Meet the 2015 Class

Here are the 55 honors students admitted in 2015

(Click on photo to see larger version)

They will be formally introduced and matriculated on Sunday 20 September 2015 at 2 pm in Reynold's Foundation Hall.

Freshman Steak Dinner

Freshman Steak Dinner Crowd 2015

The annual Freshman Steak Dinner took place last night in two shifts. Honors Seminar students attended the second shift. Dr. Trey Berry, SAU's new president, briefly addressed the crowd and announced SAU's record enrollment. That good news, however, was marred by the tragic deaths of two SAU students the day before.

Caught on camera were the following honors students:

 Abby Buchanan

 Gabby Davis and Victor Duke

 The shy one, Tymia Marsh

 From L to R: McKenzie Matthews, Sera Good, and Grant Diffee

Cody Staley

Cullen Shaffer at UAMS

Cullen Shaffer

This past summer, I worked with Dr. Abdel Bachri, Darryl Webb, and Ricardo Romo at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. We worked in partnership with Dr. Rupak Pathak and Dr. Martin Hauer-Jensen.  We sought to understand the interplay of gamma radiation and microgravity on producing chromosomal aberrations. The effect of radiation on causing chromosomal aberrations has been well documented, but not microgravity’s impact on producing chromosomal aberrations. Human umbilical endothelial vein cells (HUVEC) were chosen for our experiment because when astronauts and cancer patients are exposed to radiation they can develop circulatory system diseases later on in life due to accumulation of stable chromosomal aberrations. As students, we gained invaluable experience and insight into how research is coordinated and conducted. We learned how to harvest and maintain different cells lines, how to produce chromosome slides, and how to clean and utilize the HARVs. We also familiarized ourselves with several pertinent scientific articles in order to help improve our experimental protocols. Posters were created detailing parts of our experiment and were presented at the Central Arkansas Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium at UAMS. I will use this experience to build towards applying for graduate school where I will get my masters in plant pathology.

Davis Extramural Experiences

Gabrielle Davis

Gabrielle Davis had two summer experiences. Here are her accounts of them:

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Internship #1: Union County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office

   The internship began June 1 2015 and ended June 30 2015. I worked with the Union County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office where David Butler is the Prosecutor. Carla Gibson, a Union County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, dedicating numerous hours to exposing me to the legal system and guiding me through each step of the way.  I made court room visits where I attended District Court which oversees all misdemeanors that include first appearances, Criminal Division Circuit Court which oversee Drug Court and the 1^st and 4^th Divisions of Criminal Court, Circuit Court Juvenile Division Courts which oversees all juvenile affairs, Circuit Court Probate Division Court which oversees all involuntary commitments, and Circuit Court Domestic Relations Division which oversees domestic relations matters and other family court cases. Also, I was able to witness appellate courts which included trials before circuit judges. I was also given the opportunity to monitor office procedure prior to and following a court appearance. I was assigned general office duties as well. I was exposed to Arkansas law and educated about the penalties that result from any criminal act. I was able to network with several judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officers in the Union and local Columbia County area.

Internship #2: LSAC's DiscoverLaw.org Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program

    The internship began July 5 2015 and ended July 30 2015. It took place in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the University Of Arkansas School Of Law. The program allows up to 20 students from across the United States to engage in learning that will benefit their academic and professional development. I was able to attend classes concerning legal systems and processes, oral advocacy, constitutional law, negotiation, business etiquette: dining, dress, and client communication, LSAT modules, and even sat in on an actual law school class. I was able to interact with current law students who helped improve my experience and informed me about the challenges of law school.  I was also able to attend legal writing and research workshops. I was able to attend guest speaker presentations with local prosecuting attorneys, public defenders, judges including the Arkansas Supreme Court, city attorneys, and attend the private law firm of Matthews, Campbell, Rhoads, McClure, & Thompson, and even Corporate Walmart’s legal department. I was also given the opportunity to conduct an oral argument before an actual judge. I was provided with LSAT practice which will help me gauge my progress before entrance into law school. Not only was I able to interact with the local bar, but was also given the opportunity to interact with the Arkansas Bar Association.