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

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Finishes College Education 50 Years After Starting

John Hill — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 16:20:09 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock history student is celebrating the completion of his lifelong dream of finishing his college education, a dream that is 50 years in the making. By all measures, Ellis “Gene” Thompson of Little Rock has led a very successful life. He has a loving family and had a very successful career in media sales spanning more than four decades. “After leaving KATV as the local sales manager here, I finished that career and was faced with what I want to do,” Thompson said. “Something that had always been nagging me was to get my degree. Life had taken that opportunity away from me earlier when I was in Washington, D.C.” A native of Joliet, Illinois, Thompson joined the U.S. Navy and worked in an experimental surgery unit and then enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1973. “There I really started to mature and find my sea legs, as you will,” he said. “The doctors were very supportive of me going to college. That is why I went to Georgetown, but I was married and had a child and work. I couldn’t sustain a decent lifestyle and go to Georgetown, which was very demanding.” In 1975, Thompson left Georgetown with an associate degree and a strong desire to one day finish his college education. His career took him from Washington, D.C., to Chicago, to Dayton, Ohio, to Orlando and New York City. His final stop brought him to Little Rock in 2010 to work at KATV. “I had a great run in TV, but I’m done,” Thompson said. “I had a deep love of history, and I got that while I was at Georgetown. One of my instructors was the department head, and I fell in love with history after taking her class. I decided to come to ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a history major.” Thompson joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2017 and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in history in 2019. He will graduate this semester with a master’s degree in public history, which brings his journey to complete his college education to an end 50 years after he started. “It’s something that I feel I should have done a long time ago,” he said. “It’s basically been unfinished business as far as my life is concerned. So, getting this degree is a culmination of a lifelong search for my own comfort with myself. It’s a culmination of something that I felt I should have done a long time ago and should have been determined earlier in my life. However, it feels just as good now. This is who I should have been all my life, a person with a master’s degree.” One of his favorite experiences in graduate school was participating in a class taught by Dr. John Kirk, George W. Donaghey Distinguished Professor of History, which examined the criminal cases of Robert Bell and Grady Swain, two African American teenagers who were convicted of the first-degree murder of Julius McCollum and sentenced to death. Bell and Swain confessed to the crime, but later said their confessions were forced. The class wrote a paper about the case that received the Lucille Westbrook Award from the Arkansas Historical Association for the best article manuscript on an aspect of local history. “That class really grabbed me, and I learned so much about going through archives and dusty, old records,” he said. Thompson wrote his thesis, “The Fight for Freedmen’s Minds in Arkansas,” about the development of educational programs for African Americans in the state in the 1860s and 1870s. “Arkansas was one of the last states to develop a public primary and secondary school system for African American students,” Thompson wrote. “While education was for the most part privatized, an important philosophy for educating African Americans was developed early by the Free African Society and the AME (African Methodist Episcopal) Church that influenced Arkansas public and private Freedman education.” In the 1860s and 70s, there were millions of newly freed formerly enslaved people who needed an education with competing methods of how that should work. Samuel Armstrong, founder of the Hampton Institute, created an educational model called the Hampton-Tuskegee Model, which emphasized character building through manual labor and learning occupational skills. The AME church strongly contested the Hampton-Tuskegee Model. “The AME church put forth the philosophy that they wanted Freedman taught in the classical manner, emphasizing subjects like English, literature, and algebra,” Thompson said. “They wanted to train a middle-class population with doctors, teachers, and lawyers. The Hampton model emphasized teaching people manual labor skills – how to be a blacksmith, how to sew. They taught young girls how to work in houses as maids. It was being put out there that this was necessary because industrialists needed a large workforce.” Thompson dedicated his thesis to his mother, who was the daughter of an AME preacher and an inspiration for him to complete college. “I also did this for my mom who always believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Thompson said. “She used to sit in the kitchen with me to do my homework when I was a child. She instilled in me that desire to get it done, and that was one of the real drivers in writing my thesis.” With graduation approaching, Thompson is thankful to history professors James Ross, Barclay Key, Jess Porter, Edward Anson, Carl Moneyhon, and Marta Cieslak for inspiring him to succeed. “My experience here has been absolutely magnificent,” he said. “I can’t say enough good things about the history department and the professors. These people are first rate, and I know because I came from one of those fancy east schools. I had a very successful career, but this is something different that I needed to do and I’m so glad I did it. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that I would end up living in Arkansas and getting a master’s degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. I believe it’s a top-rate education.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Nurses Association President Elected to State Office

