Over 300 U of A Students Receive National Recognition in 2018-2019

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – More than 300 University of Arkansas students received nationally competitive scholarships, fellowships, grants and internships during the 2018-19 academic year.

These awards at the state, regional and national levels were earned on the basis of academic achievement, research, leadership and community engagement. Students received a long list of individual awards, including the Truman, Goldwater, Pickering, Boren, Gilman and Fulbright Scholarships as well as Student Undergraduate Research Grants awarded at the state level and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships awarded at the federal level.

U of A students also competed successfully on a variety of academic team efforts and received competitive internships across the country.

“The University of Arkansas and its students enjoyed a remarkable year,” said Jim Coleman, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs. “These students were supported by more than 150 faculty members. This engaged partnership between faculty member and student can change a student’s career path. Faculty assist students as they pursue compelling questions, supporting their research and application efforts with amazing results. It has been a terrific year and congratulations go to all these ambitious students who are high reaching and the faculty who support them.”

The students were celebrated at the end of the spring semester at an event co-sponsored by the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards and the Provost’s Office. Coleman provided remarks on undergraduate engagement and faculty support, and student speakers Anthony Azzun, a 2019 Fulbright Scholar, and Samia Ismail, a 2019 Truman Scholar, recognized the efforts of faculty and staff mentors.

A small cohort of faculty and staff members also received the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards Gold Medal for their significant support of students as they applied for national and international opportunities. One department is also selected each year for its collective contribution to student research and competitive efforts. Faculty, staff and departments can only receive the Gold Medal once. A full list of past Gold Medal recipients is available on the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards web page. 

“University of Arkansas students received over $2.1 million this year in nationally competitive scholarships to support undergraduate and graduate studies, competitive internships, study abroad and research,” said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment and director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards. “This success is an important combination of the stellar students who attend the university and the dedicated faculty who support them. Our faculty, staff and departmental Gold Medal recipients lead the way in providing outstanding support that results in student success at the national and international levels.”

Office of Nationally Competitive Awards Gold Medals

2019 Faculty Gold Medals:

• Richard Cassady, College of Engineering
• Rachel Glade, College of Education and Health Professions
• Mack Ivey, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
• Molly Jensen, Sam M. Walton College of Business
• Garry McDonald, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
• Julie Stenken, J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

2019 Staff Gold Medals:

• Sarah Malloy, Office of Study Abroad and International Exchange
• Chelsea Hodge, Honors College

2019 Departmental Gold Medal:

• Biomedical Engineering, department chair Raj R. Rao

For students and faculty interested in learning more about these opportunities, additional information on competitive awards is available on the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards website. 

University of Arkansas students who are interested in applying for state or national awards should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.

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 only 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.