U of A's Fulbright College Introduces 2024 Sturgis Fellows

Allie Blackford

Fellows pictured from left to right. Top: Will Henley, Jasmine Huerta, Madelyn McTigrit. Bottom: Shashitej Mummadi, Olivia Smith, Bhavana Sridharan.

Six incoming freshmen from Arkansas will join the distinguished list of Sturgis Fellows this fall in the Honors Program of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

The Fulbright Office of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement, which managed the program, recently announced the members of the 2024 class of Sturgis Fellows:

• Will Henley of Springdale
• Jasmine Huerta of Bentonville
• Madelyn McTigrit of Little Rock
• Shashitej Mummadi of Little Rock
• Olivia Smith of Fayetteville
• Bhavana Sridharan of Little Rock

"I am so excited to welcome the latest group of Sturgis Fellows to campus this fall," said Brian Raines, dean of Fulbright College. "This is a dedicated and talented group of students from Arkansas who are driven to advance their education to impact the state and the world. We are so happy to welcome them into the Fulbright College family, and I'm looking forward to seeing the incredible things that they will accomplish."

According to Jill Geisler Wheeler, Fulbright College's director of Honors and Experiential Learning, the Sturgis Fellowship is the oldest fellowship program at the U of A.

"Now entering its 38th year, the Sturgis 'family' has grown to well over 200 alumni members in the US and beyond," she said. She also noted that the Sturgis program awards each fellow $80,000 during their four years to largely cover tuition, room and board, as well as academic expenses directly related to their individual major and or research interests.  

The fellowships and their associated opportunities are made possible by the continued support of the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable and Educational Trust.

"The Sturgises have created an incredible legacy through this fellowship," Geisler Wheeler said. "Because of their vision and generosity, we've been able to help hundreds of incredible Arkansas scholars thrive, grow and accomplish amazing things during their time with us."

"Working alongside the Sturgis Fellows has been one of the most rewarding parts of my job over the last 12 years, and the start of the fall semester can't get here soon enough for me," Geisler Wheeler added.

All Sturgis Fellows will pursue a major within Fulbright College and participate in the Fulbright Honors program, completing an intensive academic curriculum and writing an independent research thesis with a faculty mentor. They are also encouraged to study abroad and pursue internship opportunities during their time at the U of A.

"It was an absolute pleasure to get to know these fantastic students through the interview process. We are excited to welcome each of them to campus," said J. Laurence Hare, executive director of the Office of Undergraduate Excellence and Global Engagement in Fulbright College. "They are bright, engaged and talented students who have benefitted tremendously from the support of their families and their teachers."

Students must score at least a 32 on the ACT and have a grade point average of a 3.9 or higher to be eligible to apply for the fellowship.

Since 1986, Sturgis Fellows have won Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Gates, Cambridge, Goldwater and Fulbright scholarships. Their undergraduate study abroad experiences included programs in Japan, England, India, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda, China, Russia, Italy, Germany, Austria, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, France, Denmark and Thailand.

THE 2024 STURGIS FELLOWS

Will Henley is a graduate of Providence Classical Christian Academy in Rogers, where he was a National Merit Scholar, high school concert band section leader and student council secretary. He was active on the school FTC robotics team, participated in musical theater and was part of the yearbook staff. He also completed a three-year leadership development program through New Life Ranch and volunteered his time with his local church's nursery. Henley plans to major in psychology and become a physician. His parents are Marissa and Noel Henley.

Jasmine Huerta is a graduate of Bentonville High School, where she was a College Board National Hispanic Scholar and completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. She also served as captain of her high school forensics team, for which she was named an eight-time State Tournament finalist and four-time national qualifier and earned a National Forensics League Degree of Outstanding Distinction and Academic All-American Award. Outside of school, she participated in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Foundation seminar, attended Arkansas Governor's School and spent three years volunteering at the Bentonville Public Library, where she served as the president of the library teen advisory board. Huerta plans to study history and public health and become a college professor. Her parents are Jenny and Joey Huerta.

Madelyn McTigrit is a graduate of Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, where she was named co-valedictorian and an AP Scholar With Distinction. She placed All-Region First Band, was a member of the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra and held several leadership roles in her band. She was even selected by her band director to serve as a senior intern for the middle school band. This role allowed her to lead the band during football games and conduct a piece in the middle school concert. McTigrit plans to major in music education and become a band director. Her parents are Geneva and Gabriel McTigrit.

Shashitej Mummadi is a graduate of Little Rock Central High School, where he was a National Merit Semifinalist and an AP Scholar. He competed in both tennis and cross country during high school and co-founded and led a student organization to promote awareness of environmental and outdoor issues. He was also active in Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. His volunteer work included service with Chi St. Vincent Hospital's ER as a nursing assistant, with the HEALERS Program and with Camp Aldersgate. Mummadi plans on majoring in biology and to become a physician. His parents are Raghu and Swathi Mummadi.

Olivia Smith is a graduate of Haas Hall Academy at the Jones Center in Springdale. She was a competitive swimmer at both the high school and club level and was named All-State in the 1A-4A conference. She served as captain of her school's quiz bowl team and was named editor of the school's literary magazine, Footnotes. Outside of school, she filled her time as the director of communication and community service for her chapter of the Young Writers Initiative. Smith plans on majoring in history and environmental science, pursuing a career as a professor. Her parents are Tracie and Michael Smith.

Bhavana Sridharan is a graduate of Little Rock Central High School, where she graduated as a National Merit Semifinalist. As captain of the school's quiz bowl team, she and her teammates won the 7A AGQBA State Championship. She participated in both unpaid and paid research opportunities and was third author on a publication accepted into Frontiers in Neuroscience. She was also a three-time grand award winner in cellular and molecular biology at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). In 2022, she co-founded the non-profit Shruthilaya Academy of Arkansas, which teaches Indian Carnatic music to raise money for various causes. Sridharan plans to major in biology and psychology and pursue a career in oncology. Her parents are Viji Sridharan and Sridharan Soundararajan. 

ABOUT THE STURGIS FELLOWSHIP

The Sturgis Fellowship in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences was established at the U of A in 1985 through the generous philanthropy of the Dallas-based Roy and Christine Sturgis charitable and Educational Trust with an endowment of $2 million. The program's success led to additional gifts in 1992 and 1998, bringing the total program endowment to $10 million. The gift supports 16-24 Sturgis Fellows on campus at any given time, all of whom receive individual support from the Fulbright College Honors Program for a memorable and productive college experience. 

About the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences: The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences is the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus with three schools, 16 departments and 43 academic programs and research centers. The college provides the majority of the core curriculum for all University of Arkansas students.