University of Arkansas Announces Honors College Fellows

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Fellowship finalists collect their thoughts before the on-campus interview, part of the rigorous selection process for the Honors College Fellowship.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – From a field of more than 500 applicants, the University of Arkansas Honors College has selected 61 exceptional students to join the 10th class of Honors College Fellows. Drawn from throughout the region, the new class includes 24 National Merit Scholars. 

The typical award of $50,000 largely covers tuition, books, room and board, and registration over four years, granting these students the freedom to pursue their academic interests. Among the fellows who graduated in May, academic endeavors have ranged from award-winning work on an algae-based biofuel to a nursing internship in the neuroscience intensive care unit at the Mayo Clinic, to travel to Rome for study of its basilicas.

Fellows also may apply for Honors College research and study abroad grants to broaden educational opportunities. The Honors College Fellowships and grants are made possible by a portion of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s historic $300 million gift to the university.

“Thanks to these generous fellowships and grant opportunities, the Honors College is able to attract top-notch students who can choose among multiple offers from the nation’s top universities,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “We look forward to welcoming these new fellows to campus next fall and supporting them as they engage in the many opportunities that the Honors College offers, from hands-on research with faculty mentors to study abroad and research grant support.”

Competition for the coveted fellowships is rigorous. Students must score at least 32 on the ACT exam and have a 3.8 grade point average just to be eligible to apply. From the initial field of applicants, 137 students were invited to campus last March to visit classes, interview with Honors College faculty and meet with Chancellor Gearhart.

“Test scores and course grades are important, but to stand out in this group, you must bring more to the table,” said Bob McMath, dean of the Honors College. “We look for leadership, creativity and intellectual curiosity. This year, we saw a marked increase in students with a serious commitment to service activities outside of school. They’re involved in Heifer International, the Model U.N., and tutoring at the local Boys and Girls Club, to name just a few examples – and they’re making their college decisions based on the fact that they want to continue service at home and overseas.”

The University of Arkansas Honors College Fellows Class of 2015:

• Brett Adamie, Aledo High School, Aledo, Texas
• Grace Alger, Pulaski Academy, Little Rock, Ark.
• Sawyer Anderson, Arkansas School for Math and Science, Cabot, Ark.
• Anna Arnaud, Monett High School, Monett, Mo.
• Michaela Bauer, Girard High School, Girard , Kan.
• Layne Bernardo, Cabot High School, Cabot, Ark.
• Paul Bodiford, Cabot High School, Cabot, Ark.
• Tera Bradham, Round Rock High School, Round Rock, Texas
• Charles Burks, Valley View High School, Jonesboro, Ark.
• William Carman Jr., Cabot High School, Cabot, Ark.
• Samuel Davies, Pulaski Academy, Little Rock, Ark.
• Gina Densmore, Cabot High School, Austin, Ark.
• John Dominick III, Catholic High School, North Little Rock, Ark.
• Alexander Enderlin, Russellville High School, Russellville, Ark.
• Matthew Fey, McKinny Boyd High School, McKinney, Texas
• Ryan Fittz, Edward Marcus High School, Highland Village, Texas
• Andrew Gillespie, Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro, Ark.
• Evan Griesse, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Jordon Hoelzeman, Dewitt High School, De Witt, Ark.
• Colby Inboden, Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro, Ark.
• Andrew Johnson, Rogers Heritage High School, Rogers, Ark.
• Kunhee Kim, Little Rock Christian Academy, Little Rock, Ark.
• Austin Lenaburg, Lake Hamilton High School, Hot Springs, Ark.
• Philip Meek, Southside High School, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Timothy Megee, Tahlequah Senior High School, Tahlequah, Okla.
• Monica Miller, Mount Saint Mary’s Academy , Little Rock, Ark.
• Armon Nayeraini, Bentonville High School, Bentonville, Ark.
• Elijah Nehus, Benton High School, Benton, Ark.
• Anna Nguyen, Rogers Heritage High School, Rogers, Ark.
• Kasey Ogle, Webb City High School, Webb City, Mo.
• John Ozdemir, Pulaski Academy, Little Rock, Ark.
• Stewart Pence, Joplin High School, Joplin, Mo.
• Jacob Pinter, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Andrew Pisechko, Webb City High School, Joplin, Mo.
• Chris Plate, Kickapoo High School, Springfield, Mo.
• Sarah Plavcan, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Lindsey Rasmussen, Conway High School West 11-12, Conway, Ark.
• Connor Robertson, Har-Ber High School, Springdale, Ark.
• Kevin Rogers, Van Buren High School, Van Buren, Ark.
• Jes Sanders, Rogers High School, Rogers, Ark.
• Nathan Scheperle, Ozarks High School, Ozark, Mo.
• Christopher Schmitt, Little Rock Central, Maumelle, Ark.
• Joseph Schulze, Boerne High School, Boerne, Texas
• Thomas Slatton, Episcopal Collegiate School, Sherwood, Ark.
• Kaylee Smith, McDonald County R-I Senior High School, Anderson, Mo.
• Griffin Sonaty, Joplin High School, Joplin, Mo.
• Katherine Stewart, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Austin Strickland, Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow, Okla.
• Hayden Summerhill, Cabot High School, Cabot, Ark.
• Vasupradha Suresh Kumar, Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Emilie Tallent, Mount Saint Mary’s Academy, Benton, Ark.
• Kaitlyn Thomas, Cabot High School, Cabot, Ark.
• Kathryn Waller, Millard West High School, Omaha, Neb.
• Davis Ward, Owasso High, Owasso, Okla.
• Michael Ward, Wynne High School, Wynne, Ark.
• Clayton Weston , Maize High School, Wichita, Kan.
• Kelly Williams, Southside High School, Fort Smith, Ark.
• Breanne Witherspoon, Alma High School, Alma, Ark.
• Catherine Woodrow, North Little Rock High School-West 11-12, North Little Rock, Ark.
• Jeremiah Wray, West Memphis High School, Crawfordsville, Ark.
• Avery Zorn, Little Rock Christian Academy, Little Rock, Ark.