[{"id":94189,"date":"2026-05-19T09:23:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T14:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/?p=94189"},"modified":"2026-05-19T13:56:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:56:14","slug":"ua-little-rock-building-chicagos-78th-neighborhood-ua-little-rock-students-capture-national-best-pitch-titleua-little-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-building-chicagos-78th-neighborhood-ua-little-rock-students-capture-national-best-pitch-titleua-little-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"UA Little Rock Building Chicago\u2019s 78th Neighborhood: UA Little Rock Students Capture National \u2018Best Pitch\u2019 Title UA Little Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"\nThe University of Arkansas at Little Rock Real Estate Team received the \u201cBest Pitch\u201d award at the 16th annual Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Competition in Chicago, competing against 21 undergraduate teams from across the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team\u2019s proposal focused on The 78 \u2014 a 62-acre site along the South Branch of the Chicago River that is planned to become Chicago\u2019s 78th neighborhood. The development includes the future McDonald\u2019s Park stadium, a major sports and entertainment destination, in partnership with the Chicago Fire FC soccer team, designed to support year-round activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representing UA Little Rock were students Brennan Gasaway, Ashley Lopez, Isabel Hortelano, Kodiak Cannedy, and Ryan Hunt, who competed as BAIKR Development, a team name built from each member\u2019s initials. The team developed the award-winning proposal with guidance from industry experts Siteng Ma and Andy Ahitow, while Elizabeth Small, an instructor of real estate, served as the academic advisor throughout the competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDeveloping this pitch taught us patience, discipline, commitment, and teamwork,\u201d the team said. \u201cAs the project evolved, we all became deeply invested in the vision, and receiving this recognition validated the hard work and passion we put into it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposal centered on creating a mixed-use district guided by the principle of \u201cpeople first, buildings second,\u201d with an emphasis on building a development that complemented the surrounding neighborhoods while supporting long-term activity beyond stadium events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taking Ma\u2019s advice to follow the \u201cLive, Work, Play\u201d concept, the team focused on creating a development that complemented the existing neighborhoods and future McDonald\u2019s Park stadium while giving the 78th neighborhood its own identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For \u201cLive,\u201d the students envisioned a walkable residential community with a mix of affordable and market-rate housing designed for students, families, and working professionals, creating a stable environment year-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For \u201cWork,\u201d the proposal introduced office, retail, hospitality, and educational spaces anchored by a Culinary and Hospitality Institute designed to support workforce development and generate daily activity within the district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For \u201cPlay,\u201d the team incorporated restaurants, entertainment venues, hospitality spaces, and public gathering areas intended to extend activity beyond game days while supporting both residents and visitors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the project developed, the team focused on creating a district that could sustain activity beyond major stadium events. With McDonald\u2019s Park serving as a major anchor for the district, the team introduced the Culinary and Hospitality Institute as a second anchor tenant designed to support workforce development, hospitality training, and year-round engagement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe wanted to stay focused on building a community that recognized and included the people already surrounding the space,\u201d Hortelano said. \u201cA big part of our approach was making sure the development felt welcoming and connected to the existing neighborhoods rather than creating something that isolated or displaced them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Small encouraged the students to look beyond the site itself and understand the surrounding demographics as real people and neighborhoods, a perspective that shaped many of the team\u2019s design decisions throughout the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe could see how much the team genuinely believed in its pitch, and we were impressed with how they created an ecosystem that could grow organically with the surrounding community over time,\u201d one competition judge said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the development of their pitch, team members reached out directly to industry professionals and businesses to test ideas and refine the proposal\u2019s feasibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were all really surprised how open all of the professionals we spoke to were,\u201d said the team, \u201cWe spent a lot of time on the phone or talking over email about all of our options, and which made the most sense for the development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the team refined the project, members said their collaboration became one of the group\u2019s greatest strengths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecoming friends made everything much easier,\u201d Lopez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What began as a competition project ultimately became a collaborative learning experience that challenged the students to think beyond the classroom. Through countless conversations, revisions, and real-world outreach, team members said they developed stronger friendships, discovered their individual passions within the project, and gained a deeper understanding of how thoughtful developments can shape communities. Their success at the Eisenberg Competition reflected not only the strength of their proposal, but also the teamwork and shared vision behind it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Real Estate Team received the \u201cBest Pitch\u201d award at the 16th annual Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Competition in Chicago, competing against 21 undergraduate … UA Little Rock Building Chicago\u2019s 78th Neighborhood: UA Little Rock Students Capture National \u2018Best Pitch\u2019 Title UA Little Rock<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2906,"featured_media":94190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[28389,33989,35495,35323,28141,2218],"class_list":["post-94189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-harold-e-eisenberg-foundations-annual-real-estate-challenge","tag-innovation","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-real-estate-program","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"\nUA Little Rock Building Chicago\u2019s 78th Neighborhood: UA Little Rock Students Capture National \u2018Best Pitch\u2019 Title UA Little Rock - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-building-chicagos-78th-neighborhood-ua-little-rock-students-capture-national-best-pitch-titleua-little-rock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Building Chicago\u2019s 78th Neighborhood: UA Little Rock Students Capture National \u2018Best Pitch\u2019 Title UA Little Rock\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Real Estate Team received the \u201cBest Pitch\u201d award at the 16th annual Harold E. 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Little Rock Teacher Residents Celebrate Match Day, Begin Journey Into Arkansas Classrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Six UA Little Rock students learned where they will complete year-long teaching residencies during the 2026\u201327 academic year and are eager to begin working alongside mentor teachers in Central Arkansas classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students in the Trojan Teacher Residency Program celebrated Match Day with faculty, classmates, and school partners as they learned which schools and mentor teachers they will work with during a year-long residency in Central Arkansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The residency program pairs future educators with experienced mentor teachers, allowing students to co-teach lessons, strengthen classroom management skills, and build meaningful relationships with students before graduating and entering the profession full time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2026 teacher residents include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Katelynn Burdiek<\/strong>, placed at Jacksonville Middle School in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, where she will work with mentor teacher Shannon Tipton while pursuing licensure in English Language Arts for grades 4-8.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pedro Cortez Munoz<\/strong>, placed at Jacksonville Middle School in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, where he will work with mentor teacher Deanna Malone while pursuing licensure in Social Studies for grades 7-12.