Members of the Little Rock School District's Class of 2015 focused on their futures Monday, announcing to parents and dignitaries at the Governor's Mansion their plans to study subjects such as medicine, law, journalism, engineering and public policy at big and small universities across the nation.
About 90 students -- the top-achieving seniors in the district's five high schools -- were the honorees at the annual Academic Signing Day.
Mireya Reith, executive director of Arkansas United Community Coalition and a member of the Arkansas Board of Education, congratulated the students.
"I know that it was not easy. I know there were a lot of long nights and hard choices you all had to make to put first and foremost your studies and your education," Reith said. "You all are the best of what we have to offer in Arkansas and we are so very, very proud of you."
Reith, who is of Mexican descent, graduated first in her class at Fayetteville High School 18 years ago, attended Williams College in Massachusetts and Columbia University in New York, served in the Peace Corps in El Salvador and worked for international nonprofit organizations and the United Nations. She returned to Arkansas to be with her family when her father became ill.
She discovered that in her years away from the state, Arkansas had become more ethnically diverse and that she could do some of the same kind of nonprofit, community organization work that she had done elsewhere.
Most surprisingly, she said, was that she was asked by then-Gov. Mike Beebe to serve on the Arkansas Board of Education, making her the first Hispanic woman public official in the state to have a vote on public policy, a role that she had envisioned for others but not for herself.
She encouraged the high school graduates to be open, because when doors close others really do open, she said. Sometimes it's about being brave enough to step through the door, she added.
She also urged the students to be good at evaluating their personal assets.
"What helps you succeed and get that job above somebody else is demonstrating that you have something that is special and different from everybody else. Being from Arkansas, for those who are going to leave this state, being from Arkansas is special. For me ... my biggest asset by far was being a Mexican-American woman from Arkansas. That sure was unique. That meant I was bringing different life experiences to the table, different life experiences and perspectives that people have continued to find valuable."
Arkansas can be a land of opportunity and a place where teamwork is valued over competition, Reith said in urging the students to consider returning or staying in the state.
"It's a place where if you don't see something being done, you can do it," she said. "You can create it yourself and be supported in doing so."
The Academic Signing Day, which has its roots in the athletic signing ceremonies where top high school athletes ink letters of intent to play college sports, was sponsored by the Little Rock School District and hosted by the Public Education Foundation of Little Rock, Fidelity Communications, and the Wright, Lindsey & Jennings law firm.
To participate in the event, the students, who will graduate on different nights this week, had to meet one or more of the following qualifications: a cumulative 4.0 grade-point average from ninth through 12th grade; rank as valedictorian, salutatorian, the third- or fourth-highest in their class; be a National Achievement Semifinalist, a National Hispanic Scholar, a National Merit Semi-finalist or a National Merit Commended Scholar.
The universities that students will be attending include Harvard, Yale, Vanderbilt, Brigham Young, St. Olaf College, the University of Southern California, University of California at Berkeley and Emory University.
For Malik Marshall, Central High's senior class president, graduation from high school means he'll be going on to New York University to delve into his interests in American studies, politics and "a fight for equality for all under the law," he told the crowd.
Noah Adams, who also attends Central and has an interest in politics, plans to attend Hendrix College, where he will also pursue his interest in music. He said he's uncertain about a career.
"My dad suggested 'a singing difference-maker,'" he said.
Virginia Greer is also going to Hendrix, with plans to eventually work for the National Park Service at historic sites such as her alma mater Central High.
Callahan Hirrel of Central will attend Lyon College to study science and eventually "give the underprivileged the health care they deserve."
Hannah Burdette of Parkview said she will attend Hendrix to study political science and economics.
Kimberly Luu of J.A. Fair was enticed by a brochure to select the University of Denver for college. She will study psychology and eventually become an elementary school teacher.
Glynnis Pleasant, also of Fair, announced plans to be a news broadcaster and political analyst after attending Jackson State University.
Daphne Jackson of McClellan said she will attend the University of Arkansas at Little Rock to study psychology.
Shruti Shah of Central will attend Washington University at St. Louis with plans to become a physician. That will build on her love of doing research for science projects.
Scott Samuel Robles of Central said he plans to join AmeriCorps for a year of service before making further career decisions.
Chandler Smith of Central said he plans to go to the University of Washington at Seattle to study computer science.
Jasmine Brown from Hall said she plans to attend Arkansas State University to become a physical therapist.
Not mentioned during Monday's event but bubbling under the surface was the Jan. 28 state takeover of the Little Rock School District, a watershed in the district's history and in the final year of the 2015 class.
Some of the student honorees Monday had participated last fall in School Board election campaigns and, later, public demonstrations and organizations opposing the takeover and the dismissal of the locally elected School Board.
Reith, the keynote speaker at the Academic Signing, voted against the takeover in the Arkansas Board of Education's 5-4 decision.
Arkansas Education Commissioner Johnny Key, who serves as the board in the state-controlled district, congratulated the Little Rock honor students and assisted them in signing their names and universities on placards during the event.
Metro on 05/19/2015