The grant, awarded by The Schmieding Foundation, will fund a year of the Techniques of Daily Living Program at the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Little Rock. The program will provide customized instruction to help students gain the independent living skills they need to thrive as adults.

Rose, who graduated with her master鈥檚 degree in education from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in December 2024 and lives in Alexander, Arkansas, completed the grant proposal as part of a grant writing course she took at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in fall 2024 with Dr. Barbara L’Eplattenier, a professor of rhetoric and writing.

鈥淭he class was phenomenal,鈥� Rose said. 鈥淚t taught me everything from how to find the right grant opportunity to how to tailor a proposal for a specific foundation. I underestimated just how much strategy and detail goes into crafting a successful grant. Writing this for World Services for the Blind was a hands-on, meaningful way to apply those skills.鈥�

Rose, an instructor and director of recruiting and admissions in the Department of Dental Hygiene at 糖心Vlog传媒MS, chose to work with WSB after her department partnered with the organization to train dental hygiene students to better serve patients who are blind or visually impaired.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had two student cohorts visit WSB in the past year, and I saw firsthand how important their work is,鈥� Rose said. 鈥淪o, when it came time to find a client for the class, I reached out, and they welcomed the partnership.鈥�

The grant will fund classroom renovations and the purchase of adaptive equipment, including tactile kitchen tools, braille labels, and smart devices, as well as the salary of an instructor to teach the course for 36 weeks. Topics will emphasize independent living skills like cooking, laundry, budgeting, hygiene, clothing care, cleaning, and using assistive technology in daily life.

The class will provide instruction to 12 students during the 2025-26 academic year. Each group of six students will receive four hours of instruction per week during the semester-long class. The program will conclude with a 鈥淭est Out Meal,鈥� where each student will independently plan, budget, shop for, prepare, and host a complete meal for guests, showcasing their new skills in a practical and celebratory setting.

We see a lot of students who come out of high school with strong academics but need more focus on life skills.

鈥淲e see a lot of students who come to us with strong academic backgrounds but who need more focus on life skills,鈥� said Eric Yarberry, WSB president and CEO and a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumnus. 鈥淭his program bridges that gap, giving students confidence and practical tools for adulthood. Brittany鈥檚 work was critical in securing the funds to launch this initiative, and we鈥檙e excited to bring it to life.鈥�

Yarberry, who earned his master鈥檚 degree in professional and technical writing from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 2018, said the partnership with Rose was a full-circle moment.

鈥淭aking the same grant writing course during my undergrad changed how I understood nonprofit funding,鈥� he said. 鈥淏rittany was a fantastic partner and has been a huge help for our team. When it comes to writing grants and finding funding for nonprofits, I would encourage anyone to take this grant writing class.鈥�

The classroom, which will accommodate 12 students annually, will include fully accessible kitchen, bedroom, laundry, and technology areas. Even simple adaptations like puff paint or tactile markers on appliances can make everyday tasks manageable for students who are blind.

鈥淎ccessibility doesn鈥檛 always mean expensive technology,鈥� said Nicole Walsh, superintendent of the Arkansas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Arkansas School for the Deaf. 鈥淧eople often think of high-tech devices when it comes to accessibility, but sometimes the best options are the simplest ones. We have formed a great partnership with World Services for the Blind. This program will give students confidence in real-life situations and help families see what their kids are truly capable of.鈥�

Rose credits both her client and 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for a valuable learning experience.

鈥淲SB鈥檚 team was incredibly supportive,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey guided me while also giving me room to lead. This was a real-world project with a real impact.鈥�

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate Student Secures $16K Grant to Support Independent Living Skills for Blind and Visually Impaired Students appeared first on News.

The weeklong event in June brought together high school, undergraduate, and graduate students to form interdisciplinary teams focused on real-world challenges such as social anxiety, attention deficits, emotional communication, and access to mental health services. Participants used modern AI tools to create rapid prototypes of digital products, with support from mental health professionals, academic mentors, and industry leaders.

鈥淭his hackathon was a great opportunity to improve my AI skills, meet new people, and collaborate across education levels,鈥� said recent computer science graduate Rana Olwan.