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Brandon Gonzalez<\/strong>, placed at Jacksonville Middle School in the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, where he will work with mentor teacher Meyosha Trammell while pursuing licensure in mathematics for grades 4-8.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Terrika Smith<\/strong>, placed at J.A. Fair K-8 Preparatory School in the Little Rock School District, where she will work with mentor teacher Sarah McPherson while pursuing a bachelor\u2019s degree in elementary education.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Anne Marie de Luca<\/strong>, will complete her special education residency at Forest Heights STEM Academy in the Little Rock School District under mentor teacher Amanda Gammill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dawn Summons<\/strong>, placed at Forest Heights STEM Academy in the Little Rock School District, where she will also work with mentor teacher Amanda Gammill while pursuing special education licensure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For Smith, Match Day marked the beginning of a long-term goal to become the kind of teacher who leaves a lasting impact on students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy hope is to learn and grow into an amazing elementary teacher who inspires students and fosters a love for learning in the classroom,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to building meaningful relationships with both students and staff while gaining valuable experience throughout the school year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said she is especially excited to begin her residency at J.A. Fair and hopes the experience could lead to a long-term future in the district.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs of now, my plan is to love the school so much that it, or at least the Little Rock School District, becomes my home long-term,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Trojan Teacher Residency Program continues to strengthen partnerships between UA Little Rock and Arkansas school districts while helping address the growing need for highly trained educators across the state. Through immersive classroom experiences, students graduate with practical teaching experience and professional mentorship that prepare them to lead their own classrooms with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Match Day celebration also allowed residents to meet school leaders, connect with mentors, and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter as future Arkansas educators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Six UA Little Rock students learned where they will complete year-long teaching residencies during the 2026\u201327 academic year and are eager to begin working alongside mentor teachers in Central Arkansas <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-teacher-residents-celebrate-match-day-begin-journey-into-arkansas-classrooms\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Teacher Residents Celebrate Match Day, Begin Journey Into Arkansas Classrooms<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2036,"featured_media":94188,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[28389,35720,35323,2779,35577,2218,35914],"class_list":["post-94185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-jacksonville-north-pulaski-school-district","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-little-rock-school-district","tag-pulaski-county-special-school-district","tag-student-success","tag-trojan-teacher-residency-program"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Teacher Residents Celebrate Match Day, Begin Journey Into Arkansas Classrooms - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-teacher-residents-celebrate-match-day-begin-journey-into-arkansas-classrooms\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Teacher Residents Celebrate Match Day, Begin Journey Into Arkansas Classrooms\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Six UA Little Rock students learned where they will complete year-long teaching residencies during the 2026\u201327 academic year and are eager to begin working alongside mentor teachers in Central Arkansas ... 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Photo by Benjamin Krain"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-teacher-residents-celebrate-match-day-begin-journey-into-arkansas-classrooms\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"UA Little Rock Teacher Residents Celebrate Match Day, Begin Journey Into Arkansas Classrooms"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/","name":"News","description":"UA Little Rock","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#organization","name":"UA Little Rock","url":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2024\/12\/ua-little-rock-logo-yoast.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2024\/12\/ua-little-rock-logo-yoast.png","width":696,"height":696,"caption":"UA Little Rock"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/ualrvideo","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/school\/university-of-arkansas-at-little-rock\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ualr\/"],"description":"The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is a metropolitan research university that provides an accessible, quality education through flexible learning and unparalleled internship opportunities.","email":"ask@ualr.edu","telephone":"501-916-3000","legalName":"UA Little Rock"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/a8336890d544505fbdbb0f0e689814a7","name":"Justin Bates","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d1ae18e4596879813b7bcda36c3c7c197e4a693e0950660e96dff254ebb9ec1c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d1ae18e4596879813b7bcda36c3c7c197e4a693e0950660e96dff254ebb9ec1c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d1ae18e4596879813b7bcda36c3c7c197e4a693e0950660e96dff254ebb9ec1c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Justin Bates"},"url":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/author\/jbates\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2036"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94185"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94186,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94185\/revisions\/94186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":94166,"date":"2026-05-19T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/?p=94166"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:40:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:40:29","slug":"cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\/","title":{"rendered":"Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>While many graduate students spend evenings studying in the library, Cole Clark spent his time balancing coursework with the fast-paced demands of <a href=\"https:\/\/lrtrojans.com\/sports\/baseball\">Little Rock Baseball<\/a>. For the Clarksville, Arkansas, native, earning a master\u2019s degree in sport management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock meant learning both in the classroom and in the dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark will graduate from UA Little Rock this spring with a <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/academics\/graduate\/sport-management\/\">master\u2019s degree in sport management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark earned his undergraduate degree in health sciences from the University of the Ozarks. Although he knew he wanted to attend graduate school, he was unsure which degree path to pursue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOnce I started looking at options, I came across the sports management program at UA Little Rock, and it was a perfect fit for me,\u201d Clark said. \u201cThe program allowed me to stay close to home and also gave me the opportunity to get hands-on experience while working for the baseball team at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a graduate assistant with Little Rock Baseball, Clark said his coursework closely aligned with the work he was doing every day with the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhile completing the coursework, I was able to experience real-world examples of what we were covering in the classroom,\u201d he said. \u201cI was able to develop a deeper understanding of what was being taught because I was able to apply what we learned in class to real work situations right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark said dependability became the biggest lesson of his graduate experience, teaching him that trust and responsibility go hand in hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was very important that my professors or the coaching staff could depend on me to get things done in a timely manner,\u201d Clark said. \u201cBeing dependable creates trust and respect between you and the professor or coach. Once I had shown that the coaches could depend on me, my responsibility within the program increased, and I was trusted with more important jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark said Dr. Katie Helms had a major impact on his time in the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe was always very interactive with us and was quick to help