FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Seven freshman students have been awarded premier Sturgis Fellowships at the University of Arkansas, worth $50,000 for four years.

Elaine Christman

James Covington

Jessica Middleton

Clark Smith

Christine Snyder

John Terry

Anna Worsham

The incoming freshman class for fall 2004 will include Elaine Christman of Prairie Grove, Ark.; James Covington of Fayetteville, Ark.; Jessica Middleton of Flower Mound, Texas; Clark Smith of Conway, Ark.; Christine Snyder of Rogers, Ark.; John Terry of Fort Smith, Ark.; and Anna Worsham of Houston.

"The 2004 class of Sturgis Fellows once again represents some of the most accomplished students in Arkansas and in the nation. Every student who applied was impressive, many of them leaders in their high schools and active in their communities," said Donald R. Bobbitt, dean of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

"This year's class, like those before them, set very high standards for themselves and for their teachers. They are articulate and informed, bringing an enthusiasm for learning to every class they take. As always, we are enormously grateful to the Sturgis Trust for allowing us to attract such outstanding students to the university," added Bobbitt.

Former Sturgis Fellows are making their mark in Arkansas and across the U.S. Lou Green is an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the U.S. Customs Service, Brent Ragar earned a residency in the Harvard combined Medicine/Pediatrics program and Amy Drake is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Laura Lieber is on the faculty at Middlebury College in Vermont, while Kathleen Condray is a tenure-track professor of German at the U of A.

The Sturgis Fellowship is made possible by an endowment from the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable Trust of the Bank of America. Each Sturgis Fellow receives $50,000, or $12,500 per year, making the Sturgis one of the most prominent scholarships offered at the University of Arkansas. The fellowship pays for tuition, room and board, and provides discretionary funds for computers, musical instruments, professional journals and trips to conferences. The trust has also endowed a second program, the Sturgis Honors Scholars Grants, which fund research and study abroad programs for non-Sturgis Fellows enrolled in the college's Honors Program.

"Over the nearly 20 years that the endowment has funded Sturgis Fellows, we have found that these students, as they increase in number, graduate and pursue their careers, carry with them the reputation of their school," said Sidney Burris, director of Honors Studies. "They have built a momentum, one that has resulted in the growing academic reputation of the University of Arkansas."

Elaine Christman, a past participant in the Arkansas Governor's School and president of the Math and Science Society, plans to major in biology, mathematics, physics and Spanish. James Covington, who has taken numerous advanced placement courses in mathematics at the U of A, plans to earn a double major in mathematics and philosophy. Jessica Middleton, named outstanding English student and journalism student of the year at her high school, is interested in studying literature. Clark Smith, who attended Arkansas Governor's School and has participated in several state science fairs, plans to pursue degrees in chemistry and microbiology. Christine Snyder, a participant in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Law, will study political science and law. John Terry, a winner in several competitions in piano and chorus, is interested in studying history, languages, music, classical studies and European studies. Anna Worsham, who has taken numerous honors and AP classes during high school, plans to study journalism, business and French.

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