FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- Sixty 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 Fellows. Each will receive a scholarship totaling $50,000 over four years.

Their acceptance marks the first step in realizing the potential of the $300 million gift, announced April 11, from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation of Bentonville. Of that amount, $200 million will be used to establish and endow an undergraduate honors college—approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees on June 7—that eventually will enroll some 2,000 students. The remaining $100 million will endow the University’s Graduate School, which is expected to grow from 3,000 graduate students at present to 5,500 by 2010.

"This is an historic day for the University, as we now lay the intellectual cornerstone for what will become one of the finest undergraduate honors colleges in the nation," said UA Chancellor John A. White. "These young men and women represent the best academic talent our state has to offer. Many distinguished colleges and universities have been trying to recruit them. Fortunately for our state, they have chosen to attend the University of Arkansas, where they will find educational opportunities equal to the best our nation has to offer."

Some $75 million of the Walton gift is to be used as an endowment to support 300 Honors College Fellows, who will be enrolled at a rate averaging 75 students per year until this group is at full strength. To qualify for an invitation as a Fellow, students must score at least a 32 (out of a possible 36) on the ACT exam and have a high school grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale).

"These Fellows will form the core of the first entering class for the Honors College," said Bob Smith, interim dean. "They will join our other high achieving students who receive full tuition and room-and board scholarships, including 10 new Sturgis Fellows, nine new Bodenhamer Fellows, one new Boyer Fellow and 250 new Chancellor’s Scholars we expect this coming fall."

Also joining them will be the inaugural class of about 75 Honors College Academy Scholars. The Honors College Academy—to be supported through a scholarship endowment of $24 million—is designed to extend exceptional opportunities to very bright, hardworking students who may not have the backgrounds or credentials of Honors College Fellows but show high promise. If they do well during their freshmen year, they will be offered full admission to the Honors College with a continuing base scholarship of $4,000 per year.

The inaugural class of Honors College Academy Scholars is expected to be announced in a few weeks. Eventually, the Honors College Academy will bring an additional 300 students into the Honors College when all four classes are enrolled.

The purpose of the Honors College, Smith said, is to "capture" for Arkansas those high achieving high school students who are being lured by out-of-state colleges and universities, while also attracting students of equal ability from other states.

"Wherever they come from, their graduation from the University of Arkansas will increase significantly the likelihood that they will live and work in the state," Smith said,

"As they do, their talents will contribute greatly to improving the economy and quality of life in Arkansas."

Suzanne McCray, associate dean of the Honors College, said the University has made great strides in recent years in attracting students of high ability.

"In 1985, the University enrolled the first five students in the Sturgis Fellowship Program," she said. "They made a huge difference on our campus and in their professions after graduation. This fall, we are looking at enrolling some 400 new students of exceptional ability. With this community of highly talented students on campus, there’s no limit as to what they can accomplish at the University and after they graduate. Over time, they will have a profound impact on the quality of life in our state."

The inaugural class of University of Arkansas Honors College Fellows is as follows, listed alphabetically by hometown:

--Alma: Jeffery R. Dean, engineering, and Jonathan M.T. Jenkins, arts and sciences.

--Barling: Philip T. Nguyen, engineering, and Brian Thanh Than, business.

--Benton: Jack P. Bourne, arts and sciences; Jamie K. Fugitt, arts and sciences; Jennifer L. Hill, arts and sciences; and David C. Powell, engineering.

--Cabot: Jeffrey R. Dorman, engineering; Richard A. Gray, arts and sciences; Melinda J. Larson, arts and sciences; John T. Moore, engineering; Justin E. Vines, arts and sciences; and Mia Wendel, arts and sciences.

--Concord: Andrea L. Parker, arts and sciences.

--Conway: Rebecca G. Burks, engineering; Paul T. Evans, arts and sciences; and Elizabeth A. French, engineering.

--Fayetteville: Daniel K. Farthing, business; Nina L. Ragsdale, arts and sciences; Bernadette J. Stewart, arts and sciences; and James D. Weathers, engineering.

--Fordyce: Alexis R. Sayers, arts and sciences.

--Fort Smith: Jessica M. Bieker, engineering; Andrew B. Cogbill, arts and sciences; and Brett B. Helms, engineering.

--Gravette: Anthony M. Scalia, engineering.

--Greenwood: Jonathan R. Wirth, engineering.

--Hot Springs: Erin E. Casey, arts and sciences; Kile M. Ortigo, arts and sciences; Nathan D. Wetzler, arts and sciences; and Nick Zunick, arts and sciences.

--Huntsville: Justin C. Steeley, engineering.

--Jonesboro: Ryan E. Hall, arts and sciences, and Mallory E. Langston, arts and sciences.

--Lead Hill: Lyndsy W. Simon, engineering.

--Little Rock: Edward H. Benson, arts and sciences; Amy K. Johnson, business; and John E. Schellhase, arts and sciences.

--Malvern: Susie L. Boles, arts and sciences.

--Maumelle: Thomas M. Rogers, arts and sciences.

--North Little Rock: Nicholas M. Churchill, engineering, and Hunter I. Riley, arts and sciences.

--Paragould: Kara E. Pegg, architecture.

--Rogers: Brady F. Cress, engineering; Erin K. Kindy, arts and sciences; and Chelsey M. Stewart, education.

--Russellville: Michael T. Hotz, arts and sciences; Matthew C. Kobbs, engineering; Ryan O. Miller, arts and sciences; Sarah R. Smith, arts and sciences; and John M. Stacks, arts and sciences.

--Scranton: Lynn M. Davis, arts and sciences.

--Searcy: Brent M. Hollosi, engineering.

--Sherwood: Michael S. Smith, arts and sciences.

--Springdale: Dwayne J. Bensing, arts and sciences.

--Texarkana: Ryan T. Boyles, arts and sciences.

--Trumann: Deanna U. Pratt, business.

--West Helena: David P. Jenkins, engineering.

Also: Hannah M. Mcleod of Orlando, Fla., arts and sciences.

###