Her team created Story Buddy, a tool to help elementary-aged students express their emotions through AI-generated stories and imagery.

鈥淚t gives kids a way to talk about how they feel, especially boys, who often don鈥檛 speak up,鈥� Olwan added.

Hackathon organizer Marla Johnson, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 tech-entrepreneur-in-residence, said she considered the event a success for its impact on both learning and collaboration.

鈥淓veryone learned a lot about mental health, about AI, and about practically working to bring those two together to create something impactful in a team environment,鈥� she said. 鈥淪eeing the participants present their solutions was my favorite moment. I knew how much effort went into each of those presentations.鈥�

Participants attended morning training sessions covering topics such as AI tools for rapid prototyping, prompt engineering, and regulatory and ethical considerations. Many also earned NVIDIA AI certifications, including coursework on retrieval-augmented generation and agentic AI.

Teams presented their projects to a panel of judges from Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Systems, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. The winning team, Focus Coach, developed a web-based assistant to help users combat distraction and boost productivity through real-time monitoring and mindfulness techniques.

鈥淭he idea behind Focus Coach is to help users recognize when they鈥檙e getting off task and nudge them back into focus using summarization, timers, and wellness breaks,鈥� said James Dempsey, a senior computer science major at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淓veryone struggles with focus. This is a universal problem.鈥�

Johnson said the Focus Coach team stood out for addressing a widely shared issue.

鈥淭here is a big need for the tools they built into their solution,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen Dani DeVito of NVIDIA met with the Focus Coach team, she said she would use it and especially liked that she could nudge and be nudged by her friends.鈥�

The hackathon emphasized student wellbeing alongside innovation. Participants enjoyed daily mental health breaks, including art therapy and a drumming circle. Dempsey said the mindfulness drumming session offered as a break during the week stood out as a surprise highlight.

鈥淚 had so much fun,鈥� Dempsey. 鈥淚t puts me in a flow state. I could have done it for hours.鈥�

Ph.D. student Praveshika Bhandari, whose team created Hapy Capy, a Duolingo-style tool to help teens with social anxiety prepare for conversations and job interviews, said the experience broadened her perspective.

鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to use new AI tools quickly and work with students at different stages of life,鈥� Bhandari said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a real learning experience.鈥�

Anay Pandit, a rising 10th grader at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, said the hackathon fueled his interest in technology and engineering.

鈥淏eing part of a team that included Ph.D. students and recent grads was amazing,鈥� Pandit said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all learning from each other.鈥�

Hackathon challenges were based on real mental health needs identified by local organizations. Teen2Teen Connect, for example, was developed in partnership with the Arkansas Crisis Center to create a safe way for teens to offer support to other teens long before they are in crisis mode. The system was developed using AI prompts to include a way for teens to re-route calls to professional counselors if they feel the caller is in a crisis state.  

Additionally, Rapid Route, a scheduling and triage solution championed by the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, was aimed at getting patients matched with care faster based on urgency.

In total, students learned to apply AI ethics, prompt engineering, and software prototyping in service of community health.

Arkansas Children鈥檚 Hospital President and CEO Marcy Doderer said the students鈥� work aligned with growing concerns among healthcare providers.

鈥淲e see kids coming in for physical health issues, but underneath, so many are struggling with emotional or behavioral concerns,鈥� she said. 鈥淭raditional health systems don鈥檛 always have elegant solutions, but students like these give me hope.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Vice Provost for Research Brian Berry, who served as one of the judges, praised the students鈥� innovation, noting that final team scores were separated by less than two percentage points.

鈥淭hese projects blew us away,鈥� Berry said. 鈥淲hat you all produced in just a few days was phenomenal.鈥�

Johnson said the university is exploring ways to support continued development of the projects and plans are already underway for next year鈥檚 event, potentially with new themes and industry partners.

