糖心Vlog传媒 Little has been recognized as the best college or university in Arkansas during the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette鈥檚 annual Best of the Best readers鈥� choice poll.

鈥淏eing voted as the best college in Arkansas is a tremendous honor,鈥� Chancellor Christina S. Drale said. 鈥淚t speaks to the commitment of our entire 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock community to provide a top-tier education that empowers students to achieve their dreams and make a difference in the world.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock celebrated another significant milestone last fall with the university鈥檚 largest enrollment growth in 15 years, driven by substantial increases of 28.9 percent in first-time freshmen and 18.2 percent for transfer students. This success continued into the spring 2025 semester, with the university reporting its largest percentage increase for a spring term in university history.

鈥淭his recognition is a testament to the affordable, high-quality education we offer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� said Dr. Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer. 鈥淲ith increased enrollment and a commitment to ensuring students have the support they need to thrive, we鈥檙e proud to be recognized by the community for making a meaningful impact in the lives of our students and their families.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has consistently focused on enhancing student experiences, growing its academic offerings, and building partnerships within the Little Rock region, providing students unique advantages as they prepare for careers in Arkansas’s Capital City. The university鈥檚 scholarship initiatives like Trojan Guarantee, a scholarship covering full tuition for Pell-eligible students, and the Half-Off Scholarship, which offers significant tuition discounts to students regardless of income, have made college affordable for many students and their families.

鈥淥ur goal is always to create a nurturing and engaging atmosphere where students can thrive academically and personally,鈥� Drale said. 鈥淭his recognition shows that our efforts are resonating with students and the broader community, and we鈥檙e incredibly proud of that.鈥�

This recognition reflects the university鈥檚 continued efforts to provide high-quality education, foster student success, and strengthen its ties to the community. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock is celebrating its upcoming 100-year anniversary with the Centennial Campaign, the largest fundraising effort in university history.

Campaign funds will be used to advance academic scholarships, research opportunities, and facility improvements, further positioning 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a leader in education and innovation. For more information about the Centennial Campaign, visit .

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Since childhood, Elkhattabi has felt a passion for writing.

鈥淚 love writing. It came naturally to me even as a little kid,鈥� Elkhattabi recalled. 鈥淲hen I was in middle school, I won first place in a writing competition. That was when I started to realize my skills in writing.鈥�

Despite his love for writing, Elkhattabi played soccer professionally before deciding to pursue his college education. When he transitioned to college, his draw toward the field of mass communication stemmed from his love for sports, but he quickly realized that his interest in journalism went deeper than that.

鈥淲hen I started studying, I realized that this field was interesting to me even outside of sports,鈥� said Elkhattabi. 鈥淚 started to see all the possibilities in this field. There are so many different things you can do in mass communication.鈥�

Getting back into the routine of school took a bit of work, but Elkhattabi says he appreciates the surroundings at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for making that easier.

鈥淚 lived in New York before coming here, and I never would have done it there,鈥� Elkhattabi reflected. 鈥淚t would have been too distracting. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has a peaceful environment and provided me with the tools to be successful in my college career. I was able to focus and achieve my goals. I鈥檝e even been able to be on the dean鈥檚 and chancellor鈥檚 lists.鈥�

While he鈥檚 studied, Elkhattabi has also gotten some valuable work experience in the field. He has worked at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as an editorial assistant in the Office of Communications and Marketing through the Federal Work Study Program, at ESPN + at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, as well as working as a freelance reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. These experiences have helped him to determine what direction he鈥檇 like to take his career in the future.

Elkhattabi emphasized the important role that college has played in his life.

鈥淎 lot of people these days talk about how school isn鈥檛 important,鈥� said Elkhattabi. 鈥淏ut for me, college has molded me into the person I want to be. It鈥檚 been very important to me.鈥�

After graduation, Elkhattabi looks forward to taking his next step at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to earn his master鈥檚 degree in mass communications.

鈥淚 am excited to start my master鈥檚 degree,鈥� said Elkhattabi. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something I never thought I would do.鈥�

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