- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Prepares for Future as Surgeon

John Hill — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 13:58:29 +0000

A graduating ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student is thankful to the university for helping her prepare for a future career helping people as a medical surgeon. Taylor Arnold, a senior biology major from Hot Springs, said she was inspired to follow in her father’s footsteps to the medical field. “It helps in the fact that my dad was a surgeon,” she said. “I grew up in that environment and got to see the ins and outs of the career. Being able to have the opportunity to take human anatomy, it solidified that goal for me. I love that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock offers that course. It definitely helped me a lot.” After graduating from Sheridan High School, Arnold joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after taking a semester off to care for a sick relative. “My aunt got really sick, and I ended up applying to go to school here so I could continue living with her,” she said. “It was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has helped me grow as a person because we have a really diverse community, and it’s helped me figure out who I am.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Arnold has served as president of the Campus Garden Alliance, vice president of the Biology Club, and a student ambassador for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Out of all her activities, Arnold found participating in the Learning Assistant Program to be the most rewarding. Learning assistants take a course on the science of learning. Then they work with faculty to design and implement active learning instruction in the classroom. “The most meaningful will always be the LA program because we get to work with students and help tutor them,” she said. “It’s the best feeling ever when you can connect with another student, and they come up later and tell you that you made a difference for them.” She is especially grateful to Ronia Kattoum, an instructor of chemistry, for serving as an inspirational mentor in her life. “In high school, I’ve always been seen as the dumb blonde stereotype by people who don’t know me,” she said. “Ms. Kattoum took a specific interest in me and asked me to join the Learning Assistant Program. She is the first professor that made me feel like I am important and that I could do whatever I put my mind to. Having that mentor in my life that sees the best in me really inspired me and helped me through my college career.” While Arnold will start medical school in the fall, she’ll be working as a patient care technician at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences next year. With graduation fast approaching, Arnold finds the end of her undergraduate career to be “bittersweet,” but is looking forward to starting the next step toward medical school. “I am very excited to move forward in my life, but I am also sad that I won’t be in the same environment that I have been for the past four years,” she said. “I walk around campus, and I think this is one of the last times I will be here as a student. I’m just thankful for the opportunities and the kind of environment ��Vlog��ý Little Rock offers to their students. That’s really what helped me here.”

Graduate Avery McLean is headed to law school with an eye on environmental law and public policy

John Hill — Wed, 26 May 2021 13:01:24 +0000

On Dr. Simon Hawkins’ desk in the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program office, there hangs an unusual item – the picture of a one-year old bull that lives in Manitoba, Canada.�� The picture as well as the bull that shares his name is a source of pride for Hawkins. A student, Avery McLean, asked her parents to name one of the calves from the family’s farm after her mentor. “Hawkins was one of our family’s 2020 calves,” said McLean, a Donaghey Scholar from Pilot Mound, Canada. “Every year we name the calves off a certain letter of the alphabet. It was H in 2020, so I asked my parents if we could name the bull after Dr. Hawkins. That bull lives on a commercial ranch in Manitoba, and Dr. Hawkins loves to show off a picture of his bull.” McLean is graduating this month from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a minor in political science, and plans to make the world a better place through environmental law. McLean grew up on her family’s cattle farm in rural Canada. Her hometown of Pilot Mound has about 500 residents and lies five miles north of the North Dakota border. She knew that she would have to leave home to receive the education she craved. At 15, McLean enrolled at the Institut Collegial Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg, Canada. From there, she was recruited as a swimmer to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “I think everything happens for a reason. I worked with a swimming recruiter in high school, and the assistant coach at the time reached out to me and thought I would be a great fit for the program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” McLean said. “When I was on campus, they told me about the Donaghey Scholars Program. I was on the honor track in high school, and it would be a great opportunity.” Since her family has friends in the cattle business in Arkansas, McLean’s parents were more comfortable with her attending college 20 hours away from home. “It’s also been of help to my family because I have been able to attend Simmental breeders conferences,” she said. “Simmentals are beef and dairy cows that have origins in Switzerland, Austria and Germany. We talk about what is going on genetically. I think genetics is a very cool thing, especially in bovine creatures. My parents are in pursuit to breed the perfect polled (no horns) Simmental. My mom is a vet, so she has all of these charts that show what pairings will lead to these characteristics throughout the generations.” As a student-athlete on the swimming and diving team, McLean served as one of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock representatives on the Sun Belt Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She also shares her passion for swimming with the children in her hometown during summertime. “At home, I have served as the head coach of the summer swim team,” she said. “It’s a small community. There are 500 people max. Any time I would come home, I would have 20 kids join my summer program. It’s crazy to have that many kids in the area want to spend an hour a day swimming. I loved sharing that with these kids.” After graduation, McLean is headed to Penn State University to study environmental law with a generous scholarship that covers 90 percent of her tuition and fees. “The plan is to study environmental law, which will enhance my biology degree,” McLean said. “There is the potential to do a master’s degree in agricultural policy or a Ph.D. in addition to the law degree. I will decide if I want to pursue one of those degrees after my first year of law school.”