鈥淲e have business leaders hoping we will do an AI and entrepreneurship hackathon in their fields, or we may have challenges from five different sectors,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淓ven if every team is not focused on mental health next year, we鈥檒l continue to focus on participant wellbeing. Having real world problems made a world of difference. These time-compressed competitions open the door to exciting possibilities.鈥�

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The $45,000 grant, made to the University of Arkansas Foundation, will direct $25,000 to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 Summer Bridge Academy.听

鈥淏ank of America is a large bank, but they are also a great community partner. This investment reflects their ongoing commitment to expanding access to education and healthcare in Little Rock,鈥� said Christian O鈥橬eal, vice chancellor for university advancement at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful for their continued support and proud to work alongside 糖心Vlog传媒MS to improve outcomes for students and the community.鈥�

Bank of America has supported student success initiatives at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock for nearly two decades, including repeated investments in the Summer Bridge Academy, a three-week residential program that helps incoming freshmen eliminate the need for remedial coursework while building academic skills and confidence. 

Since its launch in 2013, the program has helped dozens of students strengthen their college readiness before the start of the fall semester.

鈥淏ank of America is committed to helping build strong communities by supporting programs that remove barriers and open doors,鈥� said Magen Tune, Bank of America local market executive for Arkansas. 鈥淥ur partnership with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and 糖心Vlog传媒MS reflects that commitment and our belief that education and healthcare are essential building blocks for long-term success.鈥�

The grant also supports the 糖心Vlog传媒MS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center, a student-led clinic that provides preventive care and health education to underserved residents in central Arkansas. The clinic offers hands-on experience for 糖心Vlog传媒MS students while serving the health needs of the surrounding community.

This grant reflects a shared commitment between Bank of America, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, and 糖心Vlog传媒MS to create opportunity, improve outcomes, and build a stronger Little Rock community.

The post Bank of America Supports College Readiness and Community Health with $45,000 Grant to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and 糖心Vlog传媒MS appeared first on News.

That sense of determination has fueled Harris鈥檚 mission to become a social worker, where he can serve as a steady presence for children navigating the same system that once failed him.

鈥淭he story is only complete when I can change the trajectory of even one foster child鈥檚 life,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat makes everything I鈥檝e been through mean something. I want to be the person who can say, 鈥榊ou can make it, because I鈥檓 you.鈥� Sometimes, having a solid example is all a child needs to have hope.鈥�

Harris knows firsthand the struggles that can come with an unstable childhood. By age 16, he lived in 14 foster homes, two boys鈥� homes, and two juvenile detention centers because there was nowhere else to place him.

鈥淲hen I aged out of the system, I got a check for $250 and was told to figure it out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was homeless for a little bit. With no blueprint or map, I had to create my own.鈥�

This May, Harris will earn his Master of Social Work from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, a milestone he sees not as a finish line, but as a new beginning. He鈥檚 already accepted a position as a medical social worker at 糖心Vlog传媒MS and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in social work in the future.

鈥淚鈥檓 not here to write your story,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淚鈥檓 here to help you along the way. You still have the pen. Everyone needs a little help now and then.鈥�

A first-generation college student and father, Harris moved to Arkansas in 2010 to reconnect with his biological father. 

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have the life I have now if that man hadn鈥檛 extended an olive branch for me to move to Arkansas,鈥� Harris said. 

Though that relationship didn鈥檛 last, becoming a father himself inspired him to stay and build a life in Conway. He completed his undergraduate degree in health and behavioral science at the University of Central Arkansas, then sought a graduate program that aligned with his experiences and values. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 social work program felt like the right fit.

While enrolled at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Harris balanced full-time work, parenting, and fieldwork in clinical settings. He completed internships at 糖心Vlog传媒MS鈥檚 Longevity Center, 12th Street Clinic, and Family Medicine Clinic.

鈥淚鈥檝e made it look easy, but I鈥檓 very disciplined and very structured,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 wait on due dates. I live my life in five-year increments. I don鈥檛 think about today. I think about what the next five years will look like. Sacrificing now opens doors for the next five years, and that鈥檚 okay. That might just be the resilient side of me.鈥�

His time at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock was also shaped by the support of faculty and peers, particularly during a period of personal loss in his first year.

鈥淲hat stood out most was the community,鈥� Harris said. 鈥淧eople here truly care and want to see you succeed. That鈥檚 what I鈥檒l remember most.鈥�

Harris credits mentors like Dr. Tara DeJohn, Dr. Laura Danforth, Dr. Lance Grahn, Caitlyn Johnson, and Ruth Fissel with helping him grow into the social worker he is today, and he hopes to pay that forward.

