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

Small town: Big heart

Janea Snyder — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:44:08 +0000

Graduating senior James Sellers credits his chance encounter with a University of Arkansas at Little Rock recruiter for helping him get to where he is today. Sellers, 22, met ��Vlog��ý Little Rock recruiter Louis Scivally at College Day at DeQueen High School four years ago. At the time, Sellers wasn’t sure of the college application process, and Scivally steered him toward scholarship opportunities and connected him with advisors. After visiting ��Vlog��ý Little Rock during a Discover Day, Sellers made up his mind. He enrolled at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in fall 2014, deciding on a chemistry major with a biology minor. College life was unfamiliar territory to Sellers, who is the first in his immediate family to get a university education. “When I got here, I really didn’t understand how to college,” he said. “My GPA was decent, but not impressive. Dr. Johanna Lewis, my advisor in CALS [College of Arts, Letters and Sciences], told me I needed to get my act together if I wanted to be a competitive applicant to medical school. She has been a huge influence on me and my future.” Sellers took Lewis’ advice and got to work. He graduates May 12 with a 3.77 GPA. He also is the recipient of this year’s American Institute of Chemistry Outstanding Graduating Senior Award and has been accepted into the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine Class of 2022. In four years, Sellers has not only mastered the academic side of college but has also seized leadership opportunities that have helped him evolve from a teenager focused on self to a young adult focused on service. “Who I was coming in and who I am going out are two different people,” he said. “I don’t want to think of where I’d be if I didn’t come here. I’ve loved every moment of being at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It has prepared me for the difficult higher education I’m about to go into, and I know what it takes to succeed. I know how to handle a tough course load and do it well.” Sellers, who grew up in Gillham (population: 188), was a bit reserved when he arrived on campus, but he quickly became friends with the students living on West Hall’s fourth floor. During his first semester, the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps hosted a Boys Will Be Girls pageant as a fundraiser. Sellers was a good sport and donned a dress. “That definitely got me out of my shell,” he recalled, “and something so goofy was the catalyst for the start of many good friendships.” Later that year, he became the university’s Trojan Man mascot and traveled with the team to the NCAA tournament in Tempe, Arizona. He also started a new student organization dedicated to hanging out with friends and meeting new ones. “I was walking across campus with friends and thought ‘What if we just sat around in lawn chairs at random spots on campus?’” he said. Thus, the Lawn Chair Club was born, and Sellers, as the founder, became “Grandpappy James.” At the end of his freshman year, Sellers received the Campus Living Resident of the Year and Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Male of the Year awards. He became even more involved as a sophomore, joining Student Government Association, Pi Kappa Alpha, and serving as director of involvement for the Maroon Mob. He has been a part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps and Science Scholars Program and started tutoring students in chemistry. He also became a resident assistant for the following three years – two years in West Hall and one year in South Hall. “Being an RA has been the highlight of my undergrad experience because it has taught me that college isn’t about me. It’s about us,” he said. “It taught me how to care about other people. We’ve had lot of fun, goofy times but also serious moments, and through it all, it has helped me become a leader and a mentor.” By the middle of his sophomore year, Sellers was feeling some burn-out and backed off many of his extracurricular activities. “I got so busy and realized I was doing a whole lot of things half-way,” he said. He began focusing on medical school applications and preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). He tracked his study time, logging 310 hours of MCAT preparation. His disciplined approach paid off, but not without a bittersweet moment. On the day before the exam, Sellers’ longtime family friend and mentor, Frances Smith, succumbed to terminal liver cancer. Sellers had met Frances and her husband Don at church when he was in fourth grade. “They asked me if I wanted to come back to church the next week and offered to drive me,” Sellers recalled. “One week turned into seven years. She was, in a lot of ways, the closest thing I had to grandma.” Later, Frances helped Sellers get his first job at Walmart, where she worked as a hiring associate. Sellers worked there for three years and plans to work there again this summer prior to medical school. “She was the most passionate person about me getting into medical school,” Sellers said. “She knew I had dreams, and she pushed me. She wanted to be at my white coat ceremony more than anything.” Sellers has remained involved with church ever since meeting Frances. After his freshman year, Sellers and members of First Baptist Church of DeQueen traveled to Ethiopia on a mission trip with Children’s Hope Chest International, an organization that assists impoverished families and orphans. Sellers has spent the past three summers traveling to Ethiopia and forming strong bonds with the children and families. He has his own sponsor child, Abenezer, that he gets to see every year. His volunteer work has helped him feel gratitude for his education and experiences and has steered him to a career in which he can help others. “I want what I do to have purpose,” he said. “I want meaning out of my life. I feel like you can only get that through helping others. When I’m old and gray, looking back at all that I’ve done in life and the impact that I left on this world, I refuse to feel anything but joy and fulfillment.” James Sellers learned to ride a unicycle while living in West Hall his freshman year. He graduates May 12 and begins medical school this fall. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

