University of Arkansas Honors College Selects 2012 Bodenhamer Fellows

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Six Arkansas students will enter the University of Arkansas Honors College in August 2012 as the 15th class of Bodenhamer Fellows. Bodenhamer Fellowships provide each student $50,000 for four years of study or $62,500 if the student is enrolled in a five-year degree program. In addition to covering most of the general costs of attending the university, the fellowship may be used for study abroad, attendance at professional and educational conferences, research and special equipment that the fellow may need.

Bodenhamer Fellows also benefit from a five-day trip to Washington, D.C., for incoming freshmen that features tours of the Capitol, the Library of Congress and other significant landmarks. The Washington trip helps build bonds among the new Bodenhamer Fellows that are strengthened as they progress through their undergraduate career.

The 2012 Bodenhamer Fellows are Collin McAdow of Bauxite, Kelly McKenzie of Searcy, Ralph Miller of West Memphis, Armin Mortazavi of Hot Springs, Vincent SenClair of Conway, and Margaret Tinsley of Ozark.

“This year’s group continues the Bodenhamer legacy of supporting exceptionally talented and well-rounded students,” said Bob McMath, dean of the Honors College. “All have excelled academically and made remarkable contributions to their schools and communities. Their interests range from low-cost solar energy to volcanoes to deep space travel, all subjects that they can pursue in depth in the University of Arkansas Honors College. We look forward to welcoming them to campus next fall.”

Competition for the Bodenhamer Fellowship is intense. Students must score 32 on the ACT or 1400 on the SAT and have a 3.8 high school grade point average just to be eligible to apply. Extracurricular activities, community service and evidence of intellectual curiosity and creativity are also considered in the selection process.

The new Bodenhamer students will join a group of 97 fellows who have benefitted from the generous support of the Bodenhamer family. Bodenhamer alumni are excelling in a wide range of career paths, from physics research to medicine to documentary filmmaking. Many are pursuing advanced degrees at universities such as Harvard, Vanderbilt and Yale.

2012 Bodenhamer Fellows

A graduate of Bauxite High School, Collin McAdow led his class as president of the student council and the Future Business Leaders of America, vice president of the National Honor Society, captain of the Quiz Bowl team and co-drum captain in the band. He also served as captain of the Junior Engineering Team, which placed in the top 12 percent of teams in the nation, and was lead programmer for the school’s BEST Robotics team, helping to secure two second-place awards in competitions. He has also engaged in competitive martial arts since age six, earning a black belt. He plans to pursue a career in biological and chemical engineering. His parents are James and Sherrie McAdow.

Kelly McKenzie is a graduate of Searcy High School, where she engaged in a wide range of activities. A National Merit Scholar, McKenzie has won awards in math, chemistry and chess competitions, and has been a member of All-Region choir five years in a row. She was captain of the Quiz Bowl team and coached the junior high team, and was active in the National Honor Society, student council, the Chess Club and Beta Club, a community service organization. She was on the staff of Backbone Ridge, her school’s literature magazine, and raised and showed goats in 4-H competitions. She plans to study engineering at the university, with a long-term goal of developing low-cost solar technologies that out-perform fossil fuels. Her parents are Donald and Sheryl McKenzie.

Ralph Miller is a graduate of West Memphis High School, where he was president of Mu Alpha Theta, a mathematics honor society, and section leader and first chair French horn player in the West Memphis High School Symphonic Winds. He is a National Achievement Finalist and was named a Commercial Appeal Academic All-Star in 2011. He attended Boy’s State, where he was elected to the office of Supreme Court justice and participated in the pep band. He was also active in the Crittenden County Community Band and participates in Angel Food Ministries and a video outreach team at his church. He plans to study engineering at the university. He is the son of Keia Miller.

Armin Mortazavi of Hot Springs is a graduate of the Arkansas School for Math, Science and Art. He enjoys designing and building scientific projects related to engineering, physics and chemistry, and participated in nanoscience research in the University of Arkansas physics department last summer. He was active in the Student Government Association, was captain of the soccer team, and played on the basketball team. Mortazavi has put in more than 200 hours of volunteer service at the Jefferson Regional Medical Center and Arkansas Hospice in Pine Bluff. He has won numerous honors, including the President’s Award for Academic Excellence in his freshman year. Mortazavi plans to pursue a medical degree and doctorate in biophysics so that he may conduct medical research. His parents are Mansour and Mahkameh Mortazavi.

A graduate of Conway High School West, Vincent SenClair’s interests are eclectic, ranging from classic films to time travel. He is a National Merit Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction. He has been involved with Quiz Bowl for eight years, serving as co-captain in his senior year, and was also active in the National Honor Society, tutoring other students on a weekly basis. He participated in the German Club throughout high school, serving as spielfuhrer (sport leader) his junior year. He attended Arkansas Governor’s School, studying in the natural science area. He plans to pursue a degree in engineering and looks forward to acquiring hands-on expertise in video game design at the university. His parents are Terry and June SenClair.

Margaret Tinsley is a graduate of Ozark High School, where she excelled in class and on the basketball court as their team’s center and power forward. She is a National Merit Finalist and has won numerous academic honors, including her school’s science department award, AP chemistry award, physics award and speech award. She is active in K-Life youth ministry and has participated in two mission trips with this group. She has also toured Europe as a student ambassador for People to People, an educational travel program. She tutors other students in her spare time. She plans to pursue a degree in geology at the university in preparation for a career researching volcanoes. Her parents are Robert and Kim Tinsley.

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 in 1998.