EA Welcomes New Arkansas School Partner
c/o Jennifer Alaquinez
Eloquence Academy extends a formal welcome to Sylvan Hills High School!
Located in Sherwood, Arkansas, within the Pulaski County Special School District, Sylvan Hills High School is a public school serving 1,061 students in grades 9 through 12. The school provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes core academic subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and social studies, as well as career and technical education (CTE) pathways and Advanced Placement courses. However, the school ranks in the bottom 50% of Arkansas high schools based on test scores, and math proficiency is especially low at 17%. Many students identify as socioeconomically disadvantaged.
Coach Jennifer Alaquinez explained, “I started our speech and debate club in 2019 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Since then, we have been to various state and national tournaments and become a self-funded team of diverse members.” Later this year, Jennifer intends to bring her students to the Central High School Tournament and Cabot Tournament.
Our Debate-Inspired Classrooms program supports the funding or logistical needs of K-12, public, independent, magnet, charter, boarding, and homeschools in developing their own debate programs. Sylvan Hills received a microgrant to alleviate the financial burden for students in the school’s free lunch program, who struggle to pay for tournament clothing. Additionally, Jennifer plans to connect with our team on a bi-weekly basis to discuss fundraising, plans for spending the microgrant, and a preliminary budget for the next school year. Our goal is to offer grants of scaling size and build a long-term relationship with Sylvan Hills students.
We are especially excited to partner with Sylvan Hills as our first partner school in Arkansas.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The world’s largest youth-led nonprofit of its kind, EA offers live debate programs for 2,900 students and online debate resources for 15,579 students. The Academy’s philanthropic initiative, the Eloquence Charitable Fund, has partnered a national network of 150 charities, schools, and nonprofits; certified 50,000 volunteer hours; and delivered 30,000 products to individuals in need. Ultimately, the Academy has prepared youth across 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow EA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
