FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – From a field of 600 applicants, 81 outstanding high school seniors have been chosen to join the seventh class of Honors College Fellows at the University of Arkansas. Each student will receive a total of $50,000 over four years to cover tuition, room and board, as well as the cost of books and a computer. The funds can also be combined with Honors College research and study abroad grants to broaden educational opportunities.

“It’s a pleasure to see so many talented students choose to attend this institution” said G. David Gearhart, University of Arkansas chancellor. “Not only do the fellows have impressive academic records, but they are also very civic-minded, devoting an amazing number of hours to public service organizations during their high school careers. These students will give back to their communities again and again. It’s very rewarding to see the Walton family’s gift continue to bring students with such enormous energy to our campus, to the Fayetteville area and to our state.”

The Honors College Fellowships are made possible by a portion of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s historic $300 million gift to the university.

Competition for the fellowships is rigorous. More than 150 finalists were interviewed in March with approximately 50 university faculty members participating in those interviews. To qualify as a finalist, a student must score at least 32 on the ACT exam and have a 3.8 grade point average. The student’s application, letters of recommendation, course of studies and community involvement are also extremely important in the selection process. In this 2012 class of fellows the average grade point average is 4.17; the average ACT score is 33.

“These students chose the University of Arkansas because they don’t intend to rest on their laurels. They know we will challenge them immediately with compelling course work and community service, as well as study abroad and research opportunities,” said Gearhart. “We want every door open to all our students, and we know engagement is critical to their success.”

Suzanne McCray, interim dean of Honors College, agrees the fellowships have attracted students who would be at home at any institution in the country, and said they will find opportunities to match their abilities.

"The Honors College Fellowships program is relatively new yet it is already a nationally recognized scholarship. These new fellows will connect with students and faculty who will challenge them to reach higher. They are joining a community where engagement in and outside the classroom is a way of life,” McCray said.

Honors College Fellows are housed in the Pomfret Honors Quarters for their freshman year, and participate in the university’s First-Year Experience program.

The University of Arkansas Honors College Fellows Class of 2012 are:

Anderson	Patrick	ASMSA	Hot Springs	AR
Annett	Zach	Metro Christian Academy	Tulsa	OK
Bailey	Iain	Valley View High School	Jonesboro	AR
Barber	Ellen	Little Rock Central High School	Little Rock	AR
Blackwell	Alesia	Parkers Chapel High School	El Dorado	AR
Braschler	Jonathan	Central High School	Springfield	MO
Brown	Andy	Joplin High School	Joplin	MO
Carr	Amy	John Carroll High School	Fort Pierce	FL
Castleberry	Kelsey	Conway High School	Conway	AR
Chancellor	Amy	Conway High School	Conway	AR
Chase	Emily	Tahlequah High School	Tahlequah	OK
Chesser	Jonathan	North Little Rock High School	North Little Rock	AR
Clark	Clayton	Bentonville High School	Bentonville	AR
Clark	Tyler	Blue Valley North	Overland Park	KS
Cochran	Lauren	Claremore High School	Claremore	OK
Costello	Chloe	Plano East Senior High School	Plano	TX
Cox	Kaleb	Joplin High School	Joplin	MO
Dunlap	Tyler	Magnolia High School	Magnolia	AR
Dunn	Hunter	Lake Hamilton High School	Pearcy	AR
Edgmon	Gregory	Fayetteville High School	Fayetteville	AR
Gangluff	Kristin	Conway High School	Conway	AR
Glazer	Bryan	Christian Brothers High School	Memphis	TN
Guinn	Maranda	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow	OK
Harpool	Josh	Little Rock Central High School	Little Rock	AR
Haynes	Jason	Cabot High School	Cabot	AR
Howland	Michael	Union High School	Tulsa	OK
Hubbart	Kyle	Lake Travis High School	Austin	TX
Jancuska	Ashley	Ursuline Academy Of Dallas	Dallas	TX
Johnson	Drew	Joplin High School	Joplin	AR
Johnston	Devon	Alma High School	Alma	AR
Jones	Monica	Mount St. Mary Academy	Little Rock	AR
Kegley	Lauren	Central Arkansas Christian	North Little Rock	AR
Kelly	Brandon	Van Buren High School	Van Buren	AR
Knewtson	Kelsey	Joplin High School	Joplin	MO
Lewis	Ben	North Little Rock High School	North Little Rock	AR
Long	Chelsea	Jonesboro High School	Jonesboro	AR
Mash	Clint	Beebe High School	Beebe	AR
Massoth	Lucas	Metro Christian Academy	Tulsa	OK
McAtee	Ali	Benton High School	Benton	AR
McClain	Birk	North Little Rock High School	North Little Rock	AR
McMahon	Lucky	Mountain Home Charter High School	Mountain Home	AR
Meyer	Jerrika	Morrilton High School	Morrilton	AR
Moore	Morgan	Charleston High School	Charleston	AR
Mott	Jake	Shawnee Mission South High School	Overland Park	KS
Murry	MariAlison	Texas High School	Texarkana	TX
Myers	David	Cabot High School	Cabot	AR
Pannell	Will	Bentonville High School	Bentonville	AR
Philpot	Chase	Webb City High School	Webb City	MO
Porter	Carissa	Jonesboro High School	Jonesboro	AR
Post	Joseph	Subiaco Academy	Subiaco	AR
Puckett	Samantha	Fayetteville High School	Fayetteville	AR
Puryear	Blake	Har-Ber High School	Springdale	AR
Reid	Austin	Union High School	Tulsa	OK
Rembert	Thomas	C.E. Byrd High School	Shreveport	LA
Richards	Eileen	Batesville High School	Batesville	AR
Robertson	Erin	Green Forest High School	Green Forest	AR
Ryan	Chris	Har-Ber High School	Springdale	AR
Schafer	Lauren	Borger High School	Borger	TX
Schenewerk	Suzanne	Bixby High School	Bixby	OK
Sharum	Matthew	Subiaco Academy	Subiaco	AR
Shireman	Casey	Marion High School	Marion	AR
Smith	Lindsey	Southside High School	Fort Smith	AR
Spradley	Jackson	Cabot High School	Cabot	AR
Spradling	Chris	Central High School	Keller	TX
Tackett	Andrew	Bentonville High School	Bentonville	AR
Termin	Nathaniel	Bryant High School	Bryant	AR
Thurman	Chad	Southside High School	Fort Smith	AR
Toner	Kelly	Central High School	Springfield	MO
Turbyfill	Cara	Benton High School	Benton	AR
Turner	Mike	Joplin High School	Joplin	MO
Van Matre	Joseph	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow	OK
Walker	Derek	Sherman High School	Sherman	TX
Welcome	Leniqueca	St. Joseph's Convent	San Fernando	--
Wells	John	Pulaski Academy	Little Rock	AR
Wendel	Michael	Catholic High School	Little Rock	AR
Wilkerson	Robbie	Morrilton High School	Morrilton	AR
Williams	Chelsea	Berryville High School	Berryville	AR
Williams	Seth	Cabot High School	Cabot	AR
Word	Cameron	Alma High School	Alma	AR
Wright	Jesse	Heavener High School	Heavener	OK
Yust	Taylor	Joplin High School	Joplin	MO