Senior Adam Perry, a native of Bryant, is graduating this semester with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in computer science and a minor in mathematics.

鈥淚 feel amazing!鈥� Perry remarked. 鈥淚 had some high school credits coming into 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, so I am graduating a semester early. I have an apartment and a full-time job lined up, so I am ready. I am ready to celebrate this graduation as the pandemic shut down my high school graduation in 2020.鈥�

Perry has been interested in computer science as a career path after taking computer science classes for three years at Bryant High School. His high school teacher recommended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as a good place to study computer science, and Perry was already familiar with the campus as his father and sister are alumni of the university. He described his experience at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as 鈥渁mazing.鈥�

鈥淚t was a little rough in the beginning because of the pandemic,鈥� Perry remembered. 鈥淎s soon as I could move on campus after the first year of being home, it was awesome. I love my roommates, and I was able to get connected with clubs like the Baptist Collegiate Ministry and Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). The classes have been pretty good, and I feel like I鈥檝e learned a great base knowledge to push my career forward.鈥�

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Perry served as president of the ACM, a research assistant in the Emerging Analytics Center, an ambassador for the Donaghey College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, and a founder of the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rocket League Esports team. He was inspired to start the league after participating in the Rocket League Esports team and becoming a state champion while at Bryant High School.

Dr. Albert Baker, chair of the Department of Computer Science, has been teaching Perry鈥檚 capstone project course this semester and sees nothing but bright things in his future.

鈥淚t’s been my pleasure to have Adam as a student in the Capstone Project class this fall,鈥� Baker said. 鈥淭eams are developing a web application that provides a graphic representation of employers and employees. Adam’s team is producing an excellent prototype web application leveraging a graphics library. Adam is going to be a valuable contributor to any enterprise fortunate enough to engage his services.鈥�

This summer, Perry began an internship at Southwest Power Pool, where he has been working on password automation, website security, and web application development. The company has been so impressed with his work that Perry鈥檚 internship was extended through the fall semester, and he will begin a full-time position as a programmer in January.

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鈥淎s I approach graduation, I am excited about my future plans to move to Arizona and work as a data engineer for a big financial company, American Express,鈥� said Ifeanyichukwu Umoga, who will graduate with a master鈥檚 degree in information science. 鈥淐oming in as an international student, it鈥檚 like a dream come true for me. I am very excited to graduate and see what awaits me.鈥�

A native of Nigeria, Umoga earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Landmark University and worked as an information technology support engineer for Ehealth4everyone in Abuja, Nigeria.

After Umoga鈥檚 brother earned a master鈥檚 degree in computer science from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, the engineer did some research and decided that the information science program was a perfect match with his interest.

鈥淎s an international student, I was initially apprehensive about the move, but I quickly found that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock became my second home,鈥� Umoga said. 鈥淢y experience at the university was nothing short of positive and exciting. The classes I took were insightful and eye-opening, providing me with valuable knowledge and skills.鈥�

Feeling fortunate for his good experiences in Arkansas, Umoga wanted to give back.

As a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Umoga volunteered on disaster relief trips. He鈥檚 also volunteered at the Family Assistance Center, helping distribute relief materials for people affected by the EF3 tornado that struck central Arkansas on March 31.

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Umoga worked as a graduate research assistant in the Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Research Center, where he analyzed social media data to track the spread of misinformation on the internet as well as collected blog data to understand online discourse within the Indo-Pacific region.

鈥淭his experience allowed me to hone my data engineer skills and work on exciting projects,鈥� Umoga said. 鈥淚 also had the chance to intern at Roku Inc. over the summer, which gave me real-world experience in the field of information science. I was a quality assurance test engineer with the tech team in Austin. The city is so fast paced, and it was exciting to see another part of America.鈥�

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After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in mechanical engineering, Smith will marry her college sweetheart, fellow 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate Baker Rodgers, on June 10. After a honeymoon cruise in the Caribbean, she will start work as a natural gas engineer at Summit Utilities.

鈥淚 am proud to say that I will be graduating Summa Cum Laude and have a current GPA of 3.97,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚 have worked so hard during my time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and am excited to see where it takes me! I cannot wait to start my life as an engineer and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduate!鈥�

After graduating as valedictorian of Arkansas High School, the Texarkana, Arkansas native sought a friendly campus where she could grow and learn.