if we needed anything,\u201d he said. \u201cShe also kept the coursework and classes engaging by giving us the freedom to pick and choose topics or sports that interested us most and gave us the opportunity to work in areas that interested us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He also credits Little Rock baseball head coach Chris Curry for helping shape his understanding of leadership, teamwork, and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom day one, coach Curry has done a great job of leading by example and showing what leadership looks like in the way he communicates and acts,\u201d Clark said. \u201cBeing a part of the coaching staff for two years, I learned that it takes everyone working together and communicating with each other to help achieve our team goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark said accountability and communication were essential to the team\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom a teamwork standpoint, it was important to hold each other accountable and be dependable even when doing the little things,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen communicating with each other, it was important to overcommunicate so that everyone was on the same page and knew what they should be doing and when. Being in a leadership role the last two years has taught me that these three areas are vital to a program\u2019s success, and I believe I am leaving UA Little Rock with a better understanding of all three thanks to coach Curry and Little Rock Baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Clark said his biggest academic accomplishment was passing his board exams on the first attempt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWithout passing those, I would not be able to graduate, so passing them was a big relief,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the field, Clark said he is most proud of winning the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and advancing to a regional final during his first year with the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Little Rock Baseball head coach Chris Curry said Clark played an important role behind the scenes in the program\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCole has done an outstanding job for us working behind the scenes and doing all of the tough jobs that nobody wants to do, but an entry-level coach has to do,\u201d Curry said. \u201cHe\u2019s done it with a great attitude, and he\u2019s been a huge key to our success.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said Clark\u2019s reliability and organizational skills helped him stand out during his time with the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCole comes from a great coaching pedigree with his dad, Jimmy Clark, at the University of the Ozarks,\u201d Curry said. \u201cDuring his time here, Cole has literally done everything we\u2019ve asked him to do. He\u2019s not only a great baseball coach, but an organizer and someone we can rely on. We know that Cole will be successful in whatever he chooses to do next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After graduation, Clark said he is excited to bring the lessons he learned at UA Little Rock to the next program he joins, carrying with him the experience, leadership skills, and dependability that shaped his graduate journey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While many graduate students spend evenings studying in the library, Cole Clark spent his time balancing coursework with the fast-paced demands of Little Rock Baseball. For the Clarksville, Arkansas, native, <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":94167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[28389,36044,122,35323,3272,9540,2218],"class_list":["post-94166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-commencement-2026","tag-graduate-school","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-little-rock-athletics","tag-little-rock-baseball","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"While many graduate students spend evenings studying in the library, Cole Clark spent his time balancing coursework with the fast-paced demands of Little Rock Baseball. For the Clarksville, Arkansas, native, ... Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/05\/Baseball-Graduate.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sydney Ambrus\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sydney Ambrus\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sydney Ambrus\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/d5a5faa4af62b94789436560e8af26dd\"},\"headline\":\"Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T13:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":842,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Baseball-Graduate.png\",\"keywords\":[\"College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE)\",\"Commencement 2026\",\"Graduate School\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Little Rock Athletics\",\"Little Rock Baseball\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/cole-clark-combines-baseball-and-academics-at-ua-little-rock\\\/\",\"name\":\"Cole Clark Combines Baseball and Academics at UA Little Rock - 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Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Frank Thurmond, Instructor of English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, recently earned the Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award for his debut novel, <em>Lottie Deno: A Novel of the Civil War and the American Southwest<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This honor was awarded through the <a href=\"https:\/\/uca.edu\/ftcw\/arkatext-festival\/\">ArkaText Literary Festival<\/a>. The festival, now in its 10th year, is dedicated to recognizing Arkansas authors. For Thurmond, a native Arkansan, the award feels especially meaningful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTo be recognized as an Arkansas writer and to win this award is a really special achievement for me,\u201d Thurmond shared. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thurmond described his literary path as deeply connected to his life in Arkansas. From growing up in rural Arkansas and attending UA Little Rock as a Donaghey Scholar, where his mother also taught, to returning home after years of study and travel abroad, his journey came full circle as he now teaches alongside the same professors who once mentored him as a student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His novel was first selected as a finalist by students in UCA\u2019s MFA Creative Writing program, then chosen as winner by renowned Arkansas literary figure and attorney Philip H. McMath. Along with the award, Thurmond received a trophy, a $1,500 cash prize, and an invitation to give a public reading and talk about his work and writing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI had been told by friends that my name, Frank Thurmond, came up as a 19th-century outlaw, and a friend said, \u2018You should write a novel about this namesake,\u2019\u201d Thurmond said. \u201cI started researching that person, and the only thing he did worthwhile was having married this famous woman, Lottie Deno. I realized the real story was her story, and that led me to researching her and finding out about the incredible story of Lottie Deno.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The result is <em>Lottie Deno: A Novel of the Civil War and the American Southwest<\/em>, a historical fiction novel that follows the life and adventures of the legendary gambler during Reconstruction-era Texas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a new experience to have an award like that,\u201d Thurmond reflected. \u201cIt brought renewed attention to the book and inspired me to keep writing and working on new material.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to being a writer, Thurmond is also a screenwriter, filmmaker, and musician, teaching across multiple departments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI get to practice what I preach and preach what I practice,\u201d Thurmond said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His commitment to sharing his work extends beyond the classroom. Students attend his book launches, readings, and film screenings, further connecting academic study to real-world creative achievement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to be encouraged by students who express interest in and appreciation for my work. That, in turn, inspires me to keep going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thurmond believes in leading by example, encouraging his students to pursue their dreams with determination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI always tell them to persevere and give it their best shot,\u201d he said, emphasizing the importance of networking, seeking out opportunities, and maintaining confidence in the face of setbacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The award adds another milestone to Thurmond\u2019s work as a writer and educator at UA Little Rock, where he continues to balance teaching, creative projects, and an evolving literary career rooted in Arkansas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Frank Thurmond, Instructor of English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, recently earned the Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award for his debut novel, Lottie Deno: A Novel <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2906,"featured_media":94161,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[28389,35358,35323,2218],"class_list":["post-94160","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-humanities-arts-social-sciences-and-education-chasse","tag-frank-thurmond","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Frank Thurmond, Instructor of English at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, recently earned the Phillip H. McMath Post-Publication Book Award for his debut novel, Lottie Deno: A Novel ... UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-19T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/05\/Frank-Thurmond.