Local Student Earns UofA Honors College Fellowship
■ Megan Rodgers of Siloam Springs was chosen for her outstanding academic achievements and community involvement.
Megan Rodgers of Siloam Springs is one of 85 exceptional high school students chosen to be Honors College Fellows at the University of Arkansas.
Rodgers graduated from Siloam Springs High School this past spring and will enroll at the U of A for the fall 2017 semester. She plans to be a political science major. She is the daughter of Kyle and Laura Rodgers of Siloam Springs.
The Honors College fellowship of $70,000 largely covers tuition, registration, books, and room and board over four years, granting these students the freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, service learning and other academic interests. The fellowship funds can also be combined with other scholarships and grants.
“This year’s group of new fellows boasts an average grade point average of 4.19 and an average composite ACT score of 34.06,” said Noah Pittman, assistant dean of the Honors College. “Such high-performing students are recruited by top universities all across the country, and awards such as the Honors College Fellowship help us compete with these schools to keep Arkansas students of this caliber in state. Given their intellectual prowess and passion for service we are confident they will excel both on campus and in the wider community.”
The Honors College Fellowships were made possible by a portion of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation’s $300 million gift to the university in 2002. The fellowship application process is rigorous. Students must score at least a 32 on the ACT and have a minimum 3.8 grade point average to apply, and Honors College administrators and faculty review each student application for evidence of intellectual curiosity, leadership potential and community involvement. The selection process also involves a writing test and campus interview for finalists in early March.
The University of Arkansas Honors College was established in 2002 and unites the university’s top undergraduate students and professors in a learning environment characterized by discovery, creativity and service. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $70,000 over four years, and more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants.
The Honors College is nationally recognized for the high caliber of students it admits and graduates. Honors students enjoy small, in-depth classes, and programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. Fifty percent of Honors College graduates have studied abroad — three times the national average — and 100 percent of Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.