CONWAY, Ark. (October 13,
2017) – Hendrix College and KIPP Delta Public Schools finalized yesterday an
agreement that will offer new Hendrix Aspire Scholarships to cover up to the
full cost of attendance for a number of Federal Pell Grant-eligible students graduating
from KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School. Aspire Scholarships support the
College’s commitment to making Hendrix accessible for qualified Arkansas
students regardless of income level, and to encouraging diversity among the
student body.
Hendrix covers up to the
full cost of attendance—including tuition, fees, on-campus housing, and meal
plans—for selected students from each Hendrix Aspire partner school. In
addition, Hendrix provides academic support services with the goal of ensuring
that Aspire Scholarship recipients graduate in four years. The cohort-based
program addresses common challenges among the students it serves.
Hendrix President William M.
Tsutsui signed an updated Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Scott Shirey, Executive Director of KIPP
Delta Public Schools, at a signing ceremony on the evening of October 12 at
KIPP Blytheville Collegiate High School. This MOU expands upon the previous MOU
with KIPP, which included only the KIPP Delta Schools in Helena-West Helena.
“We are delighted to add KIPP
Blytheville Collegiate High School to our Hendrix Aspire Scholarship agreement
with KIPP Delta,” said Tsutsui. “KIPP Schools prepare students for the college
classroom, inspiring and challenging them in ways that contribute directly to
their success in higher education. Making Hendrix an affordable option for
these students will enrich their lives and the life of the entire College, as
well.”
Established in spring 2015,
the Hendrix Aspire Scholarship program includes as partners the Arkansas
Commitment program, Episcopal Collegiate School, KIPP Delta Public Schools,
Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys, Little Rock Central High School, Mount
St. Mary Academy, and Pulaski Academy. There are currently 34 Hendrix students
receiving Aspire Scholarships, including 12 who graduated from KIPP Delta in
Helena-West Helena.
View photos of the October 12 event
About
KIPP
KIPP—the Knowledge Is Power
Program—is a national network of 209 public charter schools that are dedicated
to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for success in
college and life. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and
enrollment is open to all students. Started in 1994 as a middle school program,
KIPP has since expanded to enroll students in all grades from pre-K through
high school.
About
Hendrix College
A private liberal arts
college in Conway, Arkansas, Hendrix College consistently earns recognition as
one of the country’s leading liberal arts institutions, and is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That
Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges. Its academic quality and
rigor, innovation, and value have established Hendrix as a fixture in numerous
college guides, lists, and rankings. Founded in 1876, Hendrix has been
affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. To learn more, visit www.hendrix.edu.