University of Arkansas Students Hit the Road to Bring Education Message to West Memphis Kids

Kimberly Janssen will be the first in her family to graduate from college in May.

Quiana Jenkins is a human resources major and African American studies minor.

Timothy Williams is participating in an outreach and recruitment visit to West Memphis High School.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University of Arkansas students and administrators will make a special trip across the state to share a message with students in eastern Arkansas. Their message: More Arkansas students need to go to college, and they should consider the University of Arkansas.

University of Arkansas Chancellor G. David Gearhart and other university representatives will accompany a team of six student ambassadors and the University of Arkansas Inspirational Singers, a student gospel choir, on an outreach visit with high school students Wednesday, March 16, at West Memphis High School.

 “I think it is important for university leaders to reach out to young people around the state and let them know the importance of pursuing higher education and getting a college degree,” Gearhart said. “While I hope that they choose the University of Arkansas, we believe the most important message we can impart is that they don’t need to look outside the state for their opportunity. Higher education in Arkansas has enough flexibility and variety that every student can find a campus that fits his or her educational aspirations.”

For the West Memphis visit, high school students from Osceola, Blytheville, Earle, Hughes and Wilson will join students at West Memphis High for the event. Gearhart will meet with honors students at West Memphis High at 9 a.m. and then address an assembly of all the students at 10 a.m.

Charles Robinson, the university’s vice provost for diversity will introduce the program. Provost Sharon Gaber, University of Arkansas students and representatives from the university’s office of diversity and its colleges and schools will also speak. The Inspirational Singers will perform several numbers during the presentation.

There are 257 students attending the University of Arkansas from Mississippi, Crittenden and St. Francis counties, the region surrounding West Memphis High School.

Quiana Jenkins, for instance, is from Heth and a sophomore majoring in human resources and minoring in African and African American studies at the University of Arkansas.

“I came to the University of Arkansas because I wanted to be in a real world setting that would help me excel to the level of excellence needed to be successful in my career field,” said Jenkins, who serves as secretary of the university’s Black Students Association and secretary of the NAACP chapter on campus. She’s one of six students volunteering to serve as a University of Arkansas ambassador on this trip. At the West Memphis High School assembly, she will share her experience about the programs and opportunities available on campus with the high school students.

Robinson explained that the visit is important not only in getting students from various parts of the state to attend college but to encourage minority students to seek a higher education degree.

“In this global world, we must prepare all our students to work in a diverse workplace, and education is the key to achieving that goal,” Robinson said. “All students benefit from a diverse environment, which is why this is such a priority at the University of Arkansas.”

Timothy Williams, a communication and journalism major from Gurdon, agrees that Arkansas students should consider attending an Arkansas college or university, but says the University of Arkansas was his top choice for college. He’s also going on the trip.

“The reason I decided to attend the University of Arkansas is because I simply wanted the best education. I feel like that there wasn't any other university in the state of Arkansas that could compete with the U of A,” said Williams, second vice-president of the Black Students Association and public relations committee chair for the university’s NAACP chapter. “I wanted to be set apart. I wanted to be a part of something that is full of tradition and takes pride in making sure that the students are taken care of, not only through academics, but through life as well.”

The growing diversity at the University of Arkansas — an increase in the number of students from all corners of the state — has had a positive impact on the community surrounding the campus as well. The rising diversity drew Fayetteville native Kimberly Janssen to stay in Fayetteville and study in her hometown.

“Fayetteville has always been home to me, so naturally I was drawn to the University of Arkansas. I was the first to graduate high school in my family and, as of May 2011, the first to graduate college,” Janssen said. “I love the positive impact that diversity has had on this campus as it continues to grow.” Janssen has traveled on behalf of the University of Arkansas for other recruitment events.

The University of Arkansas’ mission extends to all of Arkansas. Its outreach, research programs, and student recruitment extend to all of the state and are heavily influenced by the many students from all around the state who go to the Fayetteville campus to attend college.

Following the West Memphis tour, the chancellor will travel to Fort Smith at the end of the month.