First Entering Class Of UA Honors College Academy Scholars Named

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Seventy-four academically talented high school seniors from across the state have accepted invitations to enroll this fall in the inaugural class of University of Arkansas Honors College Academy Scholars. Each will receive a scholarship totaling $16,000 over four years.

Their acceptance marks the second major step in assembling the entering class for the Honors College, which when fully operational will enroll some 2,000 high achieving students. On June 13, the University announced the names of 60 students who will attend the U of A as Honors College Fellows. The 74 Academy Scholars and 60 Honors Fellows join 10 new Sturgis Fellows, nine new Bodenhamer Fellows, one new Boyer Fellow and approximately 250 new Chancellor’s Scholars in an Honors College freshman class that will number at least 400 students. That number likely will grow as other students with at least a 28 ACT score and a 3.5 grade point average will be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis.

"We are delighted to welcome our new Honors College Academy Scholars, who bring superb academic skills and great personal attributes to the University of Arkansas," said Chancellor John A. White. "These are students that are highly sought by out-of-state colleges and universities, and we are pleased they have chosen to remain in-state at the University of Arkansas, where they will receive a world-class education."

The University of Arkansas Honors College is being established and endowed through the $300 million gift announced by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation of Bentonville on April 11. Of that amount $200 million is being used for the undergraduate honors college. The remaining $100 million will be used to endow the University of Arkansas Graduate School, which is expected to grow from 3,000 graduate students at present to 5,500 by 2010.

The Honors College Academy is designed to recruit for the University of Arkansas that "band" of very bright, hardworking students whose ACT scores range from 28 to 31 (out of a possible 36) and a grade point average of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale). If they do well their freshman year, they are offered admission into the Honors College proper, and their base scholarship of $4,000 per year continues for the three remaining years.

"This is the band of talented students we’d like to be even more successful in recruiting in the coming years—especially from counties in Arkansas that have been underrepresented at the University," said Bob Smith, interim dean of the Honors College. "The Honors College Academy Scholarship Program now gives us the means to bring greater numbers of these students to the University. Our expectation is that they will complete their degrees and spend their adult lives in Arkansas—contributing to the betterment of the economy, their communities, and their state."

The Honors College expects to enroll about 75 new Fellows and 75 new Academy Scholars per year. When all four classes are fully enrolled, there will be about 600 such students on campus every year.

"These students will be bringing new energy and enthusiasm that will help transform the classroom experience on our campus," said Suzanne McCray, associate dean. "After graduation, they will be the kind of leaders that will help to transform our state."

The inaugural class of Honors College Academy Scholars is as follows, listed alphabetically by hometown:

Almyra: Derreth H. Henderson.

Arkadelphia: Eric M. Robken.

Ashdown: Tyler E. Davis, Joshua A. Hale.

Banks: Derek D. Davis.

Beebe: Janell A. Gehring.

Berryville: Adam W. Killingsworth.

Blytheville: Jean V. Nguyen.

Booneville: Kristen L. Silvey.

Cabot: Denis R. Curtis, Kirk A. Turnbo.

Charleston: Catherine G. Pendergrass

Clarkedale: Jane A. Stuckey.

Clarksville: Valerie L. Cremer, Creenna L. Sheely.

Crawfordsville: Margo C. Felker.

Crossett: Richard S. Jones.

Dequeen: Brian K. McLelland.

Dewitt: Drew J. Horton.

El Dorado: Marni E. Green, Elizabeth A. Mattocks, Jonathan S. Ratcliff, Jennifer L. Tirante.

Fisher: Kelly L. Dale, Latia R. McDonald.

Fordyce: Rachel K. Lyons.

Foreman: Andrew J. Whitlow.

Forrest City: Katie E. Murry.

Fouke: Wade E. Carter.

Grapevine: Kristen D. Lybrand.

Hector: Taylor G. Howard.

Holiday Island: Megan E. Raley.

Hope: William C. Buck.

Jonesboro: Dawn A. Elkins, Robert B. McKeel, Emily L. Weichman.

Keiser: Lindsey C. Walker.

Langley: John B. Brown.

Leslie: Helen R. Hayes.

Lexa: Katie E. Kummer.

Magnolia: James M. Graham.

Marion: Meredith A. Anderson, Erik S. Cooper.

Monticello: Lesley D. Grimes.

Morrilton: Katherine S. Post.

Mountain Home: Michael S. Clarke, James P. Tullis

Mountain View: Lauren D. Kemp.

Mount Ida: Rhonda R. Craw, Christopher Liva.

Newport: Jennifer L. Delcase, Edward D. Jones.

Perryville: Christopher R. Bellinger.

Pineville: Jacob G. Russell

Piggott: Lindsey B. Sutfin.

Pine Bluff: Mary M. Maxwell, Amanda S. McCarty, Megan M. Vanlandingham.

Pocahontas: Brady R. Declerk, John C. Grissom.

Poyen: Robby W. Daniel.

Rector: Jeffrey F. Puckett.

Russellville: Colt M. McClain.

Searcy: Landon D. Dixon.

Smithville: Charlie O. Vaugier.

Stuttgart: Diana K. Hackney, Amber L. Hiryak, Michelle L. Jacobs, Melissa B. McGraw, Jake M. Meins.

Walnut Ridge: Sarah M. Wilcoxson.

West Helena: Jonathan A. Sanders.

White Hall: Matthew B. Morgan.

Wynne: Robert V. Lawson.

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