Graduate Photo of Avery McLean by DJ Webb from Barefoot Mama Studios.

Among her many pursuits, McLean has also served as a team leader and committee chair for Girls of Promise for three years. “Girls of Promise is a great initiative,” McLean said. “I signed up as a team leader and I fell in love with the conference. All of the girls I led are getting ready to graduate from high school. Those girls become your children during the conference. After the conference, I was asked to join the committee. I was the youngest team leader, and now I push for all Little Rock students to be team leaders. I like to see people who are not much older than those students come in there and give them advice on what classes to take and the people who can help you.” As her parents’ only child, McLean knows that she will eventually move back home to help run the family farm. While visiting Texas, McLean met a Texas A&M educated world-renowned Simmental advocate who manages a cattle farm owned by a successful lawyer. She found that fortuitous visit as proof that she can have the life and career she’s always dreamed of. “I realized I could still have a career and run the family farm,” she said. “I can have someone on the ground so I can still pursue my dreams in policy making, politics, and law. The agricultural community is very important to me. Who am I to say to make these changes when I’ve left my community and abandoned it?” McLean became interested in politics during middle school. During the Canadian national election, McLean recalls that one of her teachers became upset. She was certain that taxes would be raised because the newly elected politicians didn’t understand the agricultural industry. “My teacher asked me if I was going to run for prime minister,” McLean said. “I started to think about how I can get a chance to be a part of the national conversation. I figured that lawyers, accountants, and doctors are the ones that people typically vote for. I don’t want to be a general lawyer because the environment is the next step that the world needs to concentrate on, and agriculture is a big part of the environment. People are so often uneducated about the issues we want to make policies on. I want to be in the conversations when these policies are made.”

