Hank Herzfeld, a senior Honors College Bodenhamer Fellow majoring in history and political science, was recently named a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. Isaac Hampton, a 2022 graduate of the Sam M. Walton College of Business with a Bachelor of Science in International Business and a minor in Mandarin was named a finalist for the Schwarzman Scholarship.

Finalists for these awards are selected from thousands of applicants each year. The Rhodes Scholarship provides for up to three years of study at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, while the Schwarzman Scholarship provides a year of graduate study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

“Congratulations to these students, to their colleges, and to their mentors,” said Terry Martin, provost and senior vice chancellor for academic affairs. “To be selected at this level is a significant honor and represents years of preparation and support. We are proud of their many accomplishments and are looking forward to following their stellar careers unfold, no matter what the outcome of these competitions.”

Hank Herzfeld – Rhodes Finalist

Originally from Benton, Hank Herzfeld has been recognized with numerous honors on campus including the Department of Political Science’s Kurt K. Tweraser Award and the Russell E. Bearden History Scholarship.

Herzfeld founded and now serves as the program administrator of the College Access Initiative’s Arkansas Mentorship Program targeting the college access needs of Central Arkansas through remote near-peer mentorships. He was also the founding president of the university’s Quiz Bowl Club, served as the logistics chair of the Distinguished Lectures Committee, and is currently serving as a member of ASG’s Razorback Action Group.

Herzfeld is the treasurer of the Habitat for Humanity Campus Chapter, and a member of the U of A's Model United Nations. He is the University of Arkansas’ 2024-25 McClarty Presidential Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress and will be doing research on state-federal administrative relationships for the disbursement of benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

If selected for the Rhodes Scholarship, Herzfeld plans to pursue a Master of Public Policy and Master of Science in Policy at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government. He plans to use this opportunity to learn at Oxford’s policy center to then bring his policy expertise back home to Central Arkansas, where Herzfeld aspires to a career steering statewide policy and politics.

“I have poured myself into my application for the Rhodes Scholarship, so I am thrilled to move on to the next stage,” Herzfeld said. “I have many people to thank for this opportunity — family, professors, my recommenders, and the offices and departments that have tirelessly supported me.”

Isaac Hampton – Schwarzman Finalist

During his undergraduate career, Isaac Hampton reinvigorated the Chinese Language and Culture Club, serving as vice president of the student-run organization. He remained in Arkansas after graduation where he works as a buyer for Walmart, leading merchandising strategies that have generated millions of dollars in revenue.

Concerned with climate change, Hampton developed department-wide sustainability initiatives that eliminated 335 tons of plastic pollution and converted 3,600 tons of paper to recyclables. His interests include developing regenerative sourcing practices and promoting sustainable consumption.

On his selection as a finalist for the Schwarzman Scholarship, Hampton said, “This is an incredible honor, and I am most excited by the prospect of living in Beijing during China’s green transition. Aside from developing greater competencies in environmental sustainability, I would also love to have the opportunity to advance my Mandarin ability in an immersive environment.”

Students or alumni interested in applying for prestigious scholarships should contact the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards at awards@uark.edu.

About the Rhodes Scholarship: The Rhodes Scholarship, the oldest international fellowship, was initiated after the death of Cecil Rhodes in 1902. The scholarship is intended to bring outstanding students from many countries around the world to the University of Oxford. The first American Scholars were elected in 1904, and Neil Carothers of the University of Arkansas was a Rhodes Scholar that first year. Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at the University of Oxford with the possibility of renewal for a third year. Eleven University of Arkansas students have been selected as Rhodes Scholars. The most recent was Coleman Warren, industrial engineering (2022), who has just returned to Arkansas after completing his studies at Oxford.

About Schwarzman Scholars: Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone co-founder Stephen A. Schwarzman personally contributed $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $350 million from private sources to endow the program in perpetuity. The $450 million endowment will support up to 200 scholars annually from the U.S., China, and around the world for a one-year master’s degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities and an indispensable base for the country’s scientific and technological research. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China. Admissions opened in the fall of 2015, with the first class of students in residence in 2016. Previous U of A Schwarzman Scholars include Danielle Neighbour, civil engineering (2017) and J.P. Gairhan. history/political science/African American Studies (2022).

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 $3 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.