鈥淚 realized that the personal aspect that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock brings is what I am looking for,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople are friendly and treat each other like family. While searching for colleges, I knew 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was perfect for me after being accepted into the Donaghey Scholars program.鈥�

Smith chose to major in mechanical engineering, citing a love of mathematics and roller coasters as her inspiration for her future career.

鈥淚 have always been strong in math and loved the way that engineering could give me so many opportunities after graduation,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 also traveled a lot, and I loved roller coasters, learning about how they moved, and anything related to them.鈥�

Throughout her time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Smith has gained invaluable experience through her internships. During summer 2022, Smith completed an international internship at Starmans Electronics in Prague, Czech Republic, where she created rods that test materials for cracks using ultrasonic vibrations.

鈥淚 love to travel, and this was an opportunity to explore a new part of the world and gain engineering knowledge at the same time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life.鈥�

Smith met her future husband within weeks of their freshman year at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as members of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.

鈥淲e were both on the freshman leadership team, and we鈥檝e been together all four years at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock,鈥� she said.

The Baptist Collegiate Ministry would play an integral role in Smith鈥檚 time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, providing an avenue for growth, fellowship, and leadership as she served as chair of student recruitment, vice president, and president of the campus ministry.

鈥淭his organization means so much to me and has given me so many sweet memories that I will always hold on to,鈥� she said.

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The next Woman to Watch at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock of 2023 is Alyssa Smith, a senior mechanical engineering major. A Donaghey Scholar and president of Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Smith will graduate, get married, and start a new career as an engineer this summer.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I have lived in Arkansas my whole life, so I have lots of love for my home state. I was raised in Texarkana, AR, where I graduated in 2019 as an original Razorback at Arkansas High School! I have no siblings, so my small family has always valued time with each other, especially through traveling and various adventurous activities. Between traveling to famous museums, theme parks, or national parks and monuments, my childhood has developed my love for learning and also my appreciation for the world around me.

Ever since I was young, I valued school above many other things. I loved the challenge that a really difficult math problem presented or the satisfaction I received from completing a project that I worked really hard on. From such a young age, I knew that I had the ambition to succeed not only in school but wherever life takes me also. I have carried this in all aspects of my life, whether it is college, leadership positions, community involvement, and even my future career.

What brought you to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? 

I had quite a few very close family members that studied at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock before I ever began looking for colleges. So when the time came, I wanted to develop my own path and, oddly enough, go anywhere but 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock! I very quickly realized that 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock had every aspect of a university that I was looking for and not finding in the other colleges I toured. Not only was it a close two hours from home, but it had a great department for engineering and a lively campus environment.

What finally sealed the deal was my acceptance into the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program, a highly competitive honors program that only accepts 25 students a year! I was so honored and beyond excited about the full tuition scholarship, apartment dorms, and most of all, a funded study abroad program. With study abroad being a distant dream of mine that was now coming true, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was the place for me!

What is your major? 

I am a mechanical engineering major! I love telling people what my major is, as their response usually involves something along the lines of  鈥淥h wow, you go girl!鈥� I am so proud to be a woman in STEM!

My interest in engineering first started with the various travels with my family, as roller coasters were always a big part of my childhood. I was fascinated by how they worked, what made them move, and how they brought so much joy to my family and me! Once I noticed that I had a strength in math, especially calculus in high school, I knew the path I was meant to take. Now, I enjoy the coursework and how engineering applies to so many different areas of our lives, but most of all I can not get enough of the challenge. The work is not easy, and it takes a lot of practice. I am proud to say that even with such a daunting major, I have maintained a 3.97 GPA and can not wait to see what challenges being an engineer allows me to tackle after graduation.

When will you graduate, and what do you plan to do after graduation? 

I have quite a few major life milestones coming up! I will graduate in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Only four short weeks after graduation, I will be getting married and officially moving into my own apartment! Soon after, I plan to continue in my current field of engineering and work as a natural gas engineer at Summit Utilities. As I interviewed for this job, I loved everything the company valued and especially that I would work in Little Rock, but be able to serve various parts of the state that I call home! I am incredibly excited to begin working after graduation. Life will look very different with no homework or tests to study for, but that just leaves room for new tasks to complete and new problems to solve. Besides, I鈥檓 sure I will return for a master鈥檚 degree someday!

What activities are you involved in at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? 

