U of A Honors College Announces 2023 Bodenhamer Fellows

Eliana Adamos

Salvador Barraza Delbarco

Jessica Doss

Benjamin Hollis

Rylee Myers

Zain Rana

Photo by Philip Thomas

Gearhart Hall, the home of the U of A Honors College

The U of A Honors College has selected six incoming freshmen as the recipients of this year’s Bodenhamer Fellowships, all ranging widely in interests and skills. 

The Bodenhamer Fellowship is one of the most prestigious scholarships the university offers to undergraduates, awarding each student up to $80,000 over the four-year course of their education. 

The fellowship largely covers tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other academic expenses, providing students the freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, service learning and other academic interests.

The 2023 Bodenhamer Fellows are: 

• Eliana Adamos – Harrison
• Salvador Barraza Delbarco – Fayetteville
• Jessica Doss – Little Rock
• Benjamin Hollis – Hot Springs
• Rylee Myers – Harrison
• Zain Rana – Fort Smith

The fellowship, now in its 25th year, cultivates a strong sense of community among current and alumni recipients as they pursue an impressive range of careers and graduate and professional degrees. 

“The incoming class of Bodenhamer Fellows dazzles in the theater of academic inquiry and community engagement,” said Lynda Coon, dean of the Honors College. “Eliana Adamos brings to the U of A campus a research project gauging the biological consequences of metals exhibiting the oligodynamic effect. Biologist Salvador Barraza Delbarco is eager to launch a research profile on the variety of birdlife in Mexico. Jessica Doss combines skills in classical Indian dance and robotics. Ben Hollis already has a proven track record in philanthropy aimed to cancer research. Rylee Myers has engaged in medical research at Washington University in St. Louis. Zain Rana has conducted research on neuroscience and shadowed physicians as they go about their medical paces.

“These talented scholars join an impressive queue of ‘Bodie’ alumni with a passion for service and research, including class of 2023 graduates Joshua Jacobs and Mary Jia, who departed from the U of A to launch graduate careers at Yale and Duke, respectively,” she said.

The Bodenhamer Foundation, created by Lee Bodenhamer (B.S.B.A.’57, M.B.A.’61, both at U of A, and D.B.A.’68, Harvard), established the Bodenhamer Fellowships in 1998. Students must score at least a 32 on the ACT and have a grade point average of 3.9 or higher in order to be eligible for the award. Community service, extracurricular activities and evidence of intellectual curiosity, leadership and creativity are also considered in the selection process. 

Additionally, the Honors College will host a community-building weekend for Bodenhamer Fellows in Bentonville in August.  

The new Bodenhamer Fellows will join a group of 156 current and alumni Fellows who have benefited from the generous support of the Bodenhamer family. Alumni Fellows are excelling in a wide range of career paths, from founding and growing startups to making breakthroughs in the lab to figuring out how to build and power our communities more sustainably. Many are pursuing advanced degrees at universities such as Harvard, Yale and Vanderbilt.

2023 BODENHAMER FELLOWS 

Eliana Adamos is a graduate of Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, where she deepened her experience in research by conducting a self-led research project on the oligodynamic effect, a natural phenomenon in which certain metals deter micro-organism growth. 

Before transferring to ASMSA, Adamos played on the varsity soccer team and was a member of the wind ensemble in the marching band. She served as a peer mentor in her high school to support fellow students with study tips and tutoring.

She was elected secretary of the National Honor Society and was accepted into the Medical Applications of Science for Health summer intensive program. She is a National Merit Finalist and has won regional and all-star awards in marching and jazz band and choir. She holds the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy in French. 

She plans to major in engineering and is the daughter of Remedios and Henry Adamos.

Salvador Barraza Delbarco is a graduate of Fayetteville High School, where he was a part of the Mu Alpha Theta Math Club, Science National Honors Society and the engineering club. Barraza Delbarco also played on the junior varsity soccer team, tutored students in both science and ACT readiness and used his engineering skills to create a cart to transport recycling bins at his high school. 

As a pastime, he enjoys studying ornithology, and he hopes to research birds in the Biosphere Reserve El Triunfo one day. He is a National Merit Finalist and a National Hispanic Scholar and holds the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

He plans to major in biology and is the son of Celia Delbarco Lopez and Salvador Barraza Lopez. 

Jessica Doss is a graduate of Little Rock Central High School, where she was president of the engineering and robotics club, tutored students in math and English, served as the cultural correspondent for the Spanish National Honors Society and led a Science Olympiad team to state and regional championships. 

Outside of school, Doss studied Indian classical dance, taught an advanced Microsoft Excel class for job placement and volunteered for the Red Cross. She is a National Merit Finalist and a Rensselaer Medal Recipient. She received a silver-medal ranking on the National Spanish Achievement and Proficiency Test. 

She plans to major in chemistry and is the daughter of Sumana Doss and Lucas Doss. 

Benjamin Hollis is a graduate of Lakeside High School, where he served as the student council president, National Honor Society president and tennis team captain. 

Outside of school, he served as the president for Our Promise Cancer Resources, volunteering 400 hours and raising more than $200,000 over two years for cancer research and patient support. He also volunteers at the Mid-American Science Museum and at CHI St. Vincent Hospital. Hollis also had the opportunity to be a part of the Arkansas Governor’s School. He is a National Merit Finalist and holds the President’s Service Award for extensive volunteer experience. 

He plans to major in chemistry and is the son of Doanh Hollis and Tom Hollis. 

Rylee Myers is a graduate of Harrison High School, where she was elected as vice president of the student council and president of the science club. She played on the varsity soccer and volleyball teams and coached youth teams. She also participated in Arkansas Girls State, Boone County Youth Leadership Academy and the National Youth Leadership Forum Medicine Camp at Washington University. Myers is a National Merit Finalist and a member of the National Honors Society. 

She plans to major in engineering and is the daughter of Leandra Myers and Rodney Myers. 

Zain Rana is a graduate of Southside High School, where he was captain of the History Quiz Bowl Team and led his school to both state and national championships. 

Outside of school, Rana volunteered and shadowed clinicians at Good Samaritan Family Clinic and served as a junior researcher at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith, where he presented posters and published research as a first author. He deepened his experience in research by serving as the junior editor for the International Youth Neuroscience Association.

In his community, Rana volunteered at the Vineyard Community Church Food Patry and tutored refugee students in math and English through the International Rescue Committee. Rana is a National Merit Finalist and the Optimist International Speech Contest state winner. 

He plans to major in biology and is the son of Sara Rana and Javed Rana. 

About the Honors College: The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and brings together high-achieving undergraduate students and the university’s top professors to share transformative learning experiences. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $80,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants. The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. All Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.