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Samantha Koros\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Samantha Koros\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Samantha Koros\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/4d2d71db64fc5dad90eaff1ce9387967\"},\"headline\":\"UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-19T13:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":538,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/Frank-Thurmond.png\",\"keywords\":[\"College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education (CHASSE)\",\"Frank Thurmond\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Arts & Culture\",\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/19\\\/ua-little-rock-faculty-frank-thurmond-wins-mcmath-post-publication-book-award-for-debut-novel\\\/\",\"name\":\"UA Little Rock Faculty Frank Thurmond Wins McMath Post-Publication Book Award for Debut Novel - 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Their nanotechnology-based company, NanoLit, earned both national recognition and funding through the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The competition, <a href=\"https:\/\/america250.org\/americas-startup\/\">America\u2019s Startup<\/a>, invited student teams from colleges across the country to pitch early-stage ventures to a panel of prominent entrepreneurs and investors. Out of applicants nationwide, only 30 semifinalist teams were selected to travel to California\u2019s Bay Area for in-person pitching and evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NanoLit was designed to address the harsh side effects of chemotherapy by creating a more targeted treatment approach that reduces damage to healthy cells.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe hair loss, nail bed damage, and loss of immune function that we see in cancer patients are due, at least in part, to the effect of chemotherapy,\u201d Austin said. \u201cBy formulating a drug that is highly selective towards tumor cells, we can mitigate these dangers without compromising the efficiency of the drug, and overall improve patient outcomes\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their goal is to develop a drug that maintains treatment effectiveness while reducing harm to healthy cells, potentially improving patients\u2019 quality of life during cancer care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Neupane, the research carries personal significance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOncology is a field I have dreamt of being in for so long,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve had the opportunity to get to know the field of oncology from the clinical setting for two years, and from behind the fume hood for four years. On top of that, I went through my own tumor operation that put many things into perspective for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The startup grew out of years of undergraduate research in Dr. Noureen Siraj\u2019s lab at UA Little Rock, where both students worked on nanotechnology-related projects and developed the foundation for NanoLit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The competition itself was unlike anything the students had ever experienced before. Throughout the event, participants were filmed as part of the competition experience while pitching and networking with fellow founders and judges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom day one, we were taken on a full filming set, had our hair and makeup done, and had microphones placed on us,\u201d Neupane said. \u201cIt was like our own small moment of being on reality TV, undergraduate Shark Tank edition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The judging panel included high-profile figures such as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, the CFO of OpenAI, and former U.S. Treasurer Rosie Rios along with other prominent entrepreneurs and investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austin and Neupane said the experience felt surreal, as it gave them the opportunity to present their work to entrepreneurs and innovators who have played major roles in shaping technological and financial innovation in the United States over the past several decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was entirely starstruck when we had the opportunity to meet individuals like Rosie Rios and Tim Draper,\u201d Neupane said. \u201cTo have such influential people be so interested in our startup felt like we had stepped into an entirely different world \u2014 the world of entrepreneurs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austin said the experience also reinforced the value of the work the team has been pursuing in the lab for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis was the pinnacle of my undergraduate career, that\u2019s for certain,\u201d Austin said. \u201cThis experience meant seeing that what we\u2019ve been doing in the lab actually matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Competing alongside students from institutions such as Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Pennsylvania initially felt intimidating, the students said, but the experience ultimately reinforced their confidence in the research happening at UA Little Rock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBeing able to put UA Little Rock on the map and have students from universities like Johns Hopkins and Stanford be so impressed by our work puts into perspective how well we have done on our journey so far,\u201d Neupane said. \u201cIt became so clear to me why Dr. Siraj has pushed us so hard the past few years to prepare us for opportunities like this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team ultimately advanced as one of 10 finalists and received $25,000 in grant funding to continue developing NanoLit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the awards package was a scholarship to Draper University, an entrepreneurial training program founded by venture capitalist Tim Draper, which Austin plans to attend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI will be taking this opportunity over the summer to go and learn everything I can about building a business from the ground up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neupane, a graduating senior, said this experience highlighted both the potential of NanoLit and the opportunities still ahead for the company. Meeting entrepreneurs and professionals from a wide range of fields also gave her a new perspective as she prepares to begin medical school at the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine as part of the Class of 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis gave me a different type of passion and respect for the role that business and marketing play in medicine, and it is certainly something I hope to learn more about going into medical school and beyond,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both students said they believe their success came down to a combination of passion and communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neupane said their willingness to openly share their ambition for advancing oncology research helped set them apart, noting that judges described their pitch as \u201cinsane\u201d in the best way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Austin added that a key part of their training in Dr. Siraj\u2019s lab was learning how to make complex science accessible. He said being able to clearly communicate their ideas to judges without a technical background ultimately played a major role in their success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe weren\u2019t afraid to show them our big dreams and passion for this field,\u201d Neupane said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From the research lab to the national stage, Austin and Neupane\u2019s journey showcases how UA Little Rock students are transforming big ideas into meaningful change.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What started as undergraduate research in a laboratory at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has grown into an award-winning startup with the potential to improve cancer treatment for <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/18\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2764,"featured_media":94156,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926,1922],"tags":[25799,35495,35323,6882,2218],"class_list":["post-94143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","category-research","tag-donaghey-college-of-stem","tag-innovation","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-noureen-siraj","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/18\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What started as undergraduate research in a laboratory at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has grown into an award-winning startup with the potential to improve cancer treatment for ... UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/18\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-18T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/05\/America-250-3.