Farmer, Hylton Awarded Alumni Association Senior Honor Citations

University Relations

Grant Hylton, Chancellor Joe Steinmetz and Erin Farmer

The Arkansas Alumni Association recognized University of Arkansas graduating seniors Erin Farmer of Fayetteville and Grant Hylton of San Diego, California, with the 2019 Senior Honor Citation.

The award was established in 1965 by the Arkansas Alumni Association to recognize a senior male and female student who each exhibits outstanding academic achievement, leadership skills and co-curricular activities at the University of Arkansas.

The award was announced by U of A Chancellor Joe Steinmetz at the conclusion of the annual Cardinal and White Banquet.

Farmer and Hylton were among 71 students chosen by the alumni association as the Class of 2019 Seniors of Significance. From this group, 22 Razorback Classic honorees were selected, and the two Senior Honor Citations were then selected. As the winners of the Senior Honor Citation, Farmer and Hylton received life membership in the Arkansas Alumni Association, permanent recognition on a plaque at the alumni house and will be invited back to campus to represent their class at events, including speaking at their Senior Walk Dedication.

Erin Farmer

Erin Farmer, a member of the Honors College and Bodenhamer fellow, will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and a Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics.  She minored in international economic development. 

Farmer has participated in numerous research efforts in economics and physics. She is the second author on a paper, "Quantum Paraelastic Two-Dimensional Materials," which was published in Physical Review Letters. Farmer has held two international internships with the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre and Peacework. She participated in service learning programs in Vietnam and Mozambique and studied abroad in Madrid and India.

Farmer was involved with the Volunteer Action Center in numerous ways including serving for two years with the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry and one year as president of the Volunteer Action Center. Farmer has also served as vice president of the Society of Physics Students and as a student member of the Chancellor's Commission on Women.

Farmer expressed surprise that she was selected for the Senior Honor Citation and expressed admiration for her fellow Razorback Classic honorees. Her mother is a professor at the University of Arkansas and she grew up as a member of the Razorback Family, however, she says that the one thing that surprised her once she became a student is how "close knit" the campus community feels.  Farmer's advice to incoming freshman is to "try things outside your major" and to try things that will challenge them.  Following graduation, Farmer will be pursuing her master's degree at the London School of Economics

Grant Hylton

Grant Hylton, a member of the Honors College, will graduate with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He completed his bachelor's degree in three years.  He has accepted an offer to intern for Ernst and Young in Rogers before pursuing his master's degree in accounting in fall 2019.

Hylton taught for the U of A's CLASS-plus program both as a Level I Certified Tutor and a supplemental instructor. He served as a tax & audit intern at Lavine, Lofgren, Morris & Engelberg, LLP the summer after his freshmen year. Hylton spent the following summer as a student of Princeton in Beijing, a two-month language immersion program through Princeton University.

Hylton was a founding member of the Kappa Zeta Chapter of the Theta Chi Fraternity and as the chapter's philanthropy committee chair and then as its treasurer.  He was a member of The Inspirational Choral and served as its secretary-treasurer.  Additionally, Hylton was also a Walton College ambassador.

Hylton says he felt surprise and shock upon being named the recipient of the Senior Honor Citation. He continued by saying that he was humbled and honored to be recognized, especially amongst the whole class of Razorback Classics whose "pedigrees were just amazing".  Hylton would like people to know that for each of his accomplishments he had amazing support from family, friends and the faculty and staff at the university.  He would like to give back to the university by using whatever platforms he has to advocate for the U of A, as he believes that everyone should know that it is a top tier university.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among fewer than 2.7 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.