Rogers Heritage High School

KC is proud to have been selected into the University of Arkansas Honor College where he will pursue a degree in Chemical/Environmental Engineering that will allow him to contribute to sustainable development. He hopes to earn an internship with Ecological Design Group (EDG), which is local to Arkansas; their focus is on implementing and preserving ecosystems within societal architecture so society can live in tandem with nature.  Check out one of their apartment complexes, Crystal Flats, near the Amazeum. They will give him experience in planning urban green spaces with functional commercial aspects.   

In high school, KC was on the Cross Country and Track Team and he earned Ap Scholar with Distinction and also English Student of the Year.  One club included Friends of Earth and  he volunteered at Helping Hands.  Working on the Joyner Family Farm and Eureka Springs Zip Line were two jobs that KC experienced.  Good time management helped KC juggle classes, teams, volunteering, and working. 

Keenan lives on a working farm/ranch that his ancestors have owned for nine generations. He stated in his essay:  “Arkansas runs in my blood, my past, present, and future are here.  When I dream of my future career, I foresee myself standing where I always have, working to give back to this place that has given me everything.”

Bentonville West High School

Lydia has been accepted by the University of Arkansas, Bumpers College, to major in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science. She has always been passionate about the environment, and she is excited to expand her knowledge while learning more about the local environment to help protect it,

As a junior, she completed a research project investigating the presence of microplastics in freshwater creeks in NWA. Lydia discovered that these creeks did contain microplastics, primarily in the form of fibers, followed by clear plastics and fragments.

Also, in high school, Lydia was captain of the color guard for two years, so she demonstrated leadership and perseverance as she led her team of varied personalities in collective success. She described herself as a servant-leader. In addition, she is an accomplished violinist and played in the BWHS Chamber Orchestra. Other high school accomplishments include all A’s, AP Scholar with Distinction, National Honor Society, Key Club, and Women of West. One of her teachers described Lydia as well-organized, thoughtful and filled with resilience and grace whether competing, studying, working, or volunteering.

At the U of A Lydia wants to join clubs that will introduce her to new concepts and new people. She has picked a dorm in the center of campus to be accessible to classes and events. Though entering college with enough credits to qualify as a sophomore, she plans to spend four years at the university in order to study abroad. Her career goals include working in an environmental research lab or working in a natural resource management position in which she can help create policies.