Arkansas achievers

The Southern Arkansas University Hallman Scholarship has been awarded to two women who will be incoming freshmen in the fall. The Hallman Scholarship is funded by SAU Foundation’s Cinda Hallman Scholarship Endowment and provides scholarships for incoming freshmen women in the College of Science and Engineering. The 2020 inductees are Mallory Bell of Rison and

Kenzie Cowan of Foreman. Bell, a graduate of Rison High School, has a family connection to math and science. Her grandmother taught math, which Bell learned by sitting in on her grandmother’s classes. Her grandfather is a structural engineer at Lockheed Martin. “As I grew up, I excelled in my math and science classes,” she said. “I was talking with my counselor and she suggested I look into engineering.” Rison High played football in Hooten’s Classic at SAU in August, and while playing in her school’s band, Bell had a chance to see firsthand the SAU campus. “As I did more research into SAU, I knew it was God telling me this is where I need to be.” Cowan, an honor student-athlete and graduate of Foreman High School, chose SAU not only because it has a strong record of preparing students for graduate school, but also because of the reputation of the Science and Engineering Department. “SAU reminds me of my hometown,” she said. “Growing up in a small town truly gives me an understanding of SAU’s motto, ‘feels like home.’” She anticipates a strong foundational education in the sciences to pursue her career. “It also helps that my sister, Kylie, is a student-athlete at SAU and has really enjoyed her time there,” Cowan said. Good professors who care about their students is another reason that she said she looks forward to her “home away from home” at SAU.

Rashad Kirksey, a junior political science major at Arkansas State University, has been named a Public Policy and International Affairs Program (PPIA) Fellow for this summer. Kirksey plans to study at the University of California-Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy with a cohort of fellows from across the country. A graduate of The Academies at Jonesboro High School, Kirksey, 21, is pursuing a pre-law emphasis. He serves as president pro tempore for the Student Government Association and is an Arkansas State University Chancellor’s Ambassador.

Arkansas Achievers is an opportunity to give recognition to Arkansans for their achievements.

Civilian and military achievements are accepted. Please follow these guidelines: Achiever(s):

1) Must be an Arkansan or have graduated from a school in Arkansas.

2) Received an award, scholarship, medal or promotion.

Pageants, deans’ lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.

No photographs please. To submit an Achiever email us at news@arkansasonline.com with the words “Arkansas Achievers” in the subject line.