Science Scholars present research at state conference

Janea Snyder — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 17:51:44 +0000

Eight students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently presented their research at the Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Conference in Fayetteville on Oct. 27-28, 2017. The students were among more than 200 statewide participants. Six of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students are in the Science Scholars program, a scholarship and enrichment program for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students majoring in biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics. Two students are members of the Arkansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Program (LSAMP). The (Arkansas INBRE) is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program of the National Institutes of Health. The Arkansas INBRE aims to promote biomedical research in Arkansas. “The INBRE conference is the premier undergraduate research conference in STEM in the Tri-state area (Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma),” said Dr. Jim Winter, co-director of the Science Scholars and Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. “We are pleased that our students participated and gained a rewarding experience. We look forward to having students present at this conference every year.” The students and their research are as follows: Kassandra Castrillo of Little Rock, an environmental engineering major presented “How to find an internship and maximize the benefits.” Her mentor is Dr. Lashun Thomas in the Environmental Engineering Program, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Courtney Curry of Waldo, a biology major, presented “Examining the antimicrobial activity of doped carbon nanoparticles.” She is mentored by Dr. Nawab Ali, Biology Department, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Jaylen Gregory of Jacksonville, a computer and systems engineering major, presented “The effects of cell phones on the human head.” His mentor is Dr. Hussein Al-Rizzo, Systems Engineering Department, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Kristen Gregory of Jacksonville, a chemistry and biology major, presented “Investigations into the effects of caffeine on cell death in the slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum.” Her mentor is Dr. John Bush, Biology Department, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Lora Heath of Little Rock, a chemistry major, presented “Improving sample collection of flurbiprofen using concentration gradients and size with porous membranes.” Her mentor is Dr. Julie Stenken, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, ��Vlog��ý Fayetteville Paloma Salazar of Little Rock, a chemistry major, presented “Using carbonized algal cells to synthesize copper oxide and split water to produce hydrogen fuel.” Her mentor is Dr. Wei Zhao, Chemistry Department, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Sylvia Szwedo of Little Rock, a chemistry major, presented “Isolating exosomes using tumor-specific antibodies in the serum and abdominal fluid as a step towards an ovarian cancer screening method.” Her mentor is Dr. Karen Abbott, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, ��Vlog��ýMS Nathan Taylor of Cabot, a chemistry major, presented “Analysis of animal kidney stones through infrared spectroscopy.” His mentor is Dr. Russ Summers, Arkansas Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory In upper right photo are student researchers Nathan Taylor, Sylvia Szwedo, Kassandra Castrillo, Paloma Salazar and Lora Heath with Dr. Jim Winter.

Grad Q&A: Science Scholar Jordan Thomas headed to grad school

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 17:24:36 +0000

Meet Jordan Thomas, a central Arkansas native who graduated May 2017 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a degree in biology and minors in information technology and music. Tell me a little bit about yourself My hometown is Cabot, Arkansas. I graduated from Cabot High School in 2013 and began college at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that fall. I’m a biology major and minoring in information technology and music. I play the clarinet and have participated in multiple music ensembles at the university. I’m a member of Kappa Delta Sorority, and I’m also very family oriented! I spend a lot of free time with my little brother, Dillon. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock for a few reasons. I had toured a few other universities, and none of them quite felt like the right fit. After touring ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and receiving an offer of a full scholarship, I was sold. As part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholars (CLC) and Science Scholars Program, I got the opportunity to meet people from the same programs. I’m also very family oriented and wanted to stay close to home, so the university ended up being the perfect choice for me. Was there anything that surprised you about the university? Yes, it’s not your typical college campus environment. It’s very diverse in a variety of demographic categories, and it was great to interact with all demographic types. Why did you select your major? I chose the biology major, because I knew that I always wanted to be in the medical field. I started out as a chemistry major and switched to biology toward the end of my freshman year. As for my minors, Thomas Wallace pitched the information technology minor program to my CLC class one day, so I selected this as my minor to diversify my skillset. I also had enough hours of music ensemble work to easily pursue a music minor as well. Are you going to graduate school? Yes, I’ve been accepted to the Doctor of Audiology program at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and will begin course work there in the fall. I like the biological and technical aspects of audiology. Due to my passion for music, I understand how devastating hearing loss can be. What were your favorite study conditions? Upper classes provided the most ideal conditions for me because of the smaller class settings. That’s part of the reason I didn’t go to a larger school. And I would not have survived without flash cards! I even have my brother using flash cards now. Who were your mentors? Dr. Jim Winter (Science Scholars) and Nick Steele (CLC) were key mentors within my scholarship programs. They aided me greatly in aspects of advising, as well as helping students within the program build their leadership skills and relationships with peers. Jenny Dodson, director of campus life, was also a great mentor, and Dr. Darin Jones (Organic Chemistry II) was a great teacher. He genuinely cared about his students’ confidence in the coursework and as people. He constantly referred to us as “superstars!” Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? Yes, I play clarinet in the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Wind Ensemble, the ��Vlog��ý Clarinet Ensemble, and I am a member of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Trojan Pep Band. I am a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society, Kappa Delta Sorority, and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. How has Greek life helped you? Kappa Delta provided the opportunity to meet new people since most of my high school friends went to other schools. The negative perception of Greek life is definitely not what I experienced here. It’s a great platform for networking before you get a job and provided me an immense amount of leadership training. Overall, the program instilled a greater confidence in me. These women care about and support each other. What was your biggest challenge? One of my biggest challenges was being away from my family and creating a new life. I was a straight A student in high school, and I was blessed with an encouraging support system, so the move to college was like starting from scratch. But, joining campus organizations helped a lot, if not the most, in overcoming these obstacles. Any advice to future students? My advice to future students would be to get involved on your campus! Join campus organizations, attend school sponsored events, whether you want to or not. The support system you will build will help you in numerous ways throughout your college career.

— Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart/��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

May grad Neden Yacine sets sights on med school

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:53:36 +0000

Neden Yacine is a Science Scholar who graduated May 2017 from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in biology. After taking a gap year, she plans to attend medical school. Tell us a little about yourself I’m from Fort Smith, Arkansas, and took college classes while I was still in high school. That’s why I was able to graduate in three years. I love to travel and have been to countries such as Canada, Belize, Morocco, Algeria, and Italy. I lived on campus the first year, but now I live off campus because I have a Havanese (Bichon breed type) dog. Why did you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? Well, I was pretty set on going to (University of Arkansas Fort Smith) because it’s my hometown. I applied for several scholarships and got into the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps (CLC) at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. It’s a great program, and I got a full ride with no college debt. What surprised you about our campus? The dorms are the best. You get your own bedroom and share a full bathroom with a couple of other people. I wish there were more things to do at the student center (i.e. Xboxes, game rooms) so people would want to stick around campus. How do you like living in Little Rock? It’s great to be in a metropolitan environment. The sunsets here are amazing. Emerald Park, Pinnacle Mountain, and the Big Dam Bridge have beautiful views. I’d go to one of these places after a stressful test. And it’s exciting to drive by the Capitol at night. Plus, I’ve made some amazing friends here. Why did you major in chemistry? I originally majored in biology, but to me it just required a lot of memorization. I switched to chemistry because it came naturally to me. If you understand the concepts, you can apply them to solve problems. How would professors describe you? Talkative and motivated. I’m not afraid to speak up in class, and like to be silly to break the stress. I’m the class clown. Did you have any mentors? Dr. Wei Zhao (Department of Chemistry) asked me to work on a research grant from the . I got to spend five days in Cleveland, see Oberlin College, and get paid for it. (I even brought my longboard with me.) This is where I became interested in analytical-based research. What were your favorite subjects? Besides chemistry, I took an elective called Psychosexual Behavior, which explored different sexual disorders. For instance, I learned that I-40 is a major human trafficking route. That really stuck with me and sparked my interest in shelters. Are you going to graduate school? I plan on going to medical school, but during college I became interested in lab work and would like to explore research jobs that involve analytical chemistry. The doctors I shadowed encouraged me to slow down and take a gap year prior to going to school. They said I have plenty of time. What are you going to specialize in? Either family practice or geriatrics. I’ve volunteered at hospices and retirement homes and would love to volunteer at the Veteran’s Administration in North Little Rock. You can see the whole city from their view. What were some of your extracurricular activities? As a member of the (Little Rock’s organization dedicated to promoting school pride), I got to help plan homecoming festivities such as the golf cart parade. I’m the recruitment chair for sorority. Sororities typically get a bad rap, but Greek life is different here. It was great to make new friends with the same interests – we all love to eat! Promoting Greek life is a great recruiting tool for the school. Plus, it provides networking opportunities after graduation. For instance, you can send your resume to all Chi Omegas to find out about employment opportunities. How has college contributed to your career goals? I had to learn how to juggle my social life, be active in organizations, and get good grades. That’s hard. After college, I’ll be able to focus on one thing. How bad can that be? Any advice for new college students? Get your homework done so you can go out with your friends. Don’t procrastinate. Explore your options, and follow your own path. And do some volunteer work. I volunteered at the animal shelter, and being around puppies and kittens was a great way to reduce stress.

