Top High School Students Named Honors College Fellows

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – From a field of 493 applicants, 75 outstanding high school seniors have been chosen to join the eighth class of Honors College Fellows at the University of Arkansas. Each student will receive a total of $50,000 over four years to cover tuition, room and board, as well as the cost of books and a computer. The funds can also be combined with Honors College research and study abroad grants to broaden educational opportunities.

“In these difficult economic times it is especially gratifying that the University of Arkansas can provide the financial support to bring so many talented students to this institution,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “These are students with impressive academic records who are also civic-minded and have devoted many hours to public service work during their high school careers. It’s very rewarding to see the Walton family’s gift continue to bring students with such enormous talent and energy to our campus.”

The Honors College Fellowships are made possible by a portion of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s historic $300 million gift to the university.

Competition for the fellowships is rigorous. More than 150 finalists were interviewed in March with approximately 50 university faculty members participating in those interviews. To qualify as a finalist, a student must score at least 32 on the ACT exam and have a 3.8 grade point average. The student’s application, letters of recommendation, course of studies and community involvement are also extremely important in the selection process. In this 2012 class of fellows the average grade point average is 4.17; the average ACT score is 33.

“Once again, these fellowships, along with our outstanding faculty, have attracted some of the top students in the nation,” said Bob McMath, dean of the Honors College. “These students would be welcome at any higher education institution in the country, and we are now ready to engage them in and out of the classroom, to help them reach their full potential as scholars and as people.”

Honors College Fellows are housed in the Pomfret Honors Quarters for their freshman year, and participate in the university’s First-Year Experience program.

The University of Arkansas Honors College Fellows Class of 2013 are: