Pictured From the Announcement: Tim Allen, Fort Smith Chamber President & CEO, Judy R. McReynolds, ArcBest Chairman, President, & CEO, and Alba Weaver, OG&E Economic Development & Community Affairs

Pictured From Announcement: Jason Green - VP Human Resources ABB NEMA Motor Division, Tim Allen - President & CEO Fort Smith Chamber, U. S. Representative Steve Womack - Arkansas' 3rd Congressional District, Jesse Henson - President ABB NEMA Motor Division, Dr. Terry Morawski, Superintendent Fort Smith Public Schools

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith announced a nearly $8 million gift from the Windgate Foundation this week, which will provide multiple avenues to enrich and elevate academic opportunities for students at UAFS.

“As an educator, I am so moved by what this support will do for our students,” said Katie Waugh, head of the UAFS Art Department. “This gift will broaden their access to professional and creative communities, and it is an absolute dream to be given the chance to build new ways to support them. Our students accomplish incredible things and often do so while managing many responsibilities. The direct positive impacts this gift will have on them is profound.”

The gift includes more than $4 million in direct student support through a need-based university scholarship, $394,000 for academic program development and expansions; $240,000 to develop an artist in residence program; and $120,000 to support paid internships for emerging student artists and designers.

Through the $4 million portion of the gift, any UAFS student who is eligible to receive Pell Grants, and who receives no other form of free aid (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Arkansas Challenge Scholarships, etc.,) will be able to attend the university at little to no out-of-pocket cost. Tuition and mandatory fees for a full-time student at UAFS amount to $7,335 per year, with Pell Grants covering roughly $6,100 of that cost. Through the Windgate gift, the university will be able to provide the remaining $1,235 to eligible students, bringing the cost of their tuition and mandatory fees down to $0.

A new partnership in the Arkansas River Valley is connecting students with careers and employers with a skilled workforce.

The Education and Industry Alliance held its first meeting at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus in March 2021. Representatives from ABB, Butterball, Ozark Public Schools, Bank OZK, Guy Fenter Educational Co-op, ATU-Ozark Campus, Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC), Arkansas Valley Electric, Black Hills Energy and the Ozark Area Chamber of Commerce are involved in the collaboration.

“The purpose of the Education and Industry Alliance is to develop and sustain partnerships with local industry," said Dr. Sheila Jacobs, chief academic officer at ATU-Ozark. "We seek to enhance industry relevant curriculum and educational and work-based experiences for our students so that we may continue to play an integral role in regional and state economic development.”

Student interns at the ATCC Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center in Paris had an opportunity to show representatives from ABB Ozark what they have learned during a site visit near the conclusion of the spring 2021 semester.

As a result of the Education and Industry Alliance, ABB has hired four machining students and the company expects to see the number of hirings increase as the partnership continues to develop.

On Christmas Day in 1852, the vision for the River Valley’s first school was born. By the early months of 1853, a log cabin school was built at Long Prairie, a teacher secured, and classes began. During the course of the Civil War the families sought refuge in Fort Smith and the school was officially relocated in 1864; it was the only school of any kind located within Fort Smith. Educating the next generation was considered the highest priority; the establishment of the school predated the formal formation of First Lutheran Church by 15 years. 168 years later, 1st Lutheran School still holds fast to the mission of providing students with a solid educational foundation in a Christ-centered, family-focused, student-driven environment.

1st Lutheran seeks to meet the educational needs of the Fort Smith community and is the only private elementary school and one of a handful of early childhood options on the east side of Fort Smith, located on Massard Road just north of Rogers Avenue. In August, 1st Lutheran’s Early Childhood program will expand to begin accepting children at 18 months old.

The ECE program runs academic year and year-round enrollment options. The elementary program currently includes Kindergarten through 6th grades with plans to expand to 7th and then 8th during the 2022-2024 school. 1st Lutheran offers a Summer Care program open to the public and an after school care program for their students during the school year.

1st Lutheran values the Fine Arts providing all elementary students Spanish, art and music instruction at all grade levels, a drama program for 1st-6th grades, and the River Valley’s only elementary band program.

