ClintonSchool

The El Dorado Promise
Date: 3/1/2007

Former CEO of Murphy Oil Corp., Claiborne Deming discusses “The El Dorado Promise,” a new program in El Dorado, Ark., which guarantees full-tuition scholarships to high school graduates from the area school district courtesy of the company’s $50 million gift. Not based on grades or financial need, the program provides college tuition and fees for students to any two- or four-year college or university – public or private, in Arkansas or out of state – for up to five years. Deming addresses his company’s reasoning for establishing the El Dorado Promise as a way to benefit the overall community and quality of life in the El Dorado School District. Deming says the company expects to reap the benefits of its investment because of this increased quality-of-life in the community where it’s based. He shares statistics and anecdotes to show how the Promise is already encouraging students to consider college who would not have before because of economic concerns.