John Hill — Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:56:29 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock nursing student was recently elected to the Arkansas Nursing Students’ Association (ANSA) state board. The ANSA organizes, represents, and supports students in Arkansas preparing for initial licensure as registered nurses as well as baccalaureate students. They also promote development of the skills that students will need as responsible and accountable members of the nursing profession, advocate for high quality health care, advocate for and contribute to advances in nursing education, and develop the potential for maximal growth in future professional roles of Arkansas nursing students. Niki Buckman, a student from Quinlan, Texas, was elected as the District 1 director during the ANSA convention held in Hot Springs. She will represent and advocate for nursing students in Arkadelphia, Conway, Hot Springs, Little Rock, and Magnolia. She will also serve on the annual convention, fundraising, and awards committees. “I am ecstatic to be able to serve on the ANSA Board of Directors,” Buckman said. “I look forward to working with everyone in District 1.” Once she graduates in 2023 with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing degree, Buckman will work for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. She is a recipient of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professional Scholarship Program, which provides financial assistance to students in the health care industry. She plans to join the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in the fall 2023 semester. It’s been a lifelong goal of Buckman’s to become a nurse, one that got put on hold while she pursued a career in sales and marketing in the natural pet food industry in Colorado and California. She and her husband moved to Arkansas to be closer to family in 2020, and Buckman decided it was time to pursue her nursing degree. “Nursing was always my plan,” she said. “I have wanted to work in health care ever since I was little. My dad was sick when I was growing up. After seeing his experience in needing a liver transplant, I decided that I wanted to work in health care to help other people through their medical emergencies.” At ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, Buckman, a home health care aide, serves as president of the Student Nurses Association and a volunteer with Kindred Hospice.

Graduating Student Finds New Career, Love of Writing at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 13:55:43 +0000

Kristina Johnson, a Little Rock native who now lives in Hot Springs Village, has known since high school that she wanted to pursue her passion for writing in college. “When I was a senior, I thought about what I was good at. I really liked English and creative writing. I’ve enjoyed writing short stories in my free time for many years.” After graduating high school, Johnson joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2014 for the close location to home and focus on education. “I took my ACT here and really liked the campus,” she said. “It was just a really pretty campus that fit my dreams of college. I wanted to live at home, and it was the perfect setting for me to focus on my education.” She would graduate in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing and then join the graduate program. Johnson is now looking forward to her December graduation with a Master of Arts in Professional and Technical Writing degree. She is thankful to professors Heidi Harris, Karen Kuralt, Londie Martin, and Joe Williams for helping her. “The feeling of finishing my professional portfolio and my professors coming back and saying, ‘This looks good,’ is the most relief I’ve ever had,” Johnson said. “It took a lot of effort and hard work to get here. I’m very happy and proud of what I accomplished.” She cites her greatest accomplishment at graduate school as writing a grant that provides $10,000 in funding for two pilot suicide prevention programs in Arkansas jails. “I took the grant writing class with Dr. Barb L’Eplattenier,” she said. “It was one of the hardest classes I took in all my education, but it was worth it. I wrote my first grant, and it was funded. It was definitely my biggest accomplishment of graduate school, maybe ever, and it gave me a new appreciation for writing and how it can be used to help people.” Unlike most new college graduates, Johnson won’t have to worry about finding a job as she started her career as a technical writer at MidSOUTH, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s social work academy, last year. She is responsible for developing training materials and coordinating continuing education trainings. “I’ve done it sort of backwards,” Johnson said. “I’ve already gotten a job so this degree will help push my career forward and give me bigger opportunities in the future.”

