Eleven members of the 92nd Arkansas General Assembly visited Arkansas Tech University in Russellville for Arkansas Governor’s School (AGS) legislators’ day on Friday, July 19.
Rep. Rick Beck of Center Ridge, Rep. Nicole Clowney of Fayetteville, Rep. Andrew Collins of Little Rock, Sen. Breanne Davis of Russellville, Rep. Denise Garner of Fayetteville, Rep. Megan Godfrey of Springdale, Rep. Douglas House of North Little Rock, Sen. Mark Johnson of Ferndale, Rep. Mark Lowery of Maumelle, Rep. Aaron Pilkington of Clarksville and Rep. Carlton Wing of North Little Rock visited AGS classrooms, learned about curriculum and activities offered to the more than 365 participants and interacted with AGS students during lunch.
The legislators and staff members from the Arkansas Department of Education were welcomed to campus by ATU President Dr. Robin E. Bowen.
“Arkansas is creating a better future by supporting Arkansas Governor’s School,” said Bowen. “The lessons these students are learning today will make them more informed, empathetic and committed when it is their turn to take the reins of leadership for our state. Over the span of these four weeks, the AGS faculty and staff are working toward a shared goal of increasing the leadership capacity of Arkansas’ next generation. Programs such as Arkansas Governor’s School are integral to our future. The lessons learned and friendships developed here will hold this group of young people in good stead as they move forward to pursue the adventure of life.”
ATU is hosting Arkansas Governor’s School for the first time. The annual program for rising high school seniors in Arkansas is made possible through a $640,000 grant from the State of Arkansas. AGS is scheduled to return to Arkansas Tech in 2020 and 2021.
“As the host site for AGS, it is the responsibility of Arkansas Tech University to provide a learning environment that is safe, yet challenging; stimulating, yet accessible; and consistent with the traditions of this great program, yet forward-looking,” said Bowen. “As we begin this new era of Arkansas Governor’s School at Arkansas Tech University, it is my hope and belief that many of our institution’s most admirable characteristics will become intertwined with AGS and ultimately benefit the program participants. Passionate. Ethical. Competitive. Tenacious. Empowering. Compassionate. Caring. Transformative. Leading-edge. Innovative. These are just a few of the adjectives that accurately describe the culture of Arkansas Tech University. Ours is a supportive learning environment that channels the grit of students and helps them solve the problems of today and tomorrow. If proximity causes some of those characteristics to carry over into the culture of Arkansas Governor’s School, I believe the program will become even stronger and even more valuable to our state.”
The 40th Arkansas Governor’s School convened at ATU on July 7 and will continue through Aug. 3.
Learn more about AGS at www.atu.edu/ags.
Photographed (front row, left-to-right): Rep. Andrew Collins, Rep. Megan Godfrey, Rep. Nicole Clowney, Rep. Denise Garner, Sen. Breanne Davis, ATU President Dr. Robin E. Bowen, Rep. Douglas House; (back row, left-to-right) AGS Co-Director Dr. Robin Lasey, Rep. Mark Lowery, Rep. Carlton Wing, Rep. Rick Beck, Sen. Mark Johnson and AGS Co-Director Dr. Jeff Woods.