鈥淔or anyone thinking about going into social work, I鈥檇 say this: You have to love people. You have to be willing to advocate, even when no one is looking,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his career is not about you. It鈥檚 about the people in front of you. If you can look back 20 years from now and know you鈥檝e changed lives, then you鈥檝e made the right choice.鈥�

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Graduate Turns Childhood Struggles Into Lifelong Mission to Help Others appeared first on News.

Sample鈥檚 path to nursing started early. In her junior year of high school, she began taking concurrent classes at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to get a head start on her college education. This allowed her to apply to nursing school as a senior, starting 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 nursing program just eight days after graduating as Jacksonville High School鈥檚 salutatorian.

鈥淚 was by far the youngest person in my class,鈥� Sample said.

As a first-generation college student with no family members working in the medical field, Sample鈥檚 decision to pursue nursing came during her senior year of high school, influenced by her mother鈥檚 advice. The COVID-19 pandemic solidified her choice.

鈥淚t was during COVID, and I really liked nursing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 feel like it was meant to be.鈥�

Sample earned her associate degree in nursing from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in May 2023, and she currently works in the Neurology/Neurosurgery Unit at 糖心Vlog传媒MS Medical Center, caring for patients with brain injuries, strokes, and other neurological conditions.

Balancing work and studies has been a challenge, but she credits 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock faculty like Judy Staley and Dr. Charles Molsbee for their support and guidance.

鈥淢rs. Staley was a great teacher and always there when I needed someone to listen,鈥� Sample said. 鈥淪he even wrote one of my letters of recommendation for my job at 糖心Vlog传媒MS. And Dr. Molsbee was always there when I needed advice.鈥�

Sample is excited about graduation and the opportunities that lie ahead. She plans to further specialize in critical care, with hopes of working in an ICU setting in the future.

鈥淚 really enjoy critical thinking and trying to figure out the puzzle pieces with patients,鈥� she said.

While Sample is now finished with college, she isn鈥檛 finished with her education. Her plans for the upcoming year include furthering her skills by starting on certifications in neuroscience nursing care and/or stroke nursing care.

For future nursing students, Sample offers encouragement: 鈥淒on鈥檛 give up on those hard days. Once you start working with patients, you鈥檒l realize you know a lot more than you think you do.鈥�

The post Sample Achieves Nursing Dream with 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Degree appeared first on News.

鈥淚 was given three to six months to live, and sentenced to hospice in 2016,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 promised myself I would beat cancer so I could raise my children and go back and finish my degree at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.”

In spring 2019, true to her promise, Nelson returned to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock after 鈥渕iraculously beating cancer.鈥� This spring, she will earn a Master of Arts degree in applied communication.

Nelson credits her cancer survivorship to medical treatments at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her trust in Jesus Christ.

鈥淎fter diagnosis, I did three things. First, I decided to trust my prayers were heard. Second, I controlled my emotions by thinking, speaking, and acting positively. Lastly, I made a to-do list,鈥� she said.

Of the items on that list, the Little Rock native has checked off returning to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, getting her associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, becoming a leader/ambassador for her school, and being an honor student. She has also studied abroad, worked diligently with her community, and ran for public office.

鈥淚 came so close to death while battling throat cancer. I did not want it to be said I had potential. I want it to be said I lived up to my potential,鈥� Nelson said 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what beating cancer did for me.鈥�

She first attended 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in 1998 when she was a military spouse. However, she later got pregnant and left school when her then-husband got stationed at an Alaskan air base. In 2010, Nelson began experiencing symptoms, including a pulmonary embolism which is a sudden blockage in the pulmonary arteries that send blood to the lungs. A cyst was later discovered on her lungs.

Nelson realized that the likely culprit of her health issues was Alaska鈥檚 increased use of outdoor wood boilers which caused air pollution. Even as her health worsened, she began to advocate with her neighbors for smoke-free schools and a ban on wood boilers. Her clean air advocacy later resulted in the banning of smoking and the use of tobacco products on all University of Alaska campuses.

Nelson鈥檚 passion for advocacy continued when she returned to Little Rock where she ran for City Board of Directors Ward 2.

