Honors College Welcomes 31 Incoming Students for the Path Program

Photo by Russell Cothren

Incoming Path scholars pose for a group photo outside of Gearhart Hall.

The Honors College at the U of A has selected 31 exceptional freshman students to participate in the Path Program, which provides both financial support and guidance to students from underrepresented populations.

In addition to receiving scholarships, mentorship and academic advising, Path scholars live in Hotz Honors Hall and benefit from academic and study abroad opportunities. With the Path Program entering its ninth year, the Honors College is seeking to expand its size and scope.

“This class of Path scholars is the largest one we’ve ever had,” said Xochitl Delgado Solorzano, Honors College assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion and director of the Path Program. “It is incredibly exciting to provide more students with support to reach their academic and professional goals.”

The incoming Path scholars are pursuing interests that range from studio art to animal science and are already winning recognition. 

Janna Morse from West Fork is the recipient of the annual Governor’s 4-H Award, and Kaderias Newton has won a Gates Scholarship. Further, the scholars are already getting involved on campus — Bryan Williams of Bentonville spent his summer conducting research in professor Hugh Churchill’s physics lab.

Thanks to a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, 16 incoming Path freshmen who are interested in innovation and plan to major in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics will each receive a renewable scholarship of $4,500 ($5,500 if they join the Honors College). The project is led by Karl Schubert, a professor of practice who is the associate director of the university’s new data science program and holds a joint appointment in the colleges of business, arts and sciences, and engineering.

Other leaders on the grant include Jennie Popp, associate dean of the Honors College; Carol Gattis, associate dean emeritus of the Honors College and adjunct associate professor of industrial engineering; Thomas Carter III, assistant dean for academics and student affairs in the College of Engineering; and Delgado Solorzano. Leslie B. Massey is lead instructor with collaborator Alan Ellstrand.

The 15 students who plan to study other disciplines will also receive academic scholarships of up to $5,500, thanks to an endowment of $5.5 million from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and generous gifts from Lee and Beverly Bodenhamer, Carolyn and Nick Cole, Lynda Coon, Bob and Linda McMath, and Mike Pierce and Tricia Starks. These scholarships will be renewed based on continued engagement with the Path Program and satisfactory academic progress. 

“This funding has allowed not only for the continued success of past cohorts but of future ones as well,” Delgado Solorzano said. “This is the second cohort to receive funding through the NSF grant, and it’s amazing to be able to grow this program due to additional support.”

On Aug. 6, the new Path scholars arrived on campus to begin a two-week intercession class designed to integrate them into college life. 

HONORS COLLEGE PATH SCHOLARS, CLASS OF 2026

• Greg Brown of Osceola, computer science major
• Alma Hernandez-Monroy of Garfield, nursing major
• Xen Hesse of Overland Park, Kansas, sociology major
• Ma’Kiyah Holmes of Morrilton, psychology major
• Janna Morse of Fayetteville, international relations major
• Wesley Key of Farmington, marketing major
• Esiquil Lara of Knoxville, pre-med major
• Lyse Lee of Searcy, architecture major
• Gisell Maldonado of Rogers, anthropology major
• Cassidy Mendez of Pineville, pre-dental major
• Elmer Palencia of Lowell, engineering major
• Naija Sharpley of Little Rock, animal science major
• Victoria Smith of Hackett, studio art major
• Marquavis Stuckett of Conway, business major
• Brylan Tindel of Harrison, studio art major
• Kason Ballard of Benton, electrical engineering major
• Ximena Castro of Rogers, computer science major
• Zane Drozda of Krugerville, Texas, mechanical engineering major
• Mohammed Faiq of Arkadelphia, mechanical engineering major
• Jack Graham of Leawood, Kansas, mechanical engineering major
• Jon Holmes-Smith of Searcy, civil engineering major
• Hannah Marr of Bullard, Texas, biology major
• Jasmine Martinez of Goodman, Missouri, computer science major
• Katie McKay of Conway, biomedical engineering major
• Kaderias Newton of Haskell, computer engineering major
• Anthony Perez of Rogers, mechanical engineering major
• Celena Sabillon of Roe, chemistry major
• Christian Sandoval of Rogers, electrical engineering major
• Ennovy Villarreal of Springdale, biochemistry major
• Bryan Williams of Bentonville, physics major
• Kennedy Williams of Lonoke, biology major

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.