Students who need extra academic support are able to receive small group or one-on-one support through their Resource Room program.

A core part of 1st Lutheran’s vision is to raise up students who impact our local community and the world. That vision also extends to the choices made by the school from supporting local charities through regular service projects to partnering with local and small businesses whenever possible. The school is always looking to expand their partnerships and would love to work with other chamber members.

In 2018, the Fort Smith Catholic Schools began meeting to determine if we would restructure the local Catholic Schools when the Fort Smith Public Schools restructured. A decision was made to make a change to preschool through fifth grade beginning in the 2021-22 school year for the Fort Smith Catholic Elementary Schools and for Trinity Junior High to change to a middle school serving grades sixth through eighth.

2021 brought many firsts to Christ the King Catholic School. Not only did they offer virtual and blended options for the first time, but they also graduated two grades for the first time in the seventy-one-year-old history. On Monday, May 24th they held two graduation ceremonies for both their fifth-grade class and their last sixth grade class. Father Juan Guido was the presider of both Graduation Masses. Each Mass was followed by a reception in the Parish Center featuring a video of the students through their years at Christ the King.

Although masks, fogging hallways, and sanitizing were the top priorities during this 2020-2021 school year, Immaculate Conception Elementary has striven to provide students with stability by safely holding events and activities that were both educational and fun. Amidst providing students with traditional experiences and new ways to learn, IC did not neglect the importance of the transition from the old K-6 structure to the new structure matching what Fort Smith Public Schools will implement in the next academic year. Losing two classes, both fifth and sixth grades, is bittersweet. Sixth grade teacher Mrs. Christine Maestri said, “I feel there are many pros to the realignment of sixth graders. ...They are at the age where they are bridging into a new stage of development. Being in middle school seems to be where they can make that growth. I will miss having the 6th grade here at IC, but I can see the opportunities that come with middle school will be beneficial to the 6th graders.”

Principal Sharon Blentlinger worked with faculty and parents to provide two separate graduation Masses, both with receptions, and both grades with parents hosting parties to celebrate. Blentlinger said of the change, “It is always difficult to make such a momentous change but believe that sixth grade students will fit better with seventh and eighth graders emotionally, socially, and academically. I am excited for the expanded opportunities in academic and athletic choices Trinity will be able to offer. I am sad to lose a grade, but this will also give I.C. the ability to make some changes within our facility.”

After over 30 years of serving Ft. Smith and the surrounding communities as the area’s only Catholic junior high school, Trinity is transitioning from grades 7—9 to grades 6—8. On May 17 and 18, 2021, they graduated their last 9th grade class and said goodbye to the first 8th grade graduates. Principal Karen Hollenbeck said, “We eagerly anticipate our rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders to begin our new adventure as a middle school for the 2021/2022 school year.”

The school’s name will change to “Trinity Catholic School” from “Trinity Catholic Junior High,” effective June 1, 2021. Although our grade levels will change, Trinity will maintain a faith-based focus on strong academics and development of the whole child with opportunities for band, art, choir, drama, and sports for all students, grades 6—8.

Hollenbeck said "We are tremendously excited to be able to impact our students during this critical time of character development and change in their lives." As noted by the Association of Middle Level Education, “The quality of students’ middle school experience substantially affects their overall sense of well-being and, in particular, their later chances for high school completion and post-secondary success.”

Dr. Maria Montessori, the creator of the Montessori system of learning, believed that instead of teaching children about a tree in the classroom, you should take them to the tree to learn. At the Montessori School of Fort Smith, the staff and board believe the same thing about learning and service learning. 

'Service to the community not only helps our students gain knowledge and skills that will benefit them later in life, but also helps them to become adults who understand the importance of helping others. In previous (non-COVID) school years, the school has partnered with organizations in the city such as Antioch for Youth & Families, the Humane Society, Chapel Ridge, and Next Step Day Services. This year we were excited to support the United Way at the 2nd annual United Way APT Tour. We look forward to this fall and getting back to work with our neighbors!'