Chatterjee named 2021 Whitbeck Memorial Award winner

John Hill — Thu, 13 May 2021 15:00:34 +0000

The impressive achievements of future doctor Stuti Chatterjee have earned her the honor of the 2021 Edward L. Whitbeck Memorial Award at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� Frank L. and Beverly Whitbeck established the award in memory of their son, Edward Lynn Whitbeck, who was a senior at Little Rock University, the predecessor of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, at the time of his death in 1965. Each scholar receives a personalized plaque and a monetary award. “The Whitbeck Award is given to the outstanding graduating senior,” said Dr. Simon Hawkins, director of the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program. “Stuti is outstanding in so many ways, but more than that, she is inspirational. She represents the best of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Stuti’s education has changed her. It has given her so much, and she has given so much back to the university and the larger community.” Chatterjee, a Donaghey Scholar from Bryant, earned the Whitbeck Award while double majoring in chemistry and biology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. After graduation, Chatterjee will be taking a gap year to work and to study for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) before going to medical school in the fall 2022 semester. “I think that medicine is one of those fields where you never stop learning,” she said. “It’s also one of the most giving fields. Showing empathy and compassion is something you don’t get to do at all jobs.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Chatterjee worked with Dr. Noureen Siraj, assistant professor of chemistry, to study the use of nanodrugs for effective cancer cell therapies. “I created a more non-invasive approach to treat cancer cells,” Chatterjee said. “Usually nanoparticles that are used to treat cancer are made out of gold. It works, but it’s very expensive. We are looking for organic elements that can be exchanged for gold in nanoparticles.” Chatterjee has received two SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship) grants and three Signature Experience Awards from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock to fund her research. Her research project, “Tunable sized combination nanodrugs based on ionic materials,” has earned Chatterjee a second place award at the Student Research and Creative Works Expo at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as well as an honorable mention for the INBRE (Idea Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) Conference this year. She was also named the 2020 Outstanding Undergraduate Research Student for the Department of Chemistry. Even though she has received many accolades for her research on how to treat cancer using nanotechnology, Chatterjee is planning to specialize in pediatrics. A native of India, Chatterjee moved to Arkansas with her family when she was just 10 years old. Her father had received a job offer in Arkansas, and the move also provided the opportunity for better medical treatment for her brother, Sanidhya. “My brother had a brain hemorrhage when he was a child,” she said. “My parents thought he would have a better chance for treatment in the U.S. That is another thing that made me want to go into medicine. It was a doctor’s mistake that caused his hemorrhage, but it was also a doctor that fixed it. I saw firsthand the damage it can cause, but I also saw how that medical knowledge can be used to help someone.” Chatterjee also thanked her parents, Monish and Atima Chatterjee, for being a huge source of support as she finished her bachelor’s degrees.�� “I want to include my parents as role models who helped me succeed in college,” she said. “They have supported me so much by calling me and bringing in food. They have made my life easier by helping me do what I need to do.” In the healthcare field, Chatterjee also works with Dr. Meghan Wilson, a rehabilitation medicine physician at ��Vlog��ýMS who has tetraplegia from a spinal cord injury. Chatterjee assists Dr. Wilson with daily activities as well as clinical work by writing notes, performing patient exams, and conducting rounds on patients. “Stuti is able to empathize and show compassion when needed but is also focused and gets things done in an efficient manner,” Wilson said. “She asks questions about different diagnoses and is genuinely interested in my approach throughout the day. Her compassion and curiosity are what make her stand out from her fellow coworkers. Whether our team has 12 or 5 patients, Stuti is able to work with the same enthusiasm. She has also been kind and supportive when I have gone through difficult times, and I believe she has a genuine passion for helping others.” A firm believer in empowering women in STEM, Chatterjee volunteered with Girls of Promise while at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, though she has been an advocate for much longer. “When I was in high school, there were no women in my robotics program,” she said. “I started my own all-girls robotics team. It seemed like a boys club, and I didn’t want that to deter the girls from participating. We ended up going to the world competition.” During her time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Chatterjee has also served on the Student Government Association and learned Python to code a camera to monitor the Arkansas River for a professor’s research project. In healthcare, she worked as a research associate at ��Vlog��ýMS. Her supervisor, Dr. Michael Wilson, hired her to copy edit his book, “Behavioral Emergencies for the Healthcare Provider.”�� “Looking back at my achievements, I have been driven not only by my passion for science but by using that passion to give back to the community,” Chatterjee said. “Through my involvement within various organizations and performing well in academics, I hope to inspire and pave the way for the future classes of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Awarded Phi Kappa Phi Graduate Research Grant

John Hill — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 14:15:32 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been awarded a $1,500 from Phi Kappa Phi for her biology research.�� Rebekah White, a Ph.D. student in applied biosciences at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, will use funds from the award to support biological research into the photosynthetic mechanism and stress responses of cyanobacteria. “It’s always exciting to get a little boost for my research, and it will be really nice to have a grant that is specified for my project,” White said. “I will be able to get some specialized equipment to help with my electron microscope work and to help prepare the samples. I’m also looking into getting some antibodies targeting proteins involved in photosynthesis.” The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, awards grants of up to $1,500 to support graduate students who are active Society members seeking funding for research in support of career development opportunities. White is one of 20 recipients nationwide to receive the award. Established in 2018, the grants are part of the society’s robust awards program, which gives $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.�� A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, White decided to attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because her parents attended graduate school in Little Rock about 30 years ago. “My mother did speech pathology here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and my dad did his residency at ��Vlog��ýMS,” White said. “My parents both loved it here and talked about it all the time.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, White is also a graduate teaching assistant and a senator in the Graduate Student Association. She plans to work in higher education after graduating in 2022 or 2023. The research she is conducting on the photosynthetic mechanism and stress responses of cyanobacteria is part of her dissertation. “My specific research will benefit the community of scientists who use cyanobacteria,” White said. “There will be more broad implications where scientists who work with photosynthesis in larger plant life can apply it to their work with larger plants. It will be a series of small cause-and-effect research projects. It will contribute to an ever-growing body of knowledge about plants that we can use to make decisions about all of our plant life.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock receives $1 million planned gift from Damerows to support science scholarships

John Hill — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:24:02 +0000

Jerry and Sherri Damerow, longtime supporters of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Arkansas, have made a planned gift of $1 million to support scholarships for science majors at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.�� The gift will benefit the Jerry and Sherri Damerow Endowed Science Scholarship, which provides scholarships for students majoring in astronomy, biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and Earth Science. The scholarship will provide assistance for education-related expenses including tuition, fees, books, and room and board. “This incredibly generous gift from the Damerows will be a wonderful legacy for two people who have steadfastly supported science education at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for many years,” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale said. “As we expand our applied fields in the sciences, it is important to remember that basic science education remains the foundation for all that we accomplish in the applied fields. I am grateful to the Damerows for supporting this curriculum and for investing in our future.” Jerry Damerow, a former managing partner for Ernst & Young, and Sherri Damerow, a retired kindergarten teacher and artist, believe helping students earn a college degree in a STEM area represents a “commitment to lifelong learning,” a goal the couple has supported for many years. “There are multiple reasons why we decided to fund an endowed science scholarship at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” said Jerry Damerow. “First, we believe a strong ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is extremely important to Arkansas’ economy going forward, particularly Central Arkansas. We do not believe we can simply sit by and expect others to build and support this important university. Arkansas’ Women’s Hall of Fame member Dorothy Stuck once told me, ‘If we don’t build Arkansas, who will?’”�� The Damerows received the 8th annual Fribourgh Award in 2017, which recognizes individuals who have made considerable contributions to the state through the disciplines of mathematics and science. Jerry Damerow is a past president and current board member of the Dean’s Science Council and the Centennial Campaign Cabinet at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. His long history of civic and professional involvement includes serving as a member and past director of the Rotary Club of Little Rock, as past board chair of the EAST Initiative, as chair of �䲹��𳢾��԰�’s board of directors, as ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Business Advisory Council member, and as a former chair of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s College of Science and Mathematics Advisory Council. “W�� believe we have been blessed and have an obligation to help other Arkansans realize their potential,” Jerry Damerow said. “Last, we believe our economy is going through a huge transformation driven by technology thereby dramatically increasing the importance of a STEM education. Many jobs are going away, and new ones will be created by scientists and engineers and those who qualify for those jobs will require a strong grounding in science and engineering.” Sherri Damerow has been involved in numerous charitable causes, including teaching computer skills to seniors at the ��Vlog��ýMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and volunteering with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas and the Humane Society of Pulaski County. “Jerry and Sherri Damerow have been active in promoting our community for a long time, and this generous gift aligns well with their continuing gift of time in impacting our community for the better both now and in the future,” said Dr. Lawrence Whitman, dean of the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. “I am glad to know people like Jerry and Sherri.”

Relationships defined the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock experience for international student ambassador

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 15:49:31 +0000

Het Adhvaryu, an international student ambassador and fall 2019 graduate, spent his undergraduate years at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock extending friendship and assisting in research to address breast cancer with the aid of nanotechnology.�� As ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s international student ambassador, Adhvaryu emphasized communication, friendship, and making people feel at home. “When an international student arrives to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, distinctions make them feel different,” Adhvaryu said. “Communication is key. We should treat international students like they are no different from our other friends. Use actions to show them you are friendly. If you are going grocery shopping or out to eat with friends, invite them along.” Adhvaryu said that as an ambassador, he often helped international students acquire transportation and get settled in the U.S. “Relationships are what will matter at the end,” Adhvaryu said. “Each person contributes to our constant learning experience of life skills that define us and guide our future. Our path is indirectly shaped through friendships and relationships we develop along the way.” Adhvaryu also played intramural soccer and ultimate frisbee during his time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “The best thing about the intramural sports program is that it brings people together from all over the campus to have a good time and play games,” Adhvaryu said. Adhvaryu said that he observed anxiety and depression in college culture.�� “It’s important to surround ourselves with people who have the right attitude,” Adhvaryu said. “Some people enter college with a mindset that they have to get As because life depends on it and that’s all that matters. I disagree a little. We should be sincere in our studies, but also enjoy the college experience by having a good balance of hard work and fun time.” Studying biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock turned out to be a strategic move that created opportunities for Adhvaryu. Because of his intense science studies while growing up in India, Adhvaryu was prepared to demonstrate to biology professor Dr. Ali Nawab his understanding of biology.�� “I’ve been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work alongside doctoral students in lab research that explores the use of nanotechnology to address breast cancer,” Adhvaryu said. “I’m very thankful to Dr. Nawab, Bryan White, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for allowing me that opportunity.” Adhvaryu said that when he looks back on his time at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, his memories will be a reminder of what people can do in your life. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty are phenomenal,” Adhvaryu said. “You can always count on them for guidance and knowledgeable options. They have our best interests at heart.” Adhvaryu plans to continue focusing on molecular biotechnology and pursue graduate and doctoral degrees, possibly with an interdisciplinary focus. First, he hopes to gain some practical work experience in research focusing in a related field. “Graduating is bittersweet,” Adhvaryu said. “I feel excited about the future, and I’m taking with me the positive lessons that people have contributed to my life.”

