Youth work initiative sets events
The Economic Development Alliance for Jefferson County has partnered with Be Pro Be Proud, a workforce development initiative for youth, to bring Pine Bluff’s Draft Day back to the city.
Draft Day strategically matches high school students with employers based on corresponding interests, talents and needs. The local goal is to have 300 graduating seniors and 500 students from grades 9-11 at this event.
Draft Day for the Arkansas Delta region will take place April 3 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. The local presenting sponsor is Central Moloney, according to The Alliance.
Be Pro Be Proud will travel to 11 locations, providing career exploration and interview opportunities to high school students by matching their interests and skill sets with relevant career options, according to a Be Pro Proud press release.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The 2025 Draft Day Series will be held between Feb. 27 and April 29 across Arkansas. Area events include:
03/06: Southeast Arkansas, Southeast Arkansas Education Cooperative, Monticello.
04/01: Arkansas Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie Center, Stuttgart.
04/03: Arkansas Delta, Pine Bluff Convention Center, Pine Bluff.
“Draft Day events give Arkansas students the opportunity to learn more about technical careers, practice interview etiquette and connect with potential employers they wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Arkansas Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers. “These events will reach more students than ever before, helping combat the alarming skilled workforce shortage in the state from the ground up.”
Be Pro Be Proud is led by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas.
The 2024 Draft Day Series spanned eight Arkansas regions and included 130 companies and 105 high schools. There were 1,063 high school seniors interviewed for potential jobs, internships, apprenticeships or training opportunities, and 3,194 students participated in all.
For details or sponsorship information, visit AR.BeProBeProud.org or contact The Alliance or Pine Bluff Regional Chamber of Commerce at (870) 535-0110.
Area Agency sets menu
Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas offers lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays at the senior centers. Next week’s menu includes:
Feb. 10 — Chicken strips, cauliflower and cheese sauce, peas and carrots, cookie, and milk.
Feb. 11 — Meatloaf, scalloped potatoes, green beans, wheat bread, fresh fruit, and milk.
Feb. 12 — Smothered pork chops. black-eyed peas, greens, cornbread, cake, and milk.
Feb. 13 — Chicken parmigiana with sauce, spinach salad, corn, garlic bread, spiced peaches, and milk.
Feb. 14 — Lean hamburger patty on bun, Mexicali corn, lettuce, tomato, onion, baked beans, fruit, and milk.
Local earns degree in Maryland
William Drew Price of Sheridan earned a Master of Science in Management: Information Systems and Services degree from the University of Maryland Global Campus of Adelphi, Md., in fall 2024. Price was one of nearly 5,900 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC during the term, according to a news release.
UAM sets College Preview Day
The University of Arkansas at Monticello Office of Admissions will host Weevil Welcome: College Preview Day on March 3, beginning at 9 a.m. on UAM’s Monticello campus. Registration will be held in the Gibson University Center. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the program will run until noon.
Prospective high school juniors and seniors who are interested in attending UAM’s Monticello campus, the UAM College of Technology-Crossett or the UAM College of Technology-McGehee are invited to attend the free event to learn about programs of study, financial aid, new scholarship opportunities, residence life, student organizations and more. Parents are also welcome to attend.
High school seniors who have already applied to UAM are encouraged to attend the event to meet with faculty, staff and current UAM students, according to a news release.
Students should register for Weevil Welcome through the Admissions Events webpage. Details: the UAM Office of Admissions at admissionsoffice@uamont.edu or 870-460-1026.
ARCF scholarships available
Scholarships are available for eligible Arkansas students through Arkansas Community Foundation.
The foundation’s scholarships are for Arkansas students pursuing education at two- or four-year colleges or universities, vocational schools or technical training programs. Each scholarship has its own eligibility criteria.
Hundreds of scholarships can be found on the foundation’s scholarship portal. For scholarships awarded specifically for a certain school, community or interest area, applicants should contact their local community foundation affiliate office or speak with their school counselor. Affiliate offices can be found at www.arcf.org/affiliates.
Scholarships available statewide include:
Robert P. Atkinson Hospital Leadership and Scholarship, provides a scholarship to students pursuing an advanced degree with an emphasis in health care or hospital administration.
Anne Pressly Scholarship, to memorialize the legacy of Anne Pressly and support women who plan to pursue a career in journalism.
Arkansas Service Memorial Scholarship, for students who are children of Arkansans who lost their life in service in the state, nation or community.
To apply and details on all the scholarships, visit www.arcf.org/apply/scholarships/ or contact Jane Jones at jjones@arcf.org or call (501) 372-1116.