Twenty-one academically gifted freshmen have been selected for an Honors College mentoring program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.
The 21 students include Ahmad Pace, who was salutatorian of the Pine Bluff High School 2020 graduating class.
The initiative, which is called the Path Program, recruits and mentors top high school students from underrepresented groups, such as racial or ethnic minority groups, and helps them achieve academic success at UA’s Honors College.
“The incoming Path Scholars are a diverse group of students from across Arkansas and surrounding states,” Xochitl Delgado Solorzano, director of the Path Program, said in a university news release. “These students have proven themselves to be high-achieving academically and demonstrated a commitment to giving back to their community.”
Eleven of the incoming Path Program freshmen plan to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They will each receive a renewable scholarship of $4,500 ($5,500 if they join the Honors College), with funding from a nearly $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, according to UA.
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Pace is one of the 11 students. He plans to study mathematics, according to UA.
Ten other Path Program students who plan to study other disciplines will also receive academic scholarships of up to $5,500, with funding from $5.5 million in endowment from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation and donations of $100,000 to $250,000 from former Honors College Dean Bob McMath and his wife, Linda; Lee and Beverly Bodenhamer; and Nick and Carolyn Cole.
The incoming Path Scholars participated in a two-week intersession program, introducing them to college. The students get advice on academic success, mentoring from their peers and from professionals, as well as opportunities to study abroad, do special research and get internships.
The Path Scholars already participate in a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities, from playing in orchestras and marching bands, to interning at J.B. Hunt to ROTC, track and field, volleyball and soccer.
Besides Pace, the Path Program Scholars for the Class of 2023 are:
• Jaslyn Dalrymple of Gravette, engineering.
• Alexia Dillard of Conway, pre-med.
• Jordan Gaston of Jonesboro, engineering.
• Kayli Heigelmann of Bearden, exercise science.
• Rondarius Howard of West Memphis, business.
• Jaden Jackson of Morrilton, engineering.
• Edwin Lopez-Roman of Clarksville, engineering.
• Kenia Martinez of Siloam Springs, pre-med.
• Galilea Martinez of Neosho, Mo., engineering.
• Madison Price of Alexander, agribusiness.
• Maria Quintero of Lonoke, engineering.
• Gian Cortez Roberts of Helena-West Helena, engineering.
• Trinity Robinson of Fayetteville, engineering.
• Jennifer Sandoval of Springdale, interior design.
• Jessica Soto of Fayetteville, exploring.
• Honor Swan of Hot Springs, chemistry.
• Elizabeth Vega of Rogers, exploring.
• Amelia Ward of El Dorado, psychology.
• Eliza Williams of Fayetteville, exploring.
• Cole Yocham of Harrison, engineering.