Cybersecurity Leader Earns Master’s Degree from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

John Hill — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 13:38:11 +0000

A ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student has earned his master’s degree after advancing cybersecurity education for hundreds of students and teachers throughout Arkansas. Andrew Bomberger, of Hot Springs, will graduate with a master’s degree in computer science on Dec. 17. While he’s grown into one of the department’s leading students, Bomberger was originally on a very different career path before discovering his passion for cybersecurity. “I used to live in Pennsylvania, and my uncles owned a dairy farm,” he said. “I grew up thinking that I would do that for a living. I got to help on the farm and figured out it was something I wasn’t interested in. Around 2016, I saw a conference talk on cybersecurity and social engineering and thought it was really fascinating. I would love to be on the side that helps people configure devices, monitor networks, and help protect people from the bad people trying to break into their networks.” Bomberger joined ��Vlog��ý Little Rock in 2017 after seeing the many awards the university’s Cybersecurity Club had won. He joined the Cyber Arena project, a cloud-based cybersecurity education initiative, in 2019. The Cyber Arena provides free cybersecurity education, training, and exercises to Arkansas students and teachers. So far, more than 2,000 students have benefited from the Cyber Arena nationwide. “I’ve really enjoyed working on the Cyber Arena for the past four years,” he said. “When I started, I only knew bits and pieces about programming. This has been a great learning and networking experience, meeting a lot of professionals in the field. I’ve grown a lot as a person and a programmer from this project. I’ve enjoyed helping others learn more about cybersecurity, and I hope I’ve inspired other kids to go into the field.”

Photos of Andrew Bomberger by Ben Krain.

Although his professors have tried to get him to enroll in a doctorate program, Bomberger said he is finished with his education for now and has been interviewing for cybersecurity positions. His graduate project has taken his work in the Cyber Arena to the next level. He is building a cloud-based emulated red team network to provide advanced cybersecurity training for teachers and students. In cybersecurity, red teams consist of hackers who evaluate system security by acting as adversaries to overcome cybersecurity controls. Companies often hire hackers to test their network protections. “My project was focused on seeing if we could automate the attack process,” Bomberger said. “It was taking specific machines that have various attack scripts and injecting them into different controlled student networks. The idea behind all of it is that it would help emulate a more realistic environment for cybersecurity training. If we can place more weaknesses and attacks into the system, we can hopefully enhance learning as a long-term goal and make the experience more dynamic for students.”

Cultivating Student Success: How ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students

John Hill — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 21:44:55 +0000

November is First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. With more than 40 percent of its student population being first-generation students, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is especially committed to providing resources that help this special group of students reach their potential. “One of the biggest challenges first-generation students face in college is navigating a complex system such as a university,” said Heather Reed, director of Student Retention Initiatives. “There are so many processes that involve many offices. Luckily, Student Retention Initiatives can assist first-generation students in learning the university. It can be difficult to ask for help, and we make it easy through the Care Team, a support network for all students.” Members of the Care Team work closely with students to establish steps to reduce barriers to success. They take proactive action to support students in their pursuit of academic success, connect individuals to campus and community resources, create a supportive and caring culture for students, and establish best practices and standard protocols of response for academic referrals. Students who need assistance can contact the Care Team by filling out while faculty and staff who are concerned about a student can fill out . “We also offer peer mentors who are upper-class students who have successfully navigated various processes and have knowledge of the university,” Reed said. “First-generation students can request to be matched with a peer mentor to help them with a variety of issues, such as building locations, learning traditions, tips for academic success, and how to get involved on campus. Many of the staff in our office are first-generation college students so we understand first-hand the challenges students face and how to overcome those challenges.” The Office of Student Retention Initiatives also holds welcome events for new students and celebrates first-generation students every November during First-Generation College Student Celebration Month. “For me, being a first-generation student is a catch-22. I’m very excited that I decided late in age to go back to school,” said Veronica Tess Myers, a first-generation student studying applied communication who attended the Nov. 8 celebration. “I finally finished getting my bachelor’s and am looking forward to acquiring my master’s degree. However, it’s also a little bit of sadness. I’m considered to be a know-it-all because I went further. A lot of the reason why I went further is because of my autistic son and having to learn what I needed for him to succeed.” Since 1978, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s TRIO Student Support Services has provided resources to help increase the rates of academic achievement, retention, and graduation among historically disadvantaged students. “TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) provides services to a limited number of eligible ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students,” said Dr. Desarae Nelson, director of TRIO SSS. “Eligibility requirements include: first generations, and/or limited income, and/or disabled. SSS offers: a scholarship, weekly workshops, financial literacy, cultural events, textbook loans, tutoring, career readiness, and graduate school trips. SSS seeks to motivate students toward the successful completion of their post-secondary education. The goal of the program is to increase participants’ college persistence, support them through graduation, and facilitate the transition from one level of higher education to the next. The program is funded by the US Department of Education.” Dr. Mike Kirk, director of health services and counseling services, said that both units offer great resources to help first-generation students adapt to college life. “Health Services for certain can immediately impact first-generation students,” Kirk said. “To have a convenient family care clinic right here on campus is excellent for them. They can get in and take care of virtually any medical issue that you go to the doctor’s office. Also, the cost is going to be less here than when you go outside to your doctor’s office.

