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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student awarded prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 19:26:09 +0000

Four years ago, John Siratt was struggling to support himself through college, working full time as a groundskeeper while taking classes at the College of the Ouachitas. Now, Siratt, a graduate student from Malvern studying mathematics at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, could not be more thankful to be a recipient of. The fellowship provides three years of financial support within a five-year fellowship period through a $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 cost-of-education allowance to the student’s graduate institution. “I am very excited and stunned by the news,” Siratt said. “There was a rumor online that the fellowship results were going to be posted on April 2. I woke up that night and saw the email at 1:30 a.m. I showed the email to my wife who was still awake working. I wasn’t sure I had read it right until she started jumping and celebrating.” Siratt was one of 2,000 fellowship recipients from a nationwide pool of more than 12,000 applicants. The program recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and supports their graduate research training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Launched in 1952 shortly after Congress established the National Science Foundation, the fellowship program represents the nation’s oldest continuous investment in the U.S. STEM workforce. “To support U.S. leadership and innovation in science and engineering, we must recognize and nurture talent from all of our nation’s communities,” said Jim Lewis, NSF acting assistant director for Education and Human Resources. “I am pleased that again this year, the competition has selected talented students from all economic backgrounds and all demographic categories. In addition, NSF worked successfully to accommodate students from U.S. islands devastated by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, so that they could still compete for a fellowship.” Siratt will graduate with a master’s degree in mathematics from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2019. Afterwards, he is considering pursuing doctoral programs at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, Indiana University Bloomington, and the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.

John Siratt works on algebraic equations in his office at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Photo by Ben Krain.

Siratt remains thankful to his wife, Chassidy, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock art student who proofread all of his application materials, and his advisor, Dr. Lakeshia Jones, assistant professor of mathematics who Siratt described as both his “guiding light” and the “whip behind me when I started slacking,” for encouraging him to apply for the fellowship. “John’s life experiences, academic record, and work ethic have provided him with an innate potential for research and the potential to advance knowledge in the mathematical sciences,” Jones said. “I have learned that John has a keen ability to process a lot of information in a short period with limited oversight. He holds himself and his work to a very high standard and does not settle for mediocre.” After graduating the College of the Ouachitas in 2014, Siratt began his studies as a part-time student at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. He could afford to attend full time after Dr. Allen Thomas, a former ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, hired Siratt to work as a research assistant in 2015. “I call myself a second-chance student. I wasn’t successful in college when I was younger because I didn’t have clear goals,” he said. “Growing up, most people around me didn’t understand the concept of going to school for math if you weren’t going to become a school teacher.” Now Siratt is well on his way to a successful career in mathematics. This summer he will begin his second internship with the Formal Methods Research Program at the in Norfolk, Virginia. His 2017 internship was supported through a Workforce Development grant from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium. “To me,” Siratt said, “the most important part of this story for other students is that I spent years being rejected. I never thought something like this could happen to me, but I never stopped trying to open doors.”

Math struggles turn to triumph for former chef Franklin Bick

Shanna Fitzgerald — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:25:04 +0000

For Franklin Bick, a college degree seemed out of reach. Everywhere he turned, a nemesis blocked his path. He couldn’t pass algebra. At least that’s what Bick thought until he enrolled in a 2013 summer class at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Not only did Bick excel in that algebra course, but this month the 37-year-old North Little Rock resident will graduate with bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance and a minor in math. “It does blow my mind,” said Bick, as he looked back on his undergraduate experience. He now will pursue a master’s degree at the University of North Texas. Bick graduates the same year his 18-year-old son Tyler finishes high school. “(Tyler) said, ‘Dad, are you going to come to my graduation?’ I said, ‘I don’t know, are you coming to mine?’” Bick said with a laugh. Tyler plans to attend the University of Missouri to pursue a career in sports journalism. When he was a teenager, Bick didn’t enjoy school and didn’t see the value of education. In Bick’s view, his family was surviving just fine even though his dad dropped out of high school and his mother had a GED. While Bick had no love for school, cooking had long been a passion. Since his first fast food job at the age of 16, Bick prepared food in just about every restaurant environment imaginable. He was working as a cook in Little Rock when his job was eliminated, and he decided to, once again, go back to school.

Facing the challenge

Bick had a previous stint at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and also was enrolled in culinary school — each time, algebra seemed an insurmountable obstacle, and he withdrew from classes. In total, he took algebra four times. After his job was eliminated, Bick enrolled in a summer 2013 algebra class taught by Ida Umphers, senior instructor in the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Mathematics and Statistics Department. “She had a big role in helping me,” Bick said. Bick wasn’t accustomed to seeking assistance, but this time he was engaged from the beginning. He showed up to class, did his homework, and asked plenty of questions. “He’s incredibly sharp, and he didn’t take anything for granted,” Umphers said. “His struggle was not evident in class. He did a super job.” Bick was adept at leading or working in groups, Umphers said. “Franklin is just one of those folks who has the old-fashioned politeness,” Umphers said. “It’s a really nice thing to encounter,” Seeing students who previously struggled with math start to shine is one of the joys of teaching for Umphers. “We’re going to hear great things from him down the road,” Umphers said. “He is going to be a success in whatever he decides to do in economics.”

Charting a new course

When Bick decided to enroll at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2013, he wasn’t sure about his major, but he had a good idea about which general direction his studies would take. “I knew it was going to be business,” Bick said. “It’s always been business for me.” As he explored his options, he found a fit with economics. He was particularly intrigued by math models that described economic behavior. “This stuff is amazing,” Bick said. “I just got engulfed.” Dr. Sarah Quintanar in the Department of Economics and Finance introduced him to research. She also “taught me to think about why economic relationships matter, which will motivate my study and help frame and answer questions,” Bick said. “She has been an amazing mentor throughout this process. He now envisions a career as a research economist. After he finishes his master’s degree, Bick plans to pursue a Ph.D.