College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences awards $12,000 to promote summer faculty research

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 14:05:05 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences awarded $12,000 in Summer Research Fellowship Grants to four professors who are spending their summer breaks performing unique research. The grant winners include Qingfang He, professor of biology; John Nichols, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy; David Bayliss, assistant professor of geography in the Department of History; and Fusheng Tang, associate professor of biology.�� The first grant recipient, He, received $4,000 to fund research materials and to present his research project, “Toward Sustainable Production of Biofuels and Plant Nutraceuticals in Cyanobacteria” at a conference. For his project, “Enhanced Superconductivity in Flexible Thin Films,” Nichols received $4,000 to support the acquisition of materials for investigation of the superconducting properties MgB2 and its dependence on strain, temperature, and magnetic field by manipulating the stain state of MgB2 by flexing or bending the sample. Meanwhile, Bayliss received a $1,298 grant to travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado, the home of a geospatial solutions firm that is the direct descendant of Sanborn Map Company, a provider of fire insurance maps. Bayliss will view archival materials related to Daniel Alfred Sanborn, surveyor and founder of the Sanborn Map Co., and the formation and transformation of his company over the course of a century. The research will be used in his upcoming article, “Delimiting Risk and Reward: An Historical Geography of Insurance Mapping in the United States.” The final grant recipient, Tang, received a $2,702 grant to support his continued research of the oxysterol-binding protein Osh6 as a pro-longevity protein and its relation to age-dependent diseases like cancer. The summer fellowship will fund the publication of his research as well as the use of genome editing, a state-of-the-art technology in genetic engineering, in future research.

Helgestad looks forward to giving back to the community through dentistry

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 20 May 2019 13:06:56 +0000

Ingrid Helgestad, 22, of Bryant, has been considering becoming a dentist since she was 14. To encourage this goal, Helgestad’s parents, Karl and Tara Helgestad, took her on a mission trip to Guatemala with St. James United Methodist Church when she was 17. She can remember the exact moment when she decided to become a dentist.�� “When we went to Guatemala, I asked specifically to assist in the dentistry portion. I assisted Dr. Tina Nichols,” Helgestad said. “Since they don’t have enough time to do bridges, the dentists pull all the teeth and the patients get dentures. I remember standing there holding 20 bloody teeth for one woman who was getting dentures. Even though these people were in pain, they were leaving with so much hope because they were about to get their health back. This is when I solidified that dentistry is what I wanted to do in college.” Helgestad graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on May 11 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and is well on her way to becoming a dentist. She already works as a registered dental assistant with Dr. Kathleen Good Ederle in Little Rock and is applying to dental schools this month. “I like dentistry because I enjoy doing art and being creative, but I also enjoy business. Combining these areas together is what general dentistry is like,” she said. “Working as a dental assistant, I see how happy people get even with just a little cosmetic work to their teeth.” After graduating from Bryant High School in 2015, Helgestad decided on ��Vlog��ý Little Rock after meeting the faculty and being accepted to the Donaghey Scholars program, which covered her tuition, fees, and housing while providing a living stipend, computer, and study abroad assistance. “��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the perfect medium between a small school environment and a big school environment,” Helgestad said. “Once I got a tour of the facilities, met the professors, and received the Donaghey scholarship, it was a no brainer. I had a great experience with every professor I met.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Helgestad found she had a knack for business and entrepreneurship. She was part of a medical startup company, Spiritum Solutions, with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Noah Asher and Nick Lester. The start-up was selected for the Delta I-Fund Business Accelerator program in the fall 2017 semester and won first place in the undergraduate division of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup in April 2018. Helgestad developed a prototype for a device that reduces unplanned extubations in critical care units. “Winning the Governor’s Cup is a highlight of my college career, but the thing that sticks out the most to me at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is how close I am to my professors,” Helgestad said. “To me, that is way more important than being in a lecture hall with 400 students. Dr. Brian Berry from the Chemistry Department, Dr. David Tonkyn from the Biology Department, and Dr. Jessica Scott and Dr. Simon Hawkins from the Donaghey Scholars have always been there for me. Having support from my chairs and the Donaghey Scholars program has led to my success.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Donaghey Scholars and best friends Ingrid Helgestad, left, and Abby Resendiz, right, congratulate each other after their commencement ceremony on May 11. Photo by Ben Krain.

