Arkansas

ATU's Gunther Earns Statewide Agriculture Scholarship – Arkansas Tech University

Published

2 years ago

July 22, 2024

ATU's Gunther Earns Statewide Agriculture Scholarship – Arkansas Tech University

Rose Gunther

Arkansas Tech University student Rose Gunther is one of 10 college students from around the Natural State selected for a 2024-25 Farm Credit of Western Arkansas Scholarship.

Gunther, a junior from Bigelow, will use the $2,000 scholarship to continue her pursuit of a agriculture business degree from ATU. She holds membership in the ATU Presidential Leadership Cabinet and National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS).

“As an agriculture student at Arkansas Tech University, I’ve been impressed by two key strengths that have made a significant difference in my experience,” said Gunther. “The biggest strength is the student-to-teacher connections. By having smaller classroom sizes that allow the teacher to know each student, I feel more motivated and confident inside and outside the classroom. I have no problem answering during class or stepping up to help an organization because I feel valued as an individual rather than just a number in a crowd.

“The other strength,” continued Gunther, “is that professors understand student’s unique challenges and are willing to adapt to meet their needs. This flexibility has been especially helpful in balancing work and classes while pushing us to do our best. Overall, my experience with the agriculture program has been awesome, and I’m grateful for the opportunities now and in the future.”

According to a news release from Farm Credit of Western Arkansas, the scholarship program has awarded more than $400,000 to students since 1996. Recipients must demonstrate exemplary academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, volunteer activities and financial need.

To qualify, applicants must be full-time students at an accredited college, university or trade program for the 2024-25 academic year. They must also be the children and/or grandchildren of Farm Credit of Western Arkansas members or members themselves.

“Being recognized by Farm Credit of Western Arkansas with this scholarship is an honor,” said Gunther. “It’s not just financial support. It represents a validation of my hard work and potential. I was fortunate to receive this scholarship twice and appreciate that my small efforts and achievements are valued within the agriculture industry. It has also motivated me to continue striving for excellence in my academic and personal pursuits in hopes that my minor contributions will have a significant impact in the future. This scholarship not only eases my financial burden, but it inspires me to help my community and beyond, just as Farm Credit of Western Arkansas has done through its support.”

Learn more about the ATU agriculture program at www.atu.edu/agriculture.

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Arkansas

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

Published

6 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Arkansas Governor joins national A.I. workforce initiative

LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.

RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.

“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”

The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.

RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.

“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.

“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”

Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.

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