Dr. Mike Kirk

Counseling Services can help normalize the college experience. It’s not as easy to get students to come see us in Counseling Services. We know students can get anxious and concerned about succeeding in college. We can help normalize those feelings and give students strategies to help make them successful.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock also supports students in several other ways. The office of Student Retention Initiatives coordinates peer mentoring, academic coaching, and tutoring to help all students thrive. Additionally, student researchers in the Signature Experience Program receive grant funding and are mentored by ��Vlog��ý Little Rock faculty, helping prepare students for advanced study and improving persistence. The Multicultural Center provides several mentoring programs that help empower, support, and assist African American students, Hispanic/Latinix students, and students of color in achieving their goal of earning a college degree. Students in these programs meet with career and professional mentors for regular support. The university’s Learning Commons, which opened during the spring semester, provides a space where students have access to study space and tutoring assistance. The Learning Commons is the home of the Communication Skills Center, Math Assistance Center, University Writing Center, World Languages Center, and Trojan Tutoring. “The Learning Commons is a great free resource available to students,” said Brandon Sollars, Learning Commons coordinator. “In this space, we can help students be successful by providing them with direct access to resources that can help them in their courses. Collectively our centers cover a large variety of subjects, everything from intro-level courses, math, writing and communication. We also provide a comfortable space for students to study individually or to study in groups. Here in the Learning Commons we aim to equip our students with the necessary skills and strategies that they need to be successful.” Genesis Dominguez, a junior double major in Spanish and anthropology and first-generation student, helps many students in her work at the Communication Skill Center. “The Communication Skill Center is a great opportunity for the students,” Dominguez said. “This center helps students do presentations, organize slide presentations, prepare them for a speech or interview, rehearse, organize ideas, and manage anxiety while speaking. It has a great team that is willing to help you every step of the way and will celebrate with you every win that you make.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has a number of student ambassador programs that create leadership opportunities for successful students who serve as tutors, mentors, and guides for their fellow students.

Learning Commons Coordinator Brandon Solllars and Michelle Malone and De’Ja Johnson, applied communication graduate students, give a presentation in the Communications Skills Center in Ottenheimer Library. Photo by Ben Krain.

“I intend to help create pathways for opportunities for other ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students and specifically veterans, students of color, and nontraditional students to gain access to resources that hopefully will help generate more student success,” said Bryan Hernandez, a first-generation student and ambassador for the School of Business. “I hope to show that programs like the student ambassador program work! That they help to create a sense of community at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and build confidence in students that may deeply need it.” Additional campus resources that ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students will find useful include:

Trojan Works is an institutional work study program that provides on-campus employment opportunities as well as a unique experience that prepares students for success beyond graduation.
Career Services provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers through internships, job postings, career fairs, and career coaching.
Trojan Career Closet offers a career closet to help ensure students are dressed for interviews and internships. Each semester, students can select outfits to wear for professional settings.
Trojan Food Pantry is open to assist students, faculty, and staff with food needs they may have throughout the year.
The Military Student Support Center offers support for the university’s more than 700 Active Duty, Reservists, National Guard Members, Veterans, and their families utilize the center each year.