As someone who is very grateful for the help she received in her college career, Helgestad has given back to the community by volunteering with Girls of Promise Annual STEM Conference, Girl Scouts, CARE for Animals, Habitat for Humanity, and the 12th Street Health and Wellness Dental Clinic. “The Girls of Promise STEM Conference was my favorite volunteer experience in college,” she said. “I became a team leader, and I was kind of afraid because I was in charge of 13- and 14-year-old girls. I’ve always been an advocate for girls and women to do what they can do without feeling like they aren’t good enough. I tell these girls that they are worthy and smart and totally capable of doing anything they want to do. All the girls in my group wanted to do computer science or physics and biology, and it was really fun to see their faces light up when they talked about it.” Helgestad also continued her love of service in the dental area. At the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, she and a classmate, Brendan Frazier, started a student chapter of the Natural Teeth Ambassador program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Theoutreach program focuses on dental care that educates at-risk elementary school students and families in the Little Rock area. Last year, the ambassadors visited two elementary schools and hope to reach more this year. “It’s called the Superhero program, and we use lots of different fun activities to get kids excited about being superheroes,” she said. “They combat the bad guys, plaque and acid, with their special tools, toothpaste and floss. At the end of the program, we give them dental supplies donated by Delta Dental.” At the end of her ��Vlog��ý Little Rock education, Helgestad said that combining her love of dentistry, engineering, and business is what made the journey so special. “I definitely have enjoyed getting to incorporate business and entrepreneurship into my college experience,” she explained. “I was unsure when I first started how I was going to do that. It’s crazy that I combined everything I love into my college experience – dentistry, engineering through the medical device, and business. I’m really proud and excited that this community has supported me in doing that.”

Triple graduate on road to fulfill dream of becoming a doctor

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 14 May 2019 14:52:42 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock senior who graduated with three bachelor’s degrees has been accepted to medical school and is on her way to fulfilling her dream of becoming a doctor.�� Erica Olson, of Gassville, Arkansas, graduated from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock on May 11 with bachelor’s degrees in biology, chemistry, and Spanish. The budding doctor, who received a $7,500 Class of 1954 Scholarship from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, will begin taking classes at ��Vlog��ýMS in the fall with plans to become a family physician. “It has been my dream for almost a decade that I would like to become a family physician,” Olson said. “Everyone is excited about specializing in surgical processes, but for me, I like the appeal of growing with the patients. I like the consistency of establishing bonds and being able to work with people throughout their life and their children’s lives. I’m open to looking at other specialties in medical school, but I think that is where my heart lies.” After graduating high school with just 40 people in her senior class, Olson was excited to see what the world had to offer. “I was naturally excited to get out of the rural area and explore what else the world had to offer,” she said. “I knew ��Vlog��ý Little Rock had a lot of scholarships available, and I remembered visiting this campus during seventh grade, walking down the brick pathways, and finding it beautiful. After I was accepted into the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, I was very glad I decided to attend ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. My mom is a single mom who works as a waitress, and she did a great job of providing for me. We’ve experienced financial hardships, and getting to graduate debt free is a privilege.” While at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Olson joined the University Science Scholars Program, Biology Club, American Chemical Society, Wesley Foundation, Wind Ensemble, and became a student ambassador for the College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences. She worked as a resident assistant for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, a research assistant for the ��Vlog��ýMS Emergency Department, and volunteered in the Intensive Care Unit at ��Vlog��ýMS. Olson is also dedicated to helping other students get a head start in their careers. In 2017, she founded the university’s Pre-Health Club for students planning to work in the health industry as doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, pharmacists, and physician’s assistants. During summer 2017, Olson had an experience that altered her plans. She studied abroad in Spain, taking a one-week trip to Madrid with Dr. Edna Delgado, professor of Spanish, followed by a month living with a host family while taking classes at the University of Granada. Originally set to graduate in 2018 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and biology, Olson delayed graduation for a year so she could spend the fall 2018 studying in Spain. It also gave Olson the time to earn a third bachelor’s degree in Spanish. “At first, I just wanted to learn Spanish to have a baseline because it’s the second most spoken language in the U.S.,” she said. “As a future physician, I want to be able to communicate with my Spanish-speaking patients. If you don’t speak the language, you feel isolated and alone. I knew this is what my patients who couldn’t speak English would feel. I planned to apply to medical school a year ago, but I didn’t want to go with any regrets.” Olson owes much of her success to the biology and chemistry faculty members at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, especially those who helped her prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). “I adore both the chemistry and biology department faculty. I’ve had incredible experiences with the faculty,” she said. “They challenge you, and that in turn makes you a better student. With regards to chemistry, to me that was the most challenging discipline I chose. While I did not make an A in every single chemistry course, it helped me to succeed in the real world because I scored in the 92 percentile on my MCAT. Both departments really care about your success.”

