Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Henderson's Hall praises Rotary International

John Hall, managing director of the Henderson Foundation, thanked Rotarians Thursday in Gurdon for their part in supporting the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships to study abroad and Gurdon's general support of Henderson State University.

"We have so many outstanding students," Hall said. "We've just had our 12th Henderson student selected in 15 years for one of Rotary's prestigious international scholarships."

Number 12 is Kyle Tschepikow, a 2003 summa cum laude graduate of Henderson. He was awarded a $26,000 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to study abroad. He is studying medieval literature at the University of Wales, UK.

"No other college in Arkansas has produced as many Rotarian road scholars as Henderson," he said.

Hall also noted that 62 Henderson students have Gurdon home addresses.

"I am proud of alumni contributions and loyalty," he added. "We are only second to UCA when it comes to alumni gifts. Henderson has 15 percent of our former students who give back, and this college has 20,000 alumni. If everybody gave $10 a year, we would be doing great."

Hall criticized the general Arkansas priority system, saying educational contributions were not as high as those contributing to building more prisons.

"Education is the best insurance you will ever have," he said. "It is the only thing that cannot be taken away from you."

Hall said the purpose of a good liberal arts education is to teach students how to live and get along with one another.

This year, he said, three Henderson students applied for medical school and all three were accepted.

"U.S. News rates Henderson high," he said. "Katie Barbaree, from Gurdon, just received a music scholarship to Henderson. Scholarships are so important. It costs $8,000 a year minimum to attend Henderson and with as depressed economically as South Arkansas is, the money is just not there."

Hall said 25 percent of Arkansas's adult population is functionally illiterate. They drive automobiles, but can not read the signs.

"In this state, many children have seen books, but they don't know they will open," he said.

Hall said $20 million out of $35 million comes from state funding for Henderson.

"They give horse racing more," he said. "And believe me, a decent liberal arts education is a much better bet."