I am most involved with the Little Rock Baptist Collegiate Ministry. The BCM is a religious organization that is one of the largest student organizations on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. When I came to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, I didn鈥檛 know anyone and felt very lost in terms of where to go or how to be involved on campus. I quickly got connected and went to worship every Tuesday and I have continued ever since!

In terms of leadership, I started on the Freshman Leadership Team where I learned under mentors and built many leadership skills that I value today. In my sophomore year, I moved to the 鈥渞eal鈥� Leadership Team for upperclassmen, where I was the new student orientation leader. My role was to reach out to new students, make them feel welcome, and overall grow the organization! In my junior year, I became a vice president also focusing on new students and freshmen. Finally, I am currently president of the BCM for my senior year. I have been so blessed to be a part of an organization with an emphasis on not only faith, but also leadership, outreach, and personal growth.

With the BCM, I lead weekly meetings with the leadership team but also small group Bible studies with various women across campus. Over the years, our studies have allowed us to share stories, learn together, and have a support system as we endure various trials of life. Also with the BCM, I have been able to attend leadership conferences and leadership retreats, and help lead on mission trips to serve my community.

Recently, I have been initiated into the Arkansas Beta chapter of Tau Beta Pi at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, an engineering honor society recognizing the top fifth of the graduating class who shows exemplary scholarship and character. Here, I get to extend my leadership skills to my area of study. This association is aimed at gathering 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock engineering students to make a difference through campus outreach.

What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock? 

I am currently working on my Senior Capstone project. Alongside two other team members, we have designed a Vibrational Guidance Device for Visually Impaired Recreationalists. The idea came from considering daily activities and how we could make them easier or more efficient. Cycling came up, as riding a bike is not only a common activity, but promotes many health benefits. How could we change the fundamentals of cycling?

We decided that there was a group of people, the blind community, that likely was not getting the experience of riding a bike, or even walking or jogging individually. Our device consists of a harness with vibrational elements on the left, right, and back to signal for a turn or stop. A bystander will input signals through a control module that can either be hand-held or placed on the handlebars of a bike. Now, the rider can bike without being in tandem or jog without a partner directly by their side in a safe and controlled environment. It gives the experience of individuality to those who may otherwise not be able to enjoy such freedom.

In Tau Beta Pi, we are working hard on projects such as Fundamental Engineering exam preparation sessions and making these accessible and helpful to students, planning study sessions, and planning other fun events on campus. I am new to this organization but am so excited to begin helping with these projects. Since joining, I have taken the role of social chair, meaning that I make our organization well-known to the public and also display what a great organization Tau Beta Pi is through pictures. Therefore, I am working on projects on various social media platforms with the goal of focusing on community and campus outreach.

What woman has inspired you the most and why? 

Long before I knew about my heart for learning and my community, I was captivated by Dolly Parton鈥檚 music and quick sense of humor. Little did I know about her vast philanthropic outreach that has changed millions of lives, especially in education. She has selflessly used her platform to give back to a variety of well-known charities but also focuses on her own community where she grew up in Tennessee. Targeting children鈥檚 education, high school dropout rates, and supporting college tuitions, Dolly has given the gift of learning to thousands of children and young adults. I admire her investment in academics and am inspired by the number of new students eager to learn in classrooms thanks to her. 10-year-old me, who dressed up as Dolly for Halloween, would not be surprised at all if she knew how much I look up to Dolly today.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 

Being in a male-dominated field, I know what it feels like to feel out of place or that your skills aren鈥檛 good enough because they aren鈥檛 like your peers. Everyone is different in what they excel at. Just because the people around you seem better, more knowledgeable, or simply make you feel as if you don鈥檛 belong, it does not mean that it is actually true! You may be exceeding differently, and that works just as well.

Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn. 

Much of my independence developed during my study abroad trip to Prague, Czech Republic. Here, I spent two months alone in a foreign country when I had never really gone anywhere by myself. Traveling alone is quite scary, but I would recommend it to anyone looking for a way to kickstart their decision-making skills, critical thinking, and overall self-confidence.

I came back from this trip a new person in terms of confidence, as I knew that if I could make the 18-hour flight to Prague and back, get around the city using public transportation while not knowing the language or work at a Czech electronics company, I can do anything I set my mind to! It was such a beautiful city and I will always have fond memories of this trip, but it is the character development that this adventure provided that I will always take with me.

What is your favorite quote and why? 