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Chaney Callahan

John Hill — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 14:53:13 +0000

In honor of First-Generation College Student Celebration Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling some of its outstanding first-generation students. Chaney Callahan is a senior psychology major from Bryant, Arkansas. What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student? To be a first-generation student is very special to me. It means I am a motivated woman who wants to make a difference with her education and career field. It also means that I am doing something most people don’t get the chance to do, so I am blessed beyond measure. How did your family react when you told them you wanted to go to college? My family was very supportive of my choice to attend college. They continue to help me to this day in whatever way they can. What made you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I wasn’t ready to leave home just yet at such a young age. I also felt that there was a certain kind of magic here at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock, and I believe I can do my best to make a difference on this campus. What do you plan to do after graduation? After graduating with my bachelor’s degree, I plan to pursue education by obtaining my master’s degree in social work. Then, my next stop is my doctoral degree unless I find a program where I can obtain a master’s and doctoral degree at the same time. Do you have any advice for future first-generation students? If something is meant for you, then it will be for you. Everything you want and need is already yours. You just have to claim it. Is there anything else you’d like to add? I come from a very rough background of living in foster care. I never thought that I would choose a good path and attend college and have the amazing people that I do in my life. The people in my life now have taught me hope, love and true happiness. Always remember to be mindful and kind no matter what is done to you. Don’t let anyone or anything change the good in you.

First-Generation Student Spotlight: Ariel Hudson-Montgomery

John Hill — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 14:00:29 +0000

In honor of First-Generation College Student Celebration Month, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock is profiling some of its outstanding first-generation students. Ariel Hudson-Montgomery is a senior music vocal major and Spanish minor from Meridian, Mississippi. What does it mean to you to be a first-generation student? It means bringing forth a new legacy of my family to a higher level of learning and breaking barriers of miseducation and ignorance. I am a better person for it. How did your family react when you told them you wanted to go to college? They were excited that I wanted to go to college because a lot of my family refused to go. They were amazed at my bravery to be different from them. What has been the most rewarding aspect of college so far? The most rewarding aspect has been meeting and learning from people of different ages, ethnicities, and genders. Having wisdom and knowledge come from other people helps me learn more about myself. What made you choose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock? I chose ��Vlog��ý Little Rock because it was close to my parents. Being a first-generation student is a little intimidating without a support system. What do you plan to do after graduation? I plan to go to graduate school at Florida State University. I want to receive my master’s degree in vocal pedagogy to be a vocal coach. Do you have any advice for future first-generation students? It’s okay to not know everything. Use the resources and people around you to excel and follow your dreams. Is there anything else you’d like to add? Sometimes being a first-generation and low-income student can feel like you don’t belong. That’s not the case when you’re at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. They set up the system to help you and aid you in any way possible. Asking for help is the best decision you can make.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Celebrate First-Generation College Celebration Day on November 8

John Hill — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 12:59:16 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will celebrate first-generation students Nov. 8 in honor of First-Generation College Celebration Day. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Ottenheimer Library lobby. Student Retention Initiatives (SRI) staff will pass out free popcorn to those who attend to celebrate first-generation students, employees, and alumni. “Being a first-generation college student can be overwhelming and confusing,” said Tyler Harrison, associate director of SRI. “Our office wants first-generation college students to know they do not have to navigate college alone, and there are so many services that can assist them in reaching their goals.” Click the link for more information on the event. For more information on Student Retention Initiatives and the programs they offer, click here.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock to Hold Annual Discover Day November 2