Arkansas students explore life as a geologist

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:21:17 +0000

Nine Arkansas students got a taste of life as a geologist during the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s second Geology Camp.�� Held June 10-15 on the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock campus, the free one-week summer enrichment program was sponsored by the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It offered junior high and high school students a unique overview of life as a geologist. Students studied topics like field mapping, mineralogy, fossils, topographical mapping, and geologic time. The Geology Camp participants include:

��Victoria Bourgeois, of Bismarck, a student at Bismarck High School
��Luigi Cutolo, of Bentonville, a student at Bentonville High School
��Kaitlyn Gill, of Hot Springs, a student at Cutter Morning Star Elementary
��Michelle Jones, of North Little Rock, a student at North Little Rock Middle School
��Blair King, of Scott, a student at LISA Academy West
��Caroline Nalumansi, of Little Rock, attending Episcopal Collegiate
��Faizan Parry, of Little Rock, attending Pulaski Academy
��Insherah Qazi, of Little Rock, attending LISA Academy West
��Sreevatsav Seenivasan, of Little Rock, attending Central High School

��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Elizabeth Haralson, a graduate student studying environmental geology from Wynne, and Callie Pace, a senior geology major from Mountain Home, led the camp’s activities. “This camp has blown us away,” Haralson said. “All the students have bright futures ahead of them. We completely enjoyed our week. The kids exceeded all our expectations. They were asking the hard questions, thinking outside the box. It was so rewarding to see the light bulb go off in their heads when they understood a concept and to think that we have taught them something that they might remember for the rest of their lives.” Outside the classroom, students took field trips to Coleman Creek, Coleman Quartz Mine, Pinnacle Mountain State Park, and the Arkansas Geological Survey. One of the students’ favorite activities was the exploration of Coleman Creek, where the campers cleaned up the creek, observed wildlife, and collected samples of water and rocks for further study. “Playing in the creek is so fun,” Bourgeois said. “I enjoyed the exposure of going into the field and learning what geologists do.” Bourgeois also appreciated the opportunity to prepare for college. “I love science,” she said. “I do always look for different opportunities to go to college. I like meeting new people and learning new things. I really enjoyed the college prep class. I want to study science and engineering, and geology is something I could further explore now that I know a lot more about what geologists do.” In the upper right photo, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Geology Camp participants visit the Ron Coleman Mine for Crystal Mining. Front row (L to R): Geology camp instructors Elizabeth Haralson and Callie Pace and students Michelle Jones, Caroline Nalumansi, and Kaitlyn Gill. Back Row: Faizan Parray, Luigi Cutolo, Sreevatsav Seenivasan, Blair King, Jodi Williams, staff member, Insherah Qazi, and Maranda Geoffrion, staff member.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Prepares for Future as Surgeon