鈥淗owever, because I did not have a college degree, I could not get the jobs I needed to support my family after becoming a single parent,鈥� she said.

Nelson, who now works as a project manager for the Coalition for Tobacco-Free Arkansas, had long dreamed of attending 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淎s a youth, our schools and youth groups took us on field trips to the university,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 saw how proud the college students were on campus and how happy the Greeks on campus seemed to be, and I wanted that pride.鈥�

While in the university鈥檚 Applied Communication program, Nelson said two amazing professors inspired her: Dr. Julien Mirivel and Dr. Avinash Thombre.

鈥淭hey helped put a title to what was important to me about communication,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love the power of communication. How we apply our communication affects the world around us. My degree gave me a foundation and focus on how I apply my communication skills through research and everyday practical use.鈥�

Dr. Mirivel describes Nelson as someone who brings positive energy, a learning attitude, and great engagement.

鈥淚鈥檝e been a mentor for several years now, and she just completed her master鈥檚 paper under my direction,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he has become a keen researcher, a stronger writer, and a better thinker.鈥�

At 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, Nelson is a Phi Kappa Phi honor society member, an ambassador for the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education, and a Diversity Council member. She has also been active in the Ethics Bowl and the Psychology Club and has served as an ESPN camera operator thanks to a partnership between the university and ESPN Plus. However, Nelson mainly describes herself as a leader to her four children –  Kristoffer, Kamreaon, Kristian, and Sara. The first-generation college student said she has 鈥渁 sincere appreciation for the fact that I paved the way for my children to get a higher education.鈥�

Nelson expressed deep gratitude for her children’s support and sacrifices throughout her educational journey.

鈥淢any times I did homework in the bleachers at their games or had to put a sign on my bedroom door that read: 鈥淪orry Mom is Studying, Please Come Back At鈥︹�� she said. 鈥淭hey were so patient and kind through this process.鈥�

She is also thankful for Rhona and Bill Temple. 鈥淚 attended a summer camp founded by Mrs. Rhona for at-risk youth. Even after I graduated from her program, she and her husband stayed in my life,鈥� she said.

Mrs. Temple took her to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to register for classes in 1998.

鈥淪he and Mr. Bill have cheered me all the way through each of my degrees,鈥� Nelson said. 鈥淭he two of them always show up at my graduations with big smiles, cameras, and hugs to celebrate, putting a smile on my face and encouraging me to keep going. They never stopped believing in me.鈥�

Attorney Eric Buchanan, another supporter, told Nelson that she was smart and could excel academically.

鈥淗e never stopped motivating me. From the time I re-enrolled through each degree, he has given me pep talks,鈥� she said.

After graduation, Nelson plans to 鈥減our my heart into community service, research, and work in the field of communication.鈥� She said 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock has absolutely prepared her for the next step in her life journey. As a little girl growing up in poverty just blocks away, it was her dream school, and it gave her something to dream about to change her circumstances.

鈥溙切腣log传媒 Little Rock embraced me as a unique and curious individual and gave me a fair chance of getting a robust and highly sought-after type of education 鈥� one that would set me up for success and prepare me for the real world,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am forever grateful and appreciative of my academic family. Every one of my professors had a huge impact on me and motivated me to accomplish my goals. Everyone at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock had a role to play in me getting to where I am today, and I am forever grateful.鈥�

The post Against All Odds: Graduate Achieves Degree Dream Despite Severe Health Setback appeared first on News.

Paige Poindexter, a senior biology major from Little Rock, is one of 10 students from colleges and universities around the country who was selected for the program, a National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded effort in the 糖心Vlog传媒MS Graduate School.

鈥淚 learned that I love research,鈥� Poindexter said of the program. 鈥淚 like a challenge, and I learned something new every day.鈥�

The program, which ran from May 22-July 21, 2023, is aimed at increasing diversity in research and expanding research opportunities for underrepresented and disadvantaged undergraduate students. Students also received a salary of $4,320 for the duration of the program.

鈥淭his program is designed to provide a great research experience,鈥� said Dr. Billy Thomas, one of the program co-directors along with Dr. Robert McGehee Jr. 鈥淚t鈥檚 to introduce them to someone who we hope can be a lifelong mentor and part of their professional experience.鈥�

During the nine-week program, students spent between three and five days a week in labs with their mentors. Students also participated in seminars on subjects such as career progression, research ethics, networking and scientific writing conducted by 糖心Vlog传媒MS faculty.

