Representatives from the U of A recently hosted a college preparation workshop in Fordyce for students and families from South Central Arkansas. The event was organized in collaboration with the Small Town and Rural Students (STARS) College Network, a coalition of 32 of the nation's most prominent institutions dedicated to ensuring that students from rural and small-town America have the information and support they need to enroll and graduate from the college or university of their choice. 

Staff from the Office of Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid and College Access Initiative met with students and families to discuss preparing for and applying to college. Attendees had the opportunity to learn more about the U of A's admissions process, applying for academic scholarships, completing the FAFSA and planning for financial aid. Participants also learned about programming available through College Access Initiative, including Jump Start and ACT Academy.

"We are pleased to be part of the STARS Network," said Suzanne McCray, vice provost for enrollment services. "It has strengthened our rural student recruitment efforts in Arkansas and allowed us to provide additional funding to programs like College Access Initiative and Arkansas Reads. Arkansas Reads helps embed the concept of going to college while students are still in elementary school, and the College Access Initiative gives high school students who are planning for college the tools needed to make informed decisions about what will work best for them."

The event is part of the U of A's focus on providing college-readiness resources and education to high school students and their families throughout Arkansas. In addition to these efforts, the Arkansas Reads Program donated 1,400 books to Fordyce Elementary School as part of a mission to increase elementary school library collections and encourage reading and eventual college attendance. 

Radeanna Garcia, assistant director for Arkansas recruitment and STARS College Network coordinator, supports STARS involvement for the U of A. She may be reached at rigarcia@uark.edu for inquiries about future STARS events.