Arkansas

Community College Launches U of A Graduate’s Educational Journey

Published

1 year ago

September 10, 2024

Community College Launches U of A Graduate’s Educational Journey

University of Arkansas

Jennifer Miller receives her framed diploma for a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies from Alishia Ferguson, associate director of the School of Social Work at the U of A. The Razorbug Diploma Tour ceremony June 24 took place in downtown DeWitt.

Jennifer Miller of DeWitt in southeast Arkansas started her college career a bit later in life, but she’s going full steam ahead now, completing a U of A bachelor’s degree last spring and enrolling in graduate school this fall.

Her path began with community college.

The Razorbug Diploma Tour honored Miller last summer during two weeks when graduates of online degree programs are recognized all over the state. Alishia Ferguson, associate director of the School of Social Work, presented Miller’s framed diploma for a Bachelor of Arts in interdisciplinary studies. Miller chose social work as one of the three minor programs of study she combined for the degree.

Miller had been out of school for two decades when she enrolled in 2020 at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas. She was coming off three years of sobriety at the time, following 11 years of addiction. She went on to earn two associate’s degrees while attending the DeWitt campus. PCCUA also has campuses in Helena-West Helena and Stuttgart.

She earned a behavioral health associate’s degree in two years and then went back for a third year to earn general education credits. Often, community college students earn their general education credits before they transfer to a four-year institution. That was not Miller’s original intent, but the people at PCCUA encouraged her, she said.

“I was not sure after the behavioral health (degree) that I even wanted to get a bachelor’s degree,” Miller said on a sizzling hot afternoon in Arkansas County, east of Pine Bluff. “I was not sure that I wanted to continue my education, but a lot of people at Phillips pushed me to continue and get that bachelor’s degree. I loved it. There was nothing stopping me from there.”

Students and others may not realize it’s also a cost-effective path with the lower tuition rates at U of A System community colleges that follow the student upon transfer to the U of A in Fayetteville. There are seven two-year colleges in the U of A System whose students are eligible to benefit from the Arkansas Transfer Achievement Scholarship.

Miller worked as a librarian while going to school at PCCUA and then took a position as a peer support specialist for the Arkansas County Circuit Court, where she assists Drug Court members. In her position, she uses her personal experience of addiction as well as what she learned in the three minors that make up her B.A. in interdisciplinary studies: social work, child advocacy and substance use disorders.

“In the job I’m doing now, I have been where the people that I’m helping have been,” Miller said. “I work with the prosecutor in my county, and I work with the public defender. We are able to pool our ideas together to get the best possible help for the person.”

A mother of three and grandmother of seven, Miller works a second job at a restaurant on the DeWitt downtown square where her diploma presentation took place.

“I try to be a role model and an advocate for people,” she said. “I try to bring a lot of hope to people. I have really been blessed.”

Miller said she chose the online degree program because of its convenience.

“I have a family, two jobs, and I live in a small town, and I just couldn’t pack up and leave my grandkids and my kids,” she said. “Everybody depends on me here.”

Students can choose their three minors for the interdisciplinary studies degree from among several academic colleges. The degree is designed, in part, to help working adults who already earned several college credits, sometimes from years earlier, and want to return to school to finish a degree.

Miller, a first-generation college student, graduated with high distinction in May from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on social work and human development and family sciences. During her bachelor’s degree, she visited the Fayetteville campus two times, once for a ring ceremony to receive her college ring and once for commencement. She advised anyone interested in pursuing a degree online to be dedicated and deliberate.

“Take your time and be sure you know that this is something you want to do,” she said. “Don’t go in there and think that it’s going to be very easy, and you’re going to breeze through it. Be sure you’re dedicated to this program, and you will do wonderful.”

This wasn’t the first time Global Campus has honored Miller. She is a two-time recipient of the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship for students in online degree programs. She describes more of her life experiences and how she got to where she is now in a story announcing the first time she received the scholarship.

The 2024 Razorbug Diploma Tour, in its third year, travels the state in the summer to highlight graduates of online degree programs. The Razorbug was on loan from the Office of Admissions. Global Campus staff drove the Bug more than 2,100 miles through western, southern, eastern and central Arkansas to present 16 diplomas in 15 counties. Only two of the graduates earned bachelor’s degrees. The rest were master’s degrees and one doctorate. In academic year 2024, the U of A awarded 1,013 online degrees and certificates.

Vicki Martin of Global Campus contributed to this story.

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Arkansas

George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

9 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rex Nelson

[email protected]

Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”

After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.

He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.

Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.

From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.

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Arkansas

Hogs Look to Rebound After Midweek Split with Arkansas State

Published

21 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Hogs Look to Rebound After Midweek Split with Arkansas State

Arkansas got a quick reminder this week that baseball doesn’t hand out easy wins.

The Razorbacks head into the weekend after splitting a midweek set with Arkansas State, a two-game stretch that showed both the highs and lows of early season baseball.

Now, the Hogs turn the page and prepare to host UT Arlington in a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Arkansas enters the weekend 7-2 overall. UT Arlington comes in at 2-6. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m., with Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s game will stream on SEC Network+.

Midweek Split Shows Two Sides of Arkansas

The midweek matchup with Arkansas State didn’t go the way the Razorbacks expected at first. In Game 1, Arkansas State won 12-4. It marked the first loss to the Red Wolves in program history.

The Hogs struggled on the mound and couldn’t keep pace as Arkansas State built separation. The result was a reminder that even in-state games can turn quickly if things slip early.

But 24 hours later, Arkansas looked like a different team.

In Game 2, the Razorbacks leaned on dominant pitching and edged Arkansas State 1-0 in a tight contest. It was the kind of bounce-back performance coaches want to see after a tough loss.

The split left Arkansas with lessons on both sides — how quickly things can unravel and how steady pitching can win a game even when runs are hard to find.

Home Comfort at Baum-Walker Stadium

Now the Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium looking to build momentum.

The Hogs have been strong at home and will try to use that setting to steady the ship after the midweek ups and downs. Playing in Fayetteville gives Arkansas a familiar environment and a chance to settle into its routine.

UT Arlington, meanwhile