John Hill — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:12:57 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will hold the 2022-2023 Discover Day Wednesday, Nov. 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Jack Stephens Center. Discover Day is one of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s largest admissions events. It gives potential and incoming freshmen and parents the opportunity to explore all the university has to offer. The event will have several fun activities and will provide ample information about how ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has established such a close-knit community of staff, faculty, students, and alumni in the middle of a metropolitan city. The Academic Expo and Academic Sessions will showcase the majors and academic clubs available on campus. Students who plan to enroll in classes in 2023 can complete an admission application for free and learn more about financial aid and scholarship opportunities. The day will also offer scholarship contests, tours of the art galleries and simulation labs, and a free lunch in the Trojan Cafe. for this event closes on Oct. 31. After registration, visit the drop-down sections to see what to expect at Discover Day and how you can win a scholarship. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to volunteer. Several slots are available for sign-up, and anyone logged into their university email can sign up for a position using this . Click here for more information about Discover Day and how it will better prepare future students for success at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock.

Seventeen ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Students Receive LULAC Scholarships

John Hill — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:00:36 +0000

Seventeen University of Arkansas at Little Rock students have been awarded scholarships from the (LULAC) for the 2022-23 school year. The 17 students are collectively receiving more than $29,000, with some matching funds from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. The students will be honored at an annual gala, where LULAC will once again recognize ��Vlog��ý Little Rock as a premier Latino Destination Campus for the university’s continued support to the Latino community. Two of the students will also receive ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Student-of-the-Year awards with plaques to honor their selection. “For the majority of these students, they are the first in their families to go to college and often come from resource-challenged environments,” said Dr. Terry Richard, a professor emeritus of sociology at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and a charter member of the Arkansas Council of LULAC. “These are bright dedicated students who make the best recruiters for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. We thank all of our administrators and faculty for their commitment to our Latino students and community.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s scholarship recipients include Jai Ahir, Brayan Perez Arias, Maria Avalos, Emily Gonzalez Baltaz, Gael Bernal, Griselda Delgado, Maria Elkhattabi, Jazmin Garcia, Joel Hermosillo, Crissy Jones, Juan Lopez, Luis Martinez, Clarissa Torres, Oreana Roman, Maria Roman, Yvonne Rodriguez, and Katherine Robles. “After college, I plan to work as an accountant with hopes as well to help the Hispanic community with some of their financial needs,” said Jazmin Garcia, a Spanish and accounting major from Little Rock. “It brings me lots of joy to receive this scholarship, and my family is very joyful as well. We are happy to know that I am receiving help with paying for college. This scholarship helps relieve financial stress and gives me more motivation to work hard for my future education and career goals.” Katherine Robles, a second-year graduate student earning a master’s degree in social work, said she is grateful for the scholarship that will help her pursue her goal of working with veterans. “I am so grateful for the LULAC scholarship. Pursuing an education can be costly, especially while managing all other expenses,” Robles said. “This scholarship will ease these financial stresses while allowing more freedom within my employment. It will greatly help me further my education by providing the means to do so. Once I graduate, I plan to pursue a career within the VA, as I am a veteran myself and have previously worked with this population.” Another scholarship recipient, Clarissa Torres, a freshman nursing major from San Antonio, Texas, is thankful for the scholarship that will allow her to focus on her studies. “I love that LULAC gives the younger generation of Hispanics money to pursue their dreams,” Torres said. “This scholarship helps my education by releasing some stress about how my education would be paid for. Times have not always been easy but my mom has pushed through it all. I know that being a single parent is hard, even though she never told me about her struggles, I could see them. I knew that I did not want her to pay for college, so I did the best I could in school to get good grades. Everything I did was for her. All I want from her is to be proud of me.” LULAC is the largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States and seeks to empower the Latino community at the local, state, and national level through its seven councils chartered in Arkansas. The organization focuses heavily on education, civil rights, health, and employment opportunities. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the first higher education institution in Arkansas to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with LULAC to create a partnership to recruit and retain Latino students on campus. Since 2006, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock has provided a dollar-for-dollar match for students who receive scholarships from LULAC of Arkansas.

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

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Graduate Finishes College Education 50 Years After Starting

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Student Nurses Association President Elected to State Office

Graduating Student Finds New Career, Love of Writing at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Cybersecurity Leader Earns Master’s Degree from ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Cultivating Student Success: How ����Vlog��ý Little Rock Resources Empower First-Generation Students