The students鈥� main focus was conducting a research project with guidance from their mentor and lab assistants. Poindexter worked with Professor Craig Forrest to study how the gamma herpesvirus progresses in immune-deficient patients.

鈥淚 was in good hands, like they say in the Allstate commercials,鈥� Poindexter said. 鈥淚 learned how to work in a research lab, and I got to experience a lot of things that I wouldn鈥檛 have had I not gotten into the program. It was a nice experience, and I would definitely do it again if I had the chance.鈥�

Poindexter will graduate from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock in May. Afterwards, she plans to attend 糖心Vlog传媒MS and wants to become an endocrinologist.

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Aiiryel McCoy, a senior chemistry major from Little Rock, gained invaluable research experience that promises to shape the trajectory of her academic and professional career while participating in the Professional Research Opportunity (PRO) Summer program.

鈥淭he program is geared toward students interested in doing biomedical research,鈥� McCoy said. 鈥淵ou get a step in the door as a lab technician at 糖心Vlog传媒MS, and you work with a fantastic mentor over the summer.鈥�

The is a collaboration with the Arkansas INBRE and the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology at 糖心Vlog传媒MS. The 10-week fellowship includes a $6,000 stipend, research supply budget, and a $400 award to travel to a national conference or regional scientific meeting for the student to present their INBRE summer research.

McCoy鈥檚 summer research at 糖心Vlog传媒MS also provided the core of a presentation she gave during the 10th Annual Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium at 糖心Vlog传媒MS, which students from 41 colleges and universities across the nation attended.

The symposium celebrated achievements by undergraduates pursuing research in a wide range of biomedical-related topics. The 糖心Vlog传媒MS Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology organized and sponsored the event with support from the 糖心Vlog传媒MS Graduate School and the INBRE program.

鈥淲e want to help prepare a new generation of researchers to solve the problems of tomorrow, especially in light of the pandemic in which science played a critical role in putting us on a path to recovery. Last year, there was high interest and participation that reached pre-pandemic levels,鈥� said Dr. Grover Paul Miller, a professor in the College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the organizer of the symposium.

McCoy was one of just 12 students selected out of 45 submissions to give an oral presentation on her research, titled 鈥淭he impact of toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) on vesicular trafficking and foam cell formation.鈥�

鈥淢y summer program at 糖心Vlog传媒MS was amazing,鈥� McCoy said. 鈥淢y mentor, Dr. Ryan Allen, was exceptional in conveying information and allowing me to have some independence in the lab. I also went out on a limb and applied for the Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium. I did not think I would get chosen so that took me by surprise. I was the first person to present, and I did great. It was very competitive, and I was very thankful for the opportunity to speak in front of more than 200 people about my research.鈥�

McCoy also had the opportunity to serve as a role model for elementary school students who visited 糖心Vlog传媒MS through a collaborative effort of Arkansas INBRE and the Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The 25 students from Reed Elementary in the Dumas School District visited 糖心Vlog传媒MS June 19 as part of a science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) weeklong camp.

The activities lined up for them while at 糖心Vlog传媒MS included a heart valve station, where students had to create a valve that allowed blood (represented by marbles in a box) to flow one way; a station where they made a simulated lung using plastic cups, straws, and rubber; another station where they used stethoscopes to listen to a heart/lung manikin; and a cardiogram simulation that measured heartbeats.

McCoy was part of a lunch panel discussion that included college students and medical students who shared their experiences and answered questions from the visiting elementary students.

鈥淚t was a nice experience because the students were very excited to be around older students, and they asked unique questions about why we are interested in medicine and our experiences in middle school, high school, and college,鈥� she said.

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鈥淚 am so honored to be the new director of Health Services,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a little challenging since I鈥檝e never been in a role like this before, but I am looking forward to providing the best care for the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus community.鈥�

Smith earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing and master鈥檚 degree in nursing science 鈥� family nurse practitioner, both from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (糖心Vlog传媒MS). Prior to 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, she served as a registered nurse at the 糖心Vlog传媒MS Medical Surgical Unit and Arkansas CARES.

