S T R I V E - Arkansas

We are excited to welcome Rachel Botsford from Lakeside Jr. High School to STRIVE!

This summer, she will be trading the traditional classroom for Garvan Woodland Gardens!

During her 20 day placement at Garvan Woodland Gardens, she will be learning hands-on STEM skills and exploring the variety careers available in her community. We can't wait to see how she brings this real-world experience back to her 7th and 8th-grade students this fall!

Welcome to STRIVE, Rachel!

We’re excited to welcome Henry Thomas from North Little Rock High School to the STRIVE Program! 🎉

This summer, Henry will spend time working at WER Architects, gaining hands-on experience and exploring real-world STEM skills and career pathways. From design to problem-solving, he’ll be diving into the kind of work that brings classroom learning to life.

We can’t wait to see how Henry takes these experiences back to his students—helping them build skills, explore opportunities, and feel more prepared for the workforce.

Welcome to STRIVE, Henry!

We are excited to welcome Geoffrey Garry from Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School to the STRIVE Program!

This summer, Geoffrey will be placed with L’Oreal for 20 days, where he’ll dive into real-world applications of science, innovation, and industry practices. It’s a great opportunity to see STEM in action beyond the classroom!

We’re excited to see how Geoffrey's experience shapes new ideas and inspiration that he will take back to his students. Welcome to STRIVE, Geoffrey!

We’re excited to welcome Schondra Marlin from Cutter Morning Star High School to the STRIVE Program!

This summer, Schondra will be paired with Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs. She’ll explore this beautiful natural setting while making real-world connections to classroom learning. It’s an amazing place to bring STEM to life in meaningful ways!

We can’t wait to see the creativity, skills, and new ideas Schondra brings back to her students. Welcome to STRIVE, Schondra—we’re so glad you’re here!

Five years of mentorship, countless teachers impacted, and we’re still learning from the best—welcome back Lyndsey Rich! 🎉

Lyndsey is returning for her 5th year as a STRIVE mentor, and her continued commitment speaks volumes. Her ability to connect real-world STEM experiences to the classroom, while supporting and encouraging teachers along the way, makes a lasting difference each year.

We’re incredibly grateful for the experience and perspective she brings—and we can’t wait to see the impact she’ll have on our 2026 STRIVE cohort!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to our STRIVE alumni, mentors, and current teachers! 🍎✨
We appreciate you, not just this week, but every week. Thank you for all that you do—you are truly amazing! 💙

We’re thrilled to welcome back Clint Holderby as a mentor in the STRIVE Program! 🎉

Clint brings experience, insight, and a passion for supporting educators. His commitment to helping teachers connect real-world STEM experiences to the classroom makes a meaningful impact on those he supports.

We’re excited for our 2026 STRIVE teachers to learn from Clint’s expertise and guidance throughout the program!

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest mentor, Elicia Davis, who brings a passion for education, a commitment to supporting fellow teachers, and a wealth of experience to our community. Her guidance and insight will play an important role in supporting our cohort and strengthening the STRIVE experience for everyone involved.

We’re thrilled to have her on board and can’t wait to see the impact she'll make this year! 👏

We’re thrilled to welcome Kyla Glasser back to the STRIVE Program as a mentor teacher!

Kyla brings an incredible wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion for supporting fellow educators. Her guidance will be invaluable as she mentors and supports our 2026 STRIVE program.

Join us in celebrating Kyla’s return—we’re so excited for the impact she’ll make! 👏

We had an incredible STRIVE Open House!

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing teachers and dedicated business partners for making 2025 such a great success. Your collaboration is what makes STRIVE thrive!

We enjoyed three inspiring teacher presentations from Elicia Davis, Greg Wertenberger, and Stacy Fulton. They shared their STRIVE experiences and STRIVE-inspired lesson impact on their classroom.

Congratulations to celebrate Elicia Davis, who was voted to have the Most Impactful STRIVE Presentation by our Open House attendees!