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Molly Coleman\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Molly Coleman\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Molly Coleman\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b4c50280636b780e6a82d2a4f4d66223\"},\"headline\":\"UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-18T13:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":995,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/America-250-3.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Donaghey College of STEM\",\"Innovation\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Noureen Siraj\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Arts & Culture\",\"Community\",\"Featured\",\"Research\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/18\\\/ua-little-rock-students-win-national-startup-competition-for-cancer-research-venture\\\/\",\"name\":\"UA Little Rock Students Win National Startup Competition for Cancer Research Venture - 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This spring, the Little Rock native will graduate with her associate degree in nursing, becoming a registered nurse while showing her daughters firsthand what perseverance and determination can achieve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earning a nursing degree was about more than starting a new career. It was about setting an example for her three daughters and showing them what hard work looks like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Balancing school, work, and family responsibilities often meant studying whenever and wherever she could, from the library to her car to the sidelines while her children played at the park. Two of her daughters were toddlers who depended on her daily care, while her oldest daughter balanced sports, schoolwork, and community activities. Alongside parenting responsibilities, Sproles also maintained a full-time job and household responsibilities while completing the nursing curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThey have witnessed, in real-time, the many nights that I would study, complete paperwork, and assignments, and even practice nursing skills until well after midnight,\u201d Sproles said. \u201cMy girls being able to witness me put in the effort to succeed in this program will show them that they, too, can do anything to which they set their minds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sproles didn\u2019t allow those challenges to stand in her way, but she said she could not have succeeded without the support of UA Little Rock\u2019s nursing faculty, her family, and her workplace. Faculty members made themselves available for one-on-one support, offered additional study resources, and provided hands-on opportunities to strengthen nursing skills outside the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Education and service have always been part of Sproles\u2019 story. She grew up in a family that valued learning, leadership, and giving back to the community, including her mother and grandmother, Tonya and Henrietta Sproles, both educators, and her grandfather, Tommy L. Sproles Sr., the first Black appointed Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRaised in a family deeply rooted in the values of education, respect, integrity, kindness, and personal responsibility, Karmin developed a strong foundation that has guided her personal and professional journey,\u201d said Dr. Sheila M. Brooks, clinical assistant professor in the UA Little Rock School of Nursing. Brooks said Sproles\u2019 determination remained evident as she balanced motherhood, full-time employment, and the demands of nursing school while continuing to pursue academic and professional excellence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of the classroom, Sproles remains active in community service and leadership through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., continuing the values of service and leadership that were instilled in her at an early age. Brooks said she believes Sproles\u2019 compassion and dedication will leave a lasting impact on the nursing profession and the patients she serves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere were many times when I questioned whether or not I could keep going,\u201d Sproles said. \u201cHearing my daughters tell me, \u2018<em>good job, mommy!<\/em>\u2019 and being around successful nurses helped me push through and stay motivated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When Sproles crosses the commencement stage this spring, she said her daughters will be at the forefront of her mind. The moment will represent both the completion of one challenging chapter and the beginning of a lifelong career dedicated to caring for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI believe I will inspire others to know that, despite numerous life challenges, educational success is possible,\u201d Sproles said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For the last several years, Karmin Sproles has spent her days working full time, her evenings caring for her three daughters, and her late nights studying for one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/15\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2036,"featured_media":94141,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[36044,35323,36026,25167,34646,2218],"class_list":["post-94140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-commencement-2026","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-pat-walker-center-for-nursing","tag-school-of-nursing","tag-shelia-brooks","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/15\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For the last several years, Karmin Sproles has spent her days working full time, her evenings caring for her three daughters, and her late nights studying for one of the ... UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/15\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UALittleRock\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-15T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/240\/2026\/05\/nurse.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Justin Bates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Justin Bates\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Justin Bates\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/a8336890d544505fbdbb0f0e689814a7\"},\"headline\":\"UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-15T13:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":573,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/240\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/nurse.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Commencement 2026\",\"Leaders in the Classroom and Communities\",\"Pat Walker Center for Nursing\",\"School of Nursing\",\"Shelia Brooks\",\"Student Success\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Community\",\"Featured\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ualr.edu\\\/news\\\/2026\\\/05\\\/15\\\/ua-little-rock-graduate-builds-educational-legacy-for-her-daughters-through-nursing-degree\\\/\",\"name\":\"UA Little Rock Graduate Builds Educational Legacy for Her Daughters Through Nursing Degree - 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Little Rock Hosts 2026 Summer Camps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>From robotics and cybersecurity to athletics, theatre, and creative writing, UA Little Rock will offer a wide variety of summer camps and enrichment programs in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Explore the full list of UA Little Rock summer camps and enrichment opportunities below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-athletic-camps\">Athletic Camps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information or to register for athletic camps, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/lrtrojans.com\">lrtrojans.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Baseball Camp \u2013 Benton<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 22-24<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 Noon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $120<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Ages 6-13<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Baseball Camp \u2013 North Little Rock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 13-15<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 Noon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $120<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Ages 6-13<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Baseball Camp \u2013 Little Rock<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 15-18<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $120<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Ages 6-13<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Men\u2019s Golf Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 15-20<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball College Prep Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 13<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 Noon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $99<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Elite Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 20<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 4 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $150<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball All Skills Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 6-7<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $250<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 9-13<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Position Specialty Camp: Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 13<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: Noon \u2013 3 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $99<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Position Specialty Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 13-15<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Description: 3-Day Camp<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $275<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Position Specialty Camp: Offense\/Hitter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 14<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: Noon \u2013 3 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $99<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Position Specialty Camp: Defense\/1st Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 15<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: Noon \u2013 3 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $99<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball All Skills Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 17-18<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $279<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Volleyball Elite Clinic Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 20-21<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 4 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $279<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Girls ages 14-18<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Women\u2019s Basketball Team Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 22-23<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Women\u2019s Basketball Individual Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 29-30<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 12:30-5:30 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $90<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 5-12<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Women\u2019s Basketball Advanced Skills\/Elite Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: Aug. 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 11:30 a.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $55<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 9-12<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wrestling Training Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 7-9<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wrestling 7-Day Elite Intensive Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 7-13<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wrestling Team Competition Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 8-11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-stem-camps\">STEM Camps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, or to register for STEM camps, please contact Jami Eubanks at <a href=\"mailto:jeubanks1@ualr.edu\">jeubanks1@ualr.edu<\/a> unless otherwise noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Engineering Scholars Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 7-13<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 8-11<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AI Hackathon & HealthTech Startup Week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 8-12<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Ages 16-26<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact: Marla Johnson at <a href=\"mailto:mkjohnson@ualr.edu\">mkjohnson@ualr.edu<\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Operation Cyber Sleuth<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 22-26<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $85<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 7-12<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VEX IQ Robotics Summer Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 22-26<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 8 a.m. \u2013 Noon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $150<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 5-8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VEX V5 Robotics Summer Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 22-26<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 1-5 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $150<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 8-12<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Girls Who CODE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 27-31<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 8 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 7-8<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-arts-and-culture\">Arts and Culture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Young Writers Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 1-5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 8:30 a.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $300<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 3-5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact: Greg Graham at <a href=\"mailto:gxgraham@ualr.edu\">gxgraham@ualr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Emerging Writers Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 22-26<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 9 a.m. \u2013 1 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $175<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 6-10<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact: Greg Graham at <a href=\"mailto:gxgraham@ualr.edu\">gxgraham@ualr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>MT Stage: From the Bard to Broadway<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: June 29 \u2013 July 3<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 8:30 a.m. \u2013 4:30 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: Free<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades 7-9<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Copy: Lori Delk at <a href=\"mailto:ladelk@ualr.edu\">ladelk@ualr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Summer Laureate University for Youth (SLUFY)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 6-17<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time: 12:30-5:15 p.m.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $350<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional Fees: $25 application fee included<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For: Grades K-6<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contact: Ann Robinson at <a href=\"mailto:aerobinson@ualr.edu\">aerobinson@ualr.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Adult and Professional Development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, or to register for adult and professional development opportunities this summer, visit <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/art\/artways-summer-program\/\">https:\/\/ualr.edu\/art\/artways-summer-program\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A+D Workshop for K-12 Art Educators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Session 1: June 1-5<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Session 2: June 15-19<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: Free<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AP Summer Institute (APSI)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dates: July 21-24<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Registration Deadline: July 14<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cost: $750 or $799 depending on the course<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From robotics and cybersecurity to athletics, theatre, and creative writing, UA Little Rock will offer a wide variety of summer camps and enrichment programs in 2026. Explore the full list <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/ua-little-rock-hosts-2026-summer-camps\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Hosts 2026 Summer Camps<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":94147,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1923,1925,1926],"tags":[35619,35323,2218,3350,29159],"class_list":["post-94121","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-culture","category-community","category-featured","tag-advanced-placement-summer-institute","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success","tag-summer-camps","tag-summer-laureate-university-for-youth-slufy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Hosts 2026 Summer Camps - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/ua-little-rock-hosts-2026-summer-camps\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Hosts 2026 Summer Camps\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"From robotics and cybersecurity to athletics, theatre, and creative writing, UA Little Rock will offer a wide variety of summer camps and enrichment programs in 2026. 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That lived experience shaped her graduate research on resilience. This month, Wolven will earn a master\u2019s degree in applied communication from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Magnet Cove, Arkansas, resident earned a bachelor\u2019s in studio art with a minor in photography from UA Little Rock in 2017, but never imagined she would pursue a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Thanks to the Shelby Breedlove scholarship from UA Little Rock, the tuition assistance program with my employer at Arkansas Children\u2019s, and a deep value for personal and professional growth, I decided to pursue a communication degree,” Wolven said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolven serves as a strategic initiatives project manager in the Patient Experience Department and as a Family Advisory Board coordinator at Arkansas Children\u2019s Hospital. She has also been a photographer for 13 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy desire to improve my communication skills comes from both my role as a professional and my role as a mother to three children, one of whom is a medically complex child who inspires my journey daily,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her graduate school journey included personal challenges that tested her resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“When I was first pursuing my M.A., I was pregnant with my oldest, and also spent four months in the NICU with him during that time,” she explained. “I had to give myself grace and take my time with the master\u2019s, especially after finding out I was pregnant at the end of 2024. Though it took me a little longer than most since I was averaging one to three classes a semester, I did not give up.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Julien Mirivel, a UA Little Rock professor of applied communication, was Wolven\u2019s master’s paper advisor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn her paper, she explored the nature of resilience of families facing medical hardships, especially when dealing with a child who is medically complex,\u201d he said. \u201cThis research echoes her own experience since her child was diagnosed at birth with rare complications. Still, she persevered through her graduate work, delivered a baby in the process, and conducted meaningful research.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolven has shared her research beyond the classroom, including with several staff members and parents she\u2019s met. \u201cI have also had the opportunity to present my research to one of Dr. Mirivel’s positive communication classes, to our Working Mothers ERG (Employee Resource Group) at the hospital, and in the 2026 Research and Creative Works Expo,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Encouraging words from her father before he passed in 2020 helped guide her through graduate school, Wolven said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“One of the last things I remember him really telling me, when I was at a rather low point in my life, was how he thought I should pursue school further because he thought that was always something that kept me grounded and motivated,” she said. “On the days I wanted to give up, I kept reminding myself how proud he would be of me. My mom has also always been a huge supporter. . .We all can do it if we set our minds to it – one day at a time.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolven said earning her master’s degree strengthened her confidence as a communicator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>“Positive communication allows us the chance to be not only the light to others, but the light in ourselves,” she said. “The way we talk to ourselves matters. During times of adversity, lean on this. During times of triumph, share this. It makes the difference.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For Sarah Wolven, communication is more than an academic subject \u2014 it\u2019s a survival skill and a source of strength. That lived experience shaped her graduate research on resilience. This <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/building-resilience-through-words-sarah-wolvens-graduate-journey\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Building Resilience Through Words: Sarah Wolven\u2019s Graduate Journey<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":94136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926,1922],"tags":[2624,35910,122,35323,2218],"class_list":["post-94135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","category-research","tag-applied-communication","tag-arkansas-childrens-hospital","tag-graduate-school","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Building Resilience Through Words: Sarah Wolven\u2019s Graduate Journey - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/14\/building-resilience-through-words-sarah-wolvens-graduate-journey\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Building Resilience Through Words: Sarah Wolven\u2019s Graduate Journey\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For Sarah Wolven, communication is more than an academic subject \u2014 it\u2019s a survival skill and a source of strength. That lived experience shaped her graduate research on resilience. This ... 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Little Rock Expands Direct Admission Program with Addition of UACCM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has expanded its new <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/admissions\/\">direct admission program<\/a> for transfer students with the addition of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, making it easier for Arkansas students to finish a bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The direct admission program creates a simpler path for community college students to transfer to UA Little Rock. Students can complete their first two years at a community college and then transition to UA Little Rock to finish a four-year degree, with fewer application steps and more guidance along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cUA Little Rock is proud to continue expanding innovative pathways that make higher education more accessible for Arkansas students,\u201d said Chancellor Christina S. Drale. \u201cBy growing our partnerships with community colleges like the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, we are helping more students see a direct and achievable path to completing their bachelor\u2019s degree.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through the partnership, eligible students at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton will benefit from features designed to remove common transfer barriers, including a waived undergraduate admission application fee, coordinated transcript collection to reduce administrative steps and costs, and access to the Trojan Transfer Hub. The online platform allows students to explore how their coursework applies to UA Little Rock degree programs and provides guidance throughout the transfer process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTransfer students are a vital part of our campus community, and we are committed to making their pathway to a four-year degree as clear and accessible as possible,\u201d said Cody Decker, vice chancellor for student affairs and chief data officer at UA Little Rock. \u201cExpanding this program to include the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton creates new opportunities for students to continue their education and reach their goals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leaders at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton said the partnership will help more of their students continue their education with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPartnerships within the UA System are very natural pathways for students wishing to pursue a bachelor\u2019s degree. With a clear and student-supportive transfer experience to UA Little Rock, students are now able to continue their education seamlessly beyond an associate degree\u201d said UACCM Chancellor Lisa Willenberg. \u201cWe\u2019re happy to be a part of the expanded access for more of our students to earn a bachelor\u2019s degree and build their future right here in Arkansas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The direct admission transfer partnerships will begin in Fall 2026 and are part of UA Little Rock\u2019s ongoing commitment to expanding access to higher education and supporting student success across Arkansas. Learn more about the program at <a href=\"http:\/\/ualr.edu\/admissions\">ualr.edu\/admissions<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has expanded its new direct admission program for transfer students with the addition of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, making <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/13\/ua-little-rock-expands-direct-admission-program-with-addition-of-uaccm\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> UA Little Rock Expands Direct Admission Program with Addition of UACCM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":93828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[4310,36024,35323,2218],"class_list":["post-94133","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-admissions","tag-chancellor-christina-drale","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UA Little Rock Expands Direct Admission Program with Addition of UACCM - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/13\/ua-little-rock-expands-direct-admission-program-with-addition-of-uaccm\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UA Little Rock Expands Direct Admission Program with Addition of UACCM\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The University of Arkansas at Little Rock has expanded its new direct admission program for transfer students with the addition of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, making ... 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Setter Kaylee Smith Graduates Early with Honors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Kaylee Smith is leaving her undergraduate career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock earlier than expected \u2014 and with honors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith, a <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/management\/\">management<\/a> major from Little Rock, will graduate this month magna cum laude with a GPA above 3.8 while continuing her volleyball career in the university\u2019s MBA program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A setter for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lrtrojans.com\/sports\/womens-volleyball\">Little Rock Trojans volleyball<\/a> team, Smith said she chose UA Little Rock because it felt like the right fit academically and athletically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFrom the beginning, I could see that the program would challenge me in the classroom while also giving me the opportunity to compete at a high level in volleyball,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI really valued the supportive environment from the coaches, professors, and teammates. It felt like a place where I could grow and be pushed to reach my full potential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI also liked that I could build strong relationships and not feel like just a number,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith did not originally plan to graduate early, but continued taking courses to challenge herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOver time, that added up and put me in a position to finish ahead of schedule,\u201d she said. \u201cIt still took a lot of discipline, time management, and sacrifice, especially balancing academics with being a student-athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said earning magna cum laude honors and maintaining a GPA above 3.8 made the hard work worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019m really proud of, not just because of the recognition, but because of the consistency and effort it took over time,\u201d she said. \u201cMore than anything, it gives me confidence going into the next chapter, knowing I was able to push myself and succeed at a high level both in the classroom and on the court.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, Smith was inducted into UA Little Rock\u2019s Phi Kappa Phi chapter, the nation\u2019s oldest collegiate honor society. She was also nominated for Female Scholar of the Year at this year\u2019s Trojan Top Awards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt represents all the hard work I\u2019ve put in both academically and athletically, and it means a lot to be recognized for balancing both at a high level,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAs a student-athlete, you\u2019re constantly working to meet expectations in the classroom and on the court, so this nomination feels like a reflection of that commitment and consistency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She added that the recognition helps challenge stereotypes about student-athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAcademics have always been a priority for me as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside the classroom and volleyball court, Smith serves on the executive board for UA Little Rock\u2019s Management and HR Society and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She was also elected SAAC president for the upcoming school year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said her favorite memory as a student-athlete was Little Rock\u2019s five-set victory over Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) in its first home conference match last season at the Jack Stephens Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe energy in the gym was unreal,\u201d she said. \u201cThe stands were packed, and the intensity was high from the very first point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said the match remained close throughout, and the team stayed united through every set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cGetting that win to start conference play at home, in that kind of environment, is something I\u2019ll always remember because of the atmosphere, the competitiveness, and the way our team stayed together,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith credits professor Phil Harris and athletic trainer Jess Kiser for making a lasting impact on her journey at UA Little Rock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI learned so much in his management classes, but what stood out even more was the mentorship he provided outside of the classroom through the Management and HR Society,\u201d Smith said of Harris. \u201cHe genuinely cared about helping students grow, not just academically but professionally as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She said Kiser consistently supported student-athletes through injuries and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe was incredibly passionate about her job and truly cared about each of us as athletes and people,\u201d Smith said. \u201cShe was always there whenever we were dealing with injuries, making sure we were taken care of and supported every step of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After graduation, Smith plans to use her remaining year of volleyball eligibility to continue playing for the Trojans while pursuing her MBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis next chapter is a chance for me to keep growing both academically and athletically,\u201d she said. \u201cCompeting at a high level while taking on a graduate program will continue to push my discipline, time management, and leadership skills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said her biggest advice for future student-athletes is not to underestimate themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s easy to underestimate what you\u2019re capable of when you\u2019re balancing a full academic and athletic schedule,\u201d she said. \u201cBut you\u2019re capable of more than you think if you stay disciplined and committed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also emphasized the importance of resilience and focusing on what can be controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou can\u2019t control every outcome, but you can control your effort, attitude, preparation, and how you show up every day,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIf you focus on those things, everything else tends to fall into place over time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kaylee Smith is leaving her undergraduate career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock earlier than expected \u2014 and with honors. Smith, a management major from Little Rock, will <a href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/13\/trojan-setter-kaylee-smith-graduates-early-with-honors\/\" class=\"more-link\">…<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> Trojan Setter Kaylee Smith Graduates Early with Honors<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":94130,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1925,1926],"tags":[28370,36044,122,35323,2276,24765,2218],"class_list":["post-94129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-featured","tag-college-of-business-health-and-human-services","tag-commencement-2026","tag-graduate-school","tag-leaders-in-the-classroom-and-communities","tag-little-rock-trojans","tag-school-of-business","tag-student-success"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Trojan Setter Kaylee Smith Graduates Early with Honors - News - UA Little Rock<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ualr.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/13\/trojan-setter-kaylee-smith-graduates-early-with-honors\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trojan Setter Kaylee Smith Graduates Early with Honors\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Kaylee Smith is leaving her undergraduate career at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock earlier than expected \u2014 and with honors. Smith, a management major from Little Rock, will ... 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