— Compiled by Toni Boyer Stewart, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Communications

Mayflower tornado led grad Tori Main to choose veterinarian career path

Jenny Lambert — Fri, 12 May 2017 16:54:31 +0000

At the age of 13, Tori Main began volunteering to help animals and dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. After her University of Arkansas at Little Rock commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 13, she will be one step closer to that dream. Main, a Mayflower, Arkansas, resident and Bertram, Texas, native, will graduate with a major in biology and minors in chemistry and nonprofit leadership studies. As a student, a science scholar, and a Chi Omega leader, Main sometimes neglected sleep to get everything done. “The hardest part of my journey was the process of figuring out when to say yes or no,” Main said. “There was a time period where I was struggling with so many obligations, I had to eliminate some stuff.” Through managing her time and prioritizing, Main was able to use more of her energy to do something she loves: volunteering. After a 2014 tornado struck Mayflower and damaged much of the city, Main stepped in to help care for animals in the community. She soon became an animal control officer, working with foster animals and potential adopters, all while taking more than 15 credits at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. Because she loved the animal control work she did, Main became president of the nonprofit Paws and Whiskers Society. She now helps raise money to assist with the animal control’s finances. With so many tasks on her daily to-do list, Main worked to find ways to tie some of her responsibilities together. In an attempt to get people involved with her sorority’s annual fundraising event, Main suggested the chapter host a new event that would take its philanthropic efforts to the next level. In 2013, the chapter hosted its first Rent-A-Puppy fundraiser, which has people make donations to spend time with animals from local shelters. “It’s one of my favorite moments every year because everyone just brightens up when they see dogs and puppies,” Main said. Last year, Chi Omega raised more than $800 from Rent-A-Puppy to benefit the . This summer, Main will intern for Utah’s Best Friends Animal Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building no-kill animal shelter programs and partnerships. Following her internship, Main is set to begin veterinary school in August at , where she received a full ride. Once she becomes a certified vet, Main plans to begin the process of starting her own nonprofit clinic. “I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I start volunteering with animals,” Main said. “I want to start my own clinic and incorporate the ideals of a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. I’ll provide vaccines and spay and neutering surgeries that a lot of people can’t afford.” In expanding her efforts to assist animals and the community, Main plans to continue her work with animal rescues wherever she resides.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock scholarship deadline March 1

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 19:59:32 +0000

The deadline for University of Arkansas at Little Rock students to apply for scholarships is fast approaching. For current students, filling out just one application by March 1 puts them in the running for all general private scholarships, departmental scholarships, and ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Alumni Association scholarships. Funded by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduates who give through the Alumni Association, the scholarships are available for students based on academic merit and financial need. Examples include the Owen W. Parker, Sr. and Merrily Parker Endowed Scholarship, which provides two $5,000 scholarships a year, and the Diana and Paul Nolte Endowed Scholarship, which provides $1,000 a year for a student who is a single parent. There are 13 academic and merit-based scholarships available for first-time freshmen and transfer students. One of the most sought-after programs is the Donaghey Scholars Program, annually available to 25 high-performing students. The scholarship provides up to $90,000 for four years of study at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, including full tuition and fees, a yearly stipend, housing subsidy, laptop, and funding for a study abroad program. Among popular scholarships for incoming freshmen are the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, which provides up to $32,000 over four years to 225 new scholars every year; the University Science Scholars that provide up to $3,000 in funding per year for biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics majors; and the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in STEM, which provides $3,600 in funding over two years and an additional $1,200 for participation in a summer institute to STEM majors of African-American, Hispanic American, Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Pacific Islander ethnicity. For transfer students from Arkansas, the Shelby Breedlove Transfer scholarship provides $8,000 to $12,000 of funding over two years to students with 45 credit hours and a minimum 3.25 GPA from an Arkansas two-year college. For out-of-state students, the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award pays 80-90 percent of the difference between resident and nonresident tuition for eligible new freshmen and transfer students. For more information, visit the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock scholarships website, call 501.569.3035, or email financialaid@ualr.edu.

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