The University of Arkansas Honors College has selected six incoming freshmen as the recipients of this year’s Bodenhamer Fellowships, all ranging widely in interests and skills. 

The Bodenhamer Fellowship is one of the most prestigious scholarships the university offers to undergraduates, awarding each student up to $80,000 over the four-year course of their education. 

The fellowship largely covers tuition, fees, books, room and board and other academic expenses, providing students with the freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, service learning and academic interests.

The 2024 Bodenhamer Fellows are: 

• Brayan Estrada - Rogers
• Clara Nikkel – Batesville
• Kelsey Jung – Fayetteville
• Eliot Posey – Siloam Springs
• Hudson Roberts – Shreveport, Louisiana 
• Dillon Sanders – Fayetteville

The fellowship, now in its 26th year, cultivates a strong sense of community among current and alumni recipients as they pursue an impressive range of careers and graduate and professional degrees. 

“The 2024 incoming class of Bodenhamer Fellows underwent an intense interview process and emerged victorious in a super competitive pool of top students,” said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. “Together they will represent four undergraduate colleges and an excellent array of majors ranging from business to architecture to STEM. We are thrilled to welcome them into our ‘Bodie’ family now numbering over 160 alumni.”

The Bodenhamer Foundation, created by Lee Bodenhamer (B.S.B.A.’57, M.B.A.’61, both at U of A, and D.B.A.’68, Harvard), established the Bodenhamer Fellowships in 1998. Students must score at least a 32 on the ACT and have a grade point average of 3.9 or higher in order to be eligible for the award. Community service, extracurricular activities and evidence of intellectual curiosity, leadership and creativity are also considered in the selection process. 

Over the summer intersession, the new class of Bodenhamer Fellows will travel to Washington, D.C., for a five-day trip that will include visits to museums, government buildings and historic sites. The summer trip is an annual tradition and helps build bonds among the new Bodenhamer Fellows. 

The new Bodenhamer Fellows will join a group of 168 current and alumni fellows who have benefited from the generous support of the Bodenhamer family. Alumni fellows are excelling in a wide range of career paths, from founding and growing startups to making breakthroughs in the lab to figuring out how to build and power our communities more sustainably. Many are pursuing advanced degrees at universities such as Harvard, Yale and Vanderbilt.

2024 BODENHAMER FELLOWS

Brayan Estrada is a graduate of Rogers High School, where he played in the band, won state competitions in CAD software design and led service clubs. 

He is both an AP Scholar and Questbridge College Prep Scholar and received a commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program. 

He served as the vice president of the League of United Latin American Citizens chapter in Rogers and as a section leader in the marching band. He also volunteers in the Rogers community and was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce for his academic excellence and commitment to social responsibility. 

Estrada is an avid car enthusiast and used the hobby to strengthen his job experience. When he was not in school, he worked diligently at an auto parts store and held jobs throughout his high school career. 

He plans to major in business economics and is the son of Laura Oria and Oscar Estrada.   

Kelsey Jung is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where she led the Green Team, National English Honor Society, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) and founded a nonprofit that tutored more than 120 people from Ukraine in English. She also played volleyball and served as team captain.

Jung is a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. She has also received awards for her work with DECA and FBLA and her volunteer service. 

Outside of school, she worked at a local restaurant and volunteered as an office volunteer for a children’s charity house. 

She plans to major in supply chain management and is the daughter of Jane and Mark Jung. 

Clara Nikkel is a graduate of Batesville High School, where she ran track and field, served on the student council and as president of the Beta Club. She also played the bass drum and oboe in marching and concert bands, winning the title of all-state oboist. 

Her passion for chemistry led her to reach out to a professor at Lyon College for experience in research. In the lab, Nikkel performed more than 125 hours of research to modify and purify tuberculosis medication to improve its effectiveness on drug-resistant strains. She hopes to continue research into pharmaceuticals with an interest in studying solutions for underdeveloped countries. 

Nikkel is a National Merit Finalist, Coolidge Scholarship Finalist and AP Scholar with Honor. She has received a commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program and has won awards across the state in both English and mathematics. 

She plans to major in biochemistry and is the daughter of Amanda and Bradley Nikkel. 

Eliot Posey is a graduate of Siloam Springs High School, where he served as vice president of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the International Thespian Society, participated in the theater program and tutored students in algebra and geometry. 

Outside of school, he attended Arkansas Governor's School—concentrating on visual arts, was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and served on his church’s education committee. Each summer he worked with the grounds crew at John Brown University. 

Posey is a National Merit Finalist, Governor’s Young Artist Competition winner and the first Siloam Springs Student of the Month. He has received commendation from the College Board National Recognition Program and achievement awards in many courses. 

He plans to major in architecture and is the son of Trisha and Jake Posey. 

Hudson Roberts is a graduate of C.E. Byrd High School in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she was the team captain of the cross country and track and field team, president of the student council and founder of the Mental Health and Wellness Club. 

She was chosen to participate in the competitive Science & Medicine Academic Research Training Program at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, where she worked in the biomechanics lab studying hardware-induced fragility of bones and the sustainability of orthopedic implants.  

Roberts is a National Merit Finalist and AP Scholar with Distinction. For her academic, athletic and leadership performance, she was selected as the Caddo Parish High School Student of the Year. Her school also nominated her for the U.S. Senate Youth Program and P.E.O. Star scholarships.  

She plans to major in environmental, soil and water science and is the daughter of Pat and Jason Roberts. 

Dillon Sanders is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where he was a varsity pole vaulter on the track and field team, served as president of the National Honor Society, participated in the Ambassador Program and oversaw Fayetteville High School’s recycling program. 

Living outside city limits, Sanders noticed recycling wasn’t being picked up. He started a business picking up recycling weekly for 15 clients and taking their recycling goods to the city drop-off. Since beginning his business, he’s collected over 2,000 pounds of recyclables a month. 

He also hosted a radio show every Saturday night where he interviewed guests, discussed current events and played music. 

Sanders is a National Merit Commended Student and AP Scholar with Distinction. He is part of the National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Science National Honors Society. 

He plans to major in biology and is the son of Crystal and Jarret Sanders. 

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 and Economic Development News.