going and going. ... It grew and grew and we could not believe how much money we were getting, and the last few years, it was amazing that it kept getting better every year.
Houston said that Van Poucke had a talent for encouraging people to give money to the scholarship fund, and always made sure students wrote thank-you notes to their benefactors.
Van Poucke would be thrilled with what the scholarship program has become, Houston said.
"She was a wonderful person, she loved this town, she loved this scholarship fund," she said.
Honors Luncheon
Earlier in the day, 27 honor graduates, including 11 high honor graduates, were recognized during the 41st annual Chamber of Commerce Honor Graduate Luncheon at John Brown University's Simmons Great Hall.
In order to be considered an honor graduate, students must have a grade point average of at least 3.65 and 13 honor credits. Students must have a grade point average of at least 3.90 to achieve the status of high honor graduate.
Each of the honor graduates were seated next to a Chamber business representative during the luncheon. After the meal, each student was introduced by their business Representative.
Principal Jason Jones thanked and congratulated parents attending the luncheon.
"Just as your kids have made sacrifices to get where they are, you have also made sacrifices, so job well done," he said.
"Students, congratulations to you," said Superintendent Ken Ramey. "You have persevered, you have won the race, you have met the challenge. As you close one chapter with graduation. ... You open up a great opportunity for the future. This community believes in you, they've invested in you, they're here to celebrate you and I'm honored to be a part of that celebration."
General News on 05/20/2018