LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Easterseals Arkansas is proud to honor Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders as the 2025 Arkansan of the Year, recognizing her outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the lives of Arkansans. This prestigious award is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate an unwavering commitment to enhancing the state through their time, talent, and resources.
Governor Sanders has been instrumental in helping Easterseals Arkansas achieve a significant milestone—the construction of a new school for children with disabilities. In August 2024, she joined students, staff, board members, and supporters for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Easterseals Academy, a project partially funded by the State of Arkansas’ Restricted Reserve, with Sanders playing a key role in securing this support.
The demand for high-quality education tailored to students with special needs has grown, fueled in part by the Arkansas LEARNS Act, which has expanded educational opportunities for families. Governor Sanders further elevated Easterseals Academy’s national profile by nominating it for the 2023 Yass Award for Educational Freedom, a distinction given to just five schools nationwide.
“Every student in Arkansas deserves a quality education. That’s why I signed Arkansas LEARNS and created the Education Freedom Account program to help more kids attend the school of their choice, including Easterseals,” said Governor Sanders. “Thank you, Easterseals, for this incredible honor and for supporting Arkansas’ kids.”
Ron Ekstrand, CEO of Easterselas Arkansas noted how grateful the organization is to Governor Sanders and the Arkansas legislature for their commitment to funding this new Academy and for ensuring that students with special needs are prioritized in the LEARNS Act and the PIAK Act. “This new facility will provide our students with specialized resources to help them succeed while also serving as a model for similar programs across the state.”
Governor Sanders is a proud graduate of Little Rock Central High School and Ouachita Baptist University. Before becoming Arkansas’ 47th and first female governor, she served as White House Press Secretary (2017–2019) under President Donald Trump and held key leadership positions in U.S. Senate, gubernatorial, and presidential campaigns. Her extensive public service also includes work in the U.S. Department of Education during President George W. Bush’s administration.
The 2025 Arkansan of the Year Gala will take place on Tuesday, May 8, at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Little Rock. Learn more at eastersealsar.com.
About Easterseals Arkansas
For 80 years, Easterseals Arkansas has provided exceptional services to empower children and adults with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Easterseals is leading the way to 100% equity, inclusion, access through life-changing disability and community services. Services for individuals include developmental preschools in Little Rock and Stuttgart; speech-language, physical, and occupational therapy; independent living programs; and transition programs to promote and secure employment.
For more information contact:
Jillian Jacuzzi
Easterseals Arkansas
(501) 227-3702
jjacuzzi@eastersealsar.com