鈥淐hanell has been the backbone of Health Services for a long time, and we are all grateful she is in the leadership position for the department and the clinic,鈥� said Sharon Downs, assistant vice chancellor for student affairs – wellness and inclusion. 鈥淪he is an intuitive clinician, an ethical colleague, and a top-notch person. The university is fortunate to have her, and we look forward to a long and fruitful tenure with her as director.鈥�

糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Health Services aims to improve the health and wellness of the university community by providing inclusive evidenced-based, quality health care and wellness promotion to the university鈥檚 students and employees. Smith has been a staple at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Health Services since 2008, when she joined as a registered nurse. She was promoted to advanced practice registered nurse in 2020.

鈥淚 love working at Health Services, and I love working with the students,鈥� Smith said. 鈥淲e are different from a regular clinic because we have the advantage of doing a lot of patient education, which I feel is especially important for our college students who are leaving home for the first time. They are learning to navigate their own health care, and we get the chance to help them learn how to manage their own healthcare.鈥�

A native of Hensley, Smith and her husband Casey have been married for 25 years and have three children 鈥� Jordan, Justyn, and Mia 鈥� and two grandchildren. Smith is also an avid reader and a sports fan of football, basketball, and softball.

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Choi earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education from 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock and works as the director of admissions and as an assistant professor of pharmacy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (糖心Vlog传媒MS).

In 2021, Choi visited an orthopedist after experiencing severe back pain that lasted for months. A CT scan eventually revealed a huge mass on her abdominal cavity, and subsequent visits with doctors revealed ovarian cancer.

鈥淚 had a tumor that was the size of a cantaloupe on my left ovary,鈥� Choi recalled. 鈥淲ithin two weeks, I went into surgery, and I had a complete hysterectomy. My oncologist recommended that I do six rounds of chemotherapy following the surgery. I was anxious for the pathology report because I was really hoping not to do chemotherapy.鈥�

In the weeks following her surgery, Choi, who is a certified hypnotherapist and yoga instructor, spent a lot of time thinking about her life and researching cancer treatments. When her pathology report revealed a stage one cancer diagnosis, Choi decided to forgo chemotherapy, concerned about it would affect her quality of life, and embraced a metabolic approach to cancer treatment.

Metabolic therapies include dietary and detoxification regimens promoted to prevent and treat cancer and degenerative diseases. Choi worked with a nutritionist to follow a therapeutic ketogenic diet and took anti-parasitic medication and supplements.

鈥淚 used conventional medicine through surgery, and I also used alternative metabolic treatments,鈥� Choi said. 鈥淲ithin five weeks of being on that combination, my cancer androgen levels just plummeted. My doctor did a scan nine months later, and there was no evidence of my disease.鈥�

In addition to the metabolic approach, Choi stressed the importance of taking care of the mind as well as the body. She embraced stress-management techniques like meditation and yoga.

鈥淎s I was healing from cancer, I also looked at the mental component,鈥� Choi said. 鈥淚 believe that the mind and body are connected. One of the biggest things that I regret is saying no to life. I was not engaged in the outside world. I would never wish cancer on anybody, but once you do have it, it doesn鈥檛 have to be met with just doom and gloom in the mind. It can be a process where you learn about yourself and where you deepen your relationships with those around you.鈥�

Choi remains cancer free two years after her diagnosis. She decided to write her book, 鈥�,鈥� which was released earlier this year, as a memoir of her experience using a holistic, integrative approach to treat ovarian cancer.

As someone who works in the medical field, Choi stressed the importance of seeking conventional treatments and continuing to work with her doctors and keeping them apprised of her alternative treatments. She wrote this book to help others understand how to integrate traditional medicine with complimentary approaches that focus on factors like diet, nutrition, and stress management.

鈥淲hen you have cancer, you need a whole healthcare team around you,鈥� Choi said. 鈥淵ou really are the person in the middle who is coordinating all of this. It would have been nice to have a book where someone talked about their approach to a holistic, integrated treatment. Having a book like this would have been so helpful to me, so that鈥檚 why I wrote this book.鈥�

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