FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas is awarding six Bodenhamer Fellowships to recent Arkansas high school graduates who will be entering the university in the fall 2007 semester.

Levi Bucao

Hannah Henson

Stuart Shirrell

Elizabeth Templeton

Andrew Walchuk

Kathleen Williams

The newest Bodenhamer fellows are Levi Bucao of Springdale, Hannah Henson of Hot Springs, Stuart Shirrell of Little Rock, Elizabeth Templeton of Fayetteville, Andrew Walchuk of Conway and Kathleen Williams of Jonesboro.

Bodenhamer Fellowships are worth up to $50,000 for four years of study or up to $62,500 for five years if the student is pursuing an accredited five-year degree program. The fellowship covers tuition and fees, room and board, the purchase of books and supplies, and additional benefits of the student’s choice, such as study abroad, attendance at professional and educational conferences, research and special equipment.

Students must have a minimum score of 32 on the ACT and at least a 3.8 grade point average to qualify for the fellowship, but beyond that the competition is not about grades and scores. Students are required to prepare essays about their academic and community interests, along with letters of recommendation. The Bodenhamer selection committee reads these carefully, and interviews the candidates to find students who are intellectually curious, have a passion about a particular subject or social concern and have demonstrated leadership abilities.

"This year's class is academically stellar once again,” said Gary Standridge, director of the Bodenhamer Fellowship program. “I was particularly impressed by their poise in an interview, by their ability to think critically, and by their commitment to service. It will be a pleasure to follow their careers over the next four years and beyond."

Levi Bucao was home-schooled and is a National Merit Finalist. He has taken several advanced placement courses through Springdale High School. His academic interests include computer science/engineering and information technology. 

Hannah Henson graduated from Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy, where she participated in track, swimming and volleyball. She was selected as one of six national Wendy’s High School Heisman winners, and was awarded the 2007 National SAMMY (Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year). Henson was also named an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette State Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. Her academic interests include biology, chemistry, genetic engineering and mathematics. 

Stuart Shirrell graduated from Little Rock Central High School. He was captain of the national championship team in the Federal Reserve’s Fed Challenge, a competition that includes team presentations analyzing the current state of the U.S. economy. Shirrell was also selected as the male Presidential Scholar from Arkansas. His interests include economics, international relations and international development.

Elizabeth Templeton graduated from Fayetteville High School and is a National Merit Finalist. She was active in the band and has taken several advanced placement courses. Her academic interests include biology and chemistry.

Andrew Walchuk graduated from Conway High School and is a National Merit Finalist. He took advanced placement courses and is a candidate for the National AP Scholar Award. He was named the Arkansas representative to the National Youth Council for the U.S. Public Service Academy and is an Arkansas Times Academic All-Star. He plans to major in international relations.

Kathleen Williams graduated from Jonesboro High School, where her academic interests included veterinary medicine and environmental soil and water studies. She has participated in Llama Drama with Heifer Project International and is active in many recycling projects.

The Bodenhamer Foundation, acting through its trustee, Lee Bodenhamer (B.S.B.A. 1957, M.B.A. 1961), established the Bodenhamer Fellowships at the University of Arkansas for incoming freshmen. More recently, Bodenhamer endowed the scholarships with a match from the Walton Family Charitable Trust. The university has now awarded a total of 73 Bodenhamer fellowships since it was established in 1998. The Bodenhamer endowment will enable the university to award six Bodenhamer fellowships each year.

As part of the fellowship each summer, Bodenhamer treats the incoming Bodenhamer Fellows to a five-day trip to Washington, D.C.  The students tour the Capitol, Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, Holocaust Museum and other significant landmarks. This year’s new fellows will be accompanied by Karon Reese, a doctoral candidate in creative writing, and her husband, Steve Striffler, a professor of anthropology.