A helping hand

In addition to the guidance Umphers and Quintanar provided, Bick is thankful for the assistance he got from TRIO Student Support Services and the McNair Scholars Program. “The TRIO program has helped prepare me for graduate school,” Bick said. “It’s a very stressful process, and they’ve been there.” Julie Shelby, a Student Support Services adviser, called Bick an “awesome, committed student.” There is a downside, however, to Bick’s success, Umphers said. “The world lost a great chef,” she said. Bick still prepares meals at home and is enjoying the creative freedom cooking on his own provides. He also made sure that Tyler knew his way around a kitchen before he heads off to college. While Bick considered not participating in the Saturday, May 13, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduation ceremony, he wants to set an example, to show how important education has become to him. “I’m doing this so my son sees this,” Bick said.

��Vlog��ýLR scholarship program addresses shortage of science and math teachers in Arkansas

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 14:49:12 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is hoping to fill a shortage of science and mathematics teachers in Arkansas by offering up to $20,000 in scholarships to eligible juniors and seniors. Scholarships are available for ��Vlog��ýLR juniors and seniors who are enrolled in a science or math degree program and are interested in pursuing a related teaching license. The ��Vlog��ýLR Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program offers a $5,000 scholarship each semester of their junior and senior year, up to $20,000. Applications are being accepted for scholarships in the spring 2017 semester. ��Vlog��ýLR, through a secondary education teacher preparation initiative, offers the scholarships thanks to a nearly $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation announced in 2015. “STEM teachers are a high shortage area in the state of Arkansas,” said Gail Hughes, associate professor in the Educational Foundations Unit of the Department of Educational Leadership. “Those teachers are in high demand, and having excellent STEM teachers is important to preparing the next generation of STEM leaders in our state.” The program has awarded 12 scholarships since 2015. Scholarship recipients develop their skills while engaging young people with STEM concepts and activities by teaching one STEM lesson at a high-needs school in Little Rock School District every other week. “We have them teach in the schools to give them additional classroom experience,” Hughes said. “When they begin their internship semesters, they have more confidence, more practice, and have learned tips from another teacher in their specialty area.” Scholarship recipients also sign a contract to teach one year in a high-needs school in the United States for every semester the scholarship is received. The ��Vlog��ýLR Noyce Scholars program is a collaboration of ��Vlog��ýLR, Henderson Middle School, ��Vlog��ýLR Children International, and the Museum of Discovery. It uses a multi-pronged approach to tackling the state’s shortage of science and mathematics teachers, particularly in high-need schools. For more information and for details about how to apply, visit the website.

eStem, ��Vlog��ýLR break ground for new high school

Shanna Fitzgerald — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 22:09:28 +0000

Work is underway on an innovative partnership that will bring eStem High School to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus. About a year after announcing the project, ��Vlog��ýLR and eStem Public Charter Schools hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday. Starting with the next school year, the collaboration will provide new opportunities to eStem students, while breathing life into one of the university’s original buildings. “��Vlog��ýLR has a history of collaborating with central Arkansas school districts, and this partnership fits well with the university’s goal of preparing students to succeed in higher education and the workforce of tomorrow,” said Zulma Toro, ��Vlog��ýLR executive vice chancellor and provost. Leaders at eStem plan to renovate and expand Larson Hall on the ��Vlog��ýLR campus by the 2017-18 school year and add high school classrooms at a nearby existing building, Ross Hall, for the 2021-22 school year. The collaboration clears the way for eStem, a tuition-free public charter school that operates on an enrollment lottery system, to add students. “Since we opened our doors, eStem has provided a unique learning environment that encourages innovation – both inside and outside of the classroom – and our students have thrived,” said John Bacon, CEO of eStem. “Now, through this strategic partnership, we will be able to expand this opportunity to more students.”

Officials from eStem and ��Vlog��ýLR break ground during a ceremony at the future site of eStem High School. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications

A benefit for eStem’s high school students will be the option of taking college-level courses and learning from some of the leading scholars in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields without leaving campus. While taking college-credit courses, the students also will have an opportunity to earn an associate degree in high school. “We welcome partnerships that benefit students and the Arkansas economy,” said ��Vlog��ýLR Chancellor Andrew Rogerson. “We think this collaboration has great potential for central Arkansas.” The preliminary plan announced in August 2015 involved the construction of a new building on 28th Street and a smaller-scale renovation of Larson Hall, but that plan changed. After further study, officials determined that working with existing buildings was a better option for the project. Leaders at the public charter school expect the high school’s enrollment to grow to 1,125 students at the ��Vlog��ýLR location by the 2026-27 school year. Once completed, the renovated and expanded Larson Hall facility will be about 50,000 square feet and will include 31 classrooms, three chemistry labs, two physical science labs and two computer labs. A $11.4 million no-interest loan from the Walton Family Foundation is financing the eStem renovation and construction project designed by in Little Rock. The project is subject to ��Vlog��ýLR’s review to “assure architectural compatibility with the university campus.” Under the terms of a 30-year lease, eStem will pay ��Vlog��ýLR $1 annually. The university will benefit from the improvements eStem makes to the property and from having the additional students and teachers on campus. The charter school will be responsible for insurance, as well as shared service expenses. Image in upper right is an artist rendering of the future eStem High School, courtesy of Witsell Evans & Rasco Architects-Planners.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock student awarded prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship