Wilson Works Foundation Set to Donate The Delta School Property to Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation

 

Wilson Works Foundation Set to Donate The Delta School Property
to Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation 

The Delta School will close after the current academic year with focus turning to  
expanded programming for college and career readiness

WILSON, AR (April 05, 2024) – The Wilson Works Foundation has agreed in principle to donate The Delta School property to the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation. Once terms of the agreement are approved by the Arkansas Northeastern College Board of Trustees, the donation is expected to create an opportunity for the college to further support the region by offering affordable education pathways to college and career readiness.

The Delta School property, valued at $27.5 million and will serve as one of the nation’s largest-ever gifts to a community college, was launched in 2014 under the visionary leadership of Gaylon Lawrence Jr. The school was designed to serve students as an incubator for intellectual thought, healthy relationships, and character development. Lawrence says that the donation will build upon the foundation established by The Delta School and give Arkansas Northeastern College an opportunity to create a new academic environment that will prepare the region’s students for success in college, career, and life.

“Our job as community leaders is to aggregate, acquire and align the resources to help students in rural communities like Wilson and those throughout northeast Arkansas develop the capacity to succeed along their academic and vocational journey,” said Lawrence. “This is an exciting example of those collective efforts and presents a sustainable path forward that combines excellent academics with career exploration and training in a way that does not currently exist for our students.”  

According to Arkansas Northeastern College President Dr. Christopher Heigle, the college will explore a path forward for the property that offers college and career training to the region. “We’re grateful for this tremendous gift and appreciative of the philanthropic and academic seeds that Mr. Lawrence and the leaders at the Wilson Works Foundation have planted over the last decade,” said Heigle. 

“We see this as an opportunity to consider a postsecondary focused mission that could open the doors to a greater number of college and career-focused students. By leveraging partnerships with our education, community, and industry leaders, we can prepare students in new and advanced ways for life after high school.”

As industry and manufacturing continues to expand across the county, Great River Economic Development Foundation President Clif Chitwood sees the donation as an economic driver for the region. “The world is changing at a rapid pace, and we need to have educational programs and service offerings available to our young people that prepare them for jobs and careers with our industry partners today and in the future,” said Chitwood. “Education and the economy are equal partners in helping to raise the bar as we position our region as one that is prepared to support industry expansion.”  

Delta School Board Chair Brittany Sugg believes a transition to college and career programming can change expectations and outcomes for both students and the labor force in the region. “This is an opportunity to take a step forward in addressing the critical needs of employers who are looking to hire our students,” said Sugg. “This is also a tremendous opportunity for our students who want to be on a college and career trajectory, and it signals to the rest of the region that we are serious about equipping students for success in northeast Arkansas.”   

Students and faculty at The Delta School will be able to complete the current academic year before the school is closed. More information about the transition of the school for current students and enrollment opportunities and requirements for prospective students will be provided in the coming weeks. 

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About the Wilson Works Foundation

The Wilson Works Foundation is a 501c3 founded by the Lawrence Family and dedicated to the overall growth and development of Wilson, Arkansas, and the region. Its focus areas are to provide technical assistance and advocacy for the Town of Wilson; to promote educational opportunities through financial support to The Delta School and its partners; and to advance economic development and job creation in Wilson and northeast Arkansas. 

About the Arkansas Northeastern College Foundation

The ANC Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit that was created in 1977, is a separate entity for the college and is directed by a Board of Governors made up of individuals who have an interest in providing Arkansas Northeastern College with financial assistance. Arkansas Northeastern College has many needs that can only be met through the receipt of private gifts and, as a college foundation, the ANC Foundation guarantees that funds will be used in the public interest. Therefore, the Foundation plays an extremely important role in assisting the College in providing educational opportunities at an affordable cost to the citizens of this region.