My favorite quote comes from a comfort song of mine, Vienna, by Billy Joel: 鈥淪low down, you鈥檙e doing fine. You can鈥檛 be everything you want before your time.鈥�

This song is a frequent listen before big tests, when I am nervous about an interview, or any other event that takes my mind into states of stress or worry. Billy talks about Vienna as a metaphor for the peace in life after all is done and you have accomplished everything you set out to do. I take this quote to heart as an encouragement when I feel as if I am not succeeding fast enough or how I want. I strive so hard to achieve everything I want all at once, but life comes in phases. It is important to know that if I take things one at a time, I can achieve everything I aim for when the time is right.

Is there anything else you鈥檇 like to add? 

I encourage any young woman to take leadership positions even if you don鈥檛 feel strong enough to handle them. I have learned so much about myself and my own strengths through my leadership positions, and this has allowed me to learn and work on my weaknesses as well. These are skills that I will always carry with me long after I graduate.

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The next Woman to Watch at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock of 2023 is Tabitha Waite. A Donaghey Scholar, Waite has set her sights on a veterinary career. This Jane Goodall admirer is currently analyzing the behavior in captive gorillas at the Little Rock Zoo and what enrichment reveals about their social hierarchy for her final Donaghey project.

Tell us about yourself and your background.

I was born and raised in central Arkansas. My father is from Ohio and my mother is originally from Indonesia, and I have a younger sister who also attends 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. I am grateful to be close to all of them and for the opportunities to travel and visit family on my mom鈥檚 side. Some activities that I enjoy are traveling, skateboarding, and going to local coffee shops.

I graduated from Bryant High School in 2020. I enjoyed my time there with the same friends I鈥檝e known for years, although it was difficult in the final months because of the pandemic. Later that year, I entered 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to pursue a degree in biology. Science has always been my passion, and getting to apply that to my career goals in animal medicine is super exciting.

What brought you to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

When I was thinking about which colleges to apply to, I preferred something closer to home with financial benefits. My mother attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock around the time I was born, so she suggested checking out this campus. Getting accepted into the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program has also influenced my decision in attending.

What is your major?

My major is Biology (Ecology/Organismal track).

When will you graduate, and what do you plan to do after graduation?

I will graduate in the spring semester of 2024. My goal is to apply to veterinary school, so I鈥檒l most likely be taking a gap year to work in a clinic before then.

What activities are you involved in at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

Right now I鈥檓 a vice president of the BCM student organization. I help organize outreach events and get to connect with students on campus. There is also a pre-vet club soon to come in the future that I will be a part of as well!

What are some of the exciting projects that you are working on at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock?

Although not directly on campus, this project is associated with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It will be my final project presented through the Donaghey program, and will be a field research project conducted at the Little Rock Zoo! The study will analyze behavior in captive gorillas and what enrichment reveals about their social hierarchy.

What woman has inspired you the most and why?

This might be a popular answer, but my mother has always and continues to inspire me the most. She is the hardest worker I know, especially when I was young and she successfully went through nursing school while raising two children. When going through difficult situations, she is incredibly focused and mentally tough. She always looks for opportunities to serve others rather than herself. Her goals in life were to raise her children to love others and grow in faith; no matter what, I can rely on her for anything!

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

One thing that helps me stay calm and focused is to 鈥渢rust the process.鈥� In other words, take one step at a time. It’s easy to overwhelm yourself with many big goals and to only be focused on the next achievement you鈥檙e working for 鈥� I鈥檓 guilty of it! While it’s good to push yourself, it’s also important to enjoy the process of getting there because time is precious. Things might not always go as planned, but learning to be grateful for my opportunities is a good practice.

Another thing I would like to mention is that representation does matter. I didn鈥檛 quite believe this growing up, but its impact does exist. Being able to see someone in your field that you can connect with on any level allows you to gain confidence and see yourself in their shoes. When I was interning at a vet clinic in Thailand, getting to work with many young, female, and Asian doctors was inspiring because I could see their success as a possibility for me too.

Name something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn.

When I was in high school, I was heavily involved in band! I played flute for concert and piccolo for marching band. I really enjoyed going to competitions and making memories there.

What is your favorite quote and why?

鈥淲e have so far to go to realize our human potential for compassion, altruism, and love.鈥� – Jane Goodall

I like this famous quote by Jane Goodall, who is a primatologist and expert on chimpanzees. Her kind heart and love for nature is truly beautiful!

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