Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Whitmarsh Awarded Governor's Scholarship

The 1996 Arkansas Governor's Scholars, 100 with one from each county and 25 at large, have been selected recently from among this year's graduating high school seniors by the Arkansas Department of Higher Education (ADHE).

Kelly M. Whitmarsh from Prescott has been selected from Nevada County to receive this scholarship.

Each Governor's Scholar will receive $4,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study ($16,000 cumulative maximum) at an Arkansas college or university.

"I'm pleased that we were to double the scholarship amount from $2,000 to $4,000 per year for Governor's Scholars in the last legislative session," Governor Jim Guy Tucker said. "This increase will bolster our efforts to keep our top high school graduates in Arkansas. I congratulate them all for their scholastic achievement."

The 100 scholarship winners were chosen recently from among 1,370 applications through a selection process based on grade-point average (GPA), rank in class, ACT or SAT scores, and leadership activities. The 1996 Governor's Scholars have an average GPA of 4.0602 on a 4.0 scale and an average ACT composite score of 31.

"These students represent only 100 of the best and brightest students in our state," said Diane Gilleland, ADHE director. "We are proud of their achievements in high school, and I look forward to watching these top students make their mark at our colleges and universities, and ultimately, our state and nation."

The Governor's Scholars Program was enacted by the Arkansas State Legislature in 1983 in an effort to recognize Arkansas' finest students and encourage them to continue their education in Arkansas.

Governor's Scholars have distinguished themselves through graduation at or near the top of their classes. Sixty-three recipients were ranked first in his or her class.

For more information about the Governor's Scholars Program, contact Melissa Goff, ADHE, at 324-9300, or write her at 114 East Capitol, Little Rock, AR 72201.