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.

Pool Party 2015

Honors Students Gather at the Magnolia Country Club Pool

Unlike last year, the weather was warm and dry for the SAU Honors College annual pool party.

Thanks to Ray Lindsey of Marlar's Cafeteria (be sure and "Like" them and be sure to drop by for lunch sometime) there was more to do than swim. Students dined on chicken tenders, french fries, and sumptuous desserts. All were washed down with iced tea.

Here is a YouTube video showing that honors students have motor skills as well as mental ones.

Romo's Summer Research at UAMS

Ricardo Romo

During the summer I had the privilege to participate on a research project with Dr. Abdel Bachri with the partnership of Dr. Rupak Puthak and  Dr. Martin Hauer Jensen.  In our research we desired to understand how Gamma tocotrinol, a drug, mitigates the stresses of microgravity and gamma radiation on chromosomes. Chromosomal aberrations are serious abnormalities that arise from stresses of radiation and can cause circulatory system diseases.  Astronauts and cancer patients that were exposed to radiation contribute a good portion of our population with these dilemmas. With my undergraduate partners Daryll Webb and Cullen Shaffer, we spent a good amount of time with familiarizing ourselves with similar published articles. We experimented with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (huvec) for they are an intermediate resistant cell line against radiation.  Dr. Bachri had us practice all the basic protocols, and stressed how fundamental it was to achieve maximum proliferation, and to prevent contamination in the lab. Basic procedures like Giemsa staining, trypsinizing cells, and cell counting were essentially the methods that we performed during the whole summer. As an honors student it was an amazing experience finding out the different insights into how research is integrated and directed. I find it to be very beneficial to learn and work somewhere different. It brings out a self-rewarding feeling to use this experience as a resume builder for grad school where I hopefully could begin next year.

Faculty Information Fall 2015

SAU Honors College / 21 August 2015

How we recruit honors students:

From HC Web page (http://www.saumag.edu/honors/):

We admit first-year and transfer students based upon a global assessment of academic potential. We examine ACT scores, high school GPA, required submitted essays, letters of recommendation and other relevant information. Current SAU students who have earned at least a 3.5 GPA may petition the Honors College for admission. Students transferring from affiliated Honors 2+2 programs (SAU Tech, SACC, and College of the Ouachitas, at present) must hold a minimum college GPA of 3.25. Also, they too must submit an online application, required essays, and letters of recommendation.

Honors Demographics

Honors students (N = 175) study in all four of SAU's Colleges. Most, however, will be found in Sci&Eng, followed closely by LPA, and more distantly by CoB, and CoE.

Honors FAQ

Are there separate honors courses?

Yes. Honors courses are either full honors or contract honors. In full honors, only honors students may enroll. Those classes are smaller and are taught differently. Please think about offering full honors classes in your department.

In contract courses, students contract with the instructor to elevate a regular class to honors level. For example, genetics students receive 23 and Me kits to analyze their own genome. Later, they report on their results to the class orally and in writing. Simply adding a research paper should be avoided. Projects that are interesting and engaging are best. Contracts for Spring 2016 must be finalized by Monday 7 December 2015

Do faculty get paid to teach honors courses?

No, but faculty will be allowed up to $300 per course to purchase materials or supplement travel expenses. On a case-by-case basis and by written request additional funds may be provided. (Note: faculty who taught honors prior to July 2009 may request a $300 stipend in lieu of expense money. Such funds are subject to normal payroll deductions.)

How many honors credits are required?

Honors students must take a minimum of 24 honors hours in order to graduate. A few students have taken over 50 honors hours. Nearly all graduate in four years or less.

What GPA is required to remain in the Honors College?

The minimum GPA to remain in the Honors College is 3.25. Students are given one semester to regain that GPA. They retain their honors status while on probation.

What about travel?

Thanks to recent SAU Foundation funding honors students have been able to travel in the US (Denver, New Orleans) and overseas (London, South Africa, and New Zealand).

What is the graduation rate?

About 66% of those admitted graduate with honors in four years or less. Nearly all admitted graduate eventually. A few transfer, fewer still fail to graduate.

May I donate to the Honors College?

Yes, through payroll deduction. Also, a major donor is sought to name the College.

Contact Information

Ed Kardas (epkardas@saumag.edu) at Peace 109 or Nelson 200  x4231 (anytime)

David Wingfield (dlwingfield@saumag.edu) Nelson 200, x4375 (afternoons 1 to 5)

Web page: http://www.saumag.edu/honors/           Blog: http://sauhc.blogspot.com

The honorable Parnell Vann, mayor of Magnolia will be this year's speaker at the annual matriculation ceremony on Sep. 20 at 2 pm in Foundation Hall.