The week of August 23, UALR will debut two new commercials in the current “WOW Factor” recruitment campaign. The campaign features the advantages that students can only experience in the capital city or at UALR. It also addresses the quality of life issues that students enjoy by living and learning in a vibrant, cultural city.

Criminal Justice will launch the only Ph.D. program in Arkansas in Fall 2010, and Vakeyia Dulaney stars in this commercial about the new program.

Vakeyia is a Hall High graduate who chose UALR to participate in the Donaghey Scholars honors program. To say that Vakeyia is a bright young woman is an understatement. She is a third year senior with a triple major – yes, triple major – in Criminal Justice, Biology, and Spanish. She plans to become a forensic scientist and ultimately wants to become a university professor.

Vakeyia grew up in the Children International program and remains engaged in CI through service and part-time work. She is a determined, goal-oriented young woman, and I’m convinced we will see will achieve great accomplishments through her career.

Stephanie Boccarossa is also an exceptional young woman, and she is featured in this commercial that explores campus growth. She is senior Information Science major and is pursuing minors in Digital Graphics and Spanish.

Stephanie graduated from Mount Saint Mary Academy and came to UALR after receiving an EIT scholarship. She was also accepted to the Donaghey Scholars honors program. She will graduate this December. Stephanie was also a member of the UALR soccer team and stays in the game by serving as a volunteer soccer coach at Mount Saint Mary Academy. She is planning a career in web design and marketing.

Last year UALR reached an all-time enrollment of 13,000 students, and it looks like the university will top that enrollment for Fall 2010. The campus infrastructure is also growing.

The Donaghey College of Engineering and Information Technology will welcome students to a brand new “green” building this semester and across campus other construction projects are underway. They include a new residence hall, a one-stop shop for students, an athletic track and field complex, and a nanotechnology building.

I predict these “coming attractions” will have a huge impact on the campus and provide a great learning environment for current and future students.

Check out our “Behind the Scenes” photos on Flickr.