Two 2023 Dierks High School graduates were among the 79 exceptional high school students selected to receive the UofA Honors College Fellowships.
The Honors College Fellow, Class of 2027 includes Jenna Bray and Mackay Smith.
Bray, daughter of Brad and Karla Bray, scored 33 on her ACT and had a GPA of 4.09 at Dierks.
Smith, son of Jason and Crystal Smith, also maintained a 4.09 GPA at DHS and scored 33 on his ACT.
The fellowships, which award up to $80,000, largely cover tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other academic expenses over four years, providing these students the freedom to pursue original research, study abroad, service learning and other academic interests.
The fellowship funds can also be combined with other scholarships and grants, such as the more than $1.2 million in study abroad and research grants that the Honors College awards to students each year.
The new fellows boast an average grade point average of 4.25 and an average composite ACT score of 33.9, and 10% are the first in their family to attend college.
The members of this distinguished class plan to study a diverse range of subjects, from biology and chemical engineering to anthropology, data science and architecture.
Many have achieved notable recognition. Within this group of new fellows, 29 were named National Merit Finalists. Overall, each of these new fellows has an impressive record full of accomplishments.
The fellowship application process is rigorous. Students must score at least a 32 on the ACT and achieve a minimum 3.9 grade point average to apply.
Each student’s application is then reviewed by Honors College administrators and faculty for evidence of intellectual curiosity, leadership potential and community involvement.
The selection process also involves a timed writing test and a campus interview for finalists.
Including the 2023 recipients, a total of 1,685 students have benefited from the Honors College Fellowship program.
Recent fellows include Truman, Goldwater and Udall Scholars, Fulbright award winners and an Olympic pole vaulter.
Fellowship alumni are launching startups, taking leadership roles at international corporations and nonprofit organizations, and pursuing higher degrees at schools such as Harvard Law School, Johns Hopkins University, Cambridge University, University of Chicago Medical School, the California Institute of Technology, University of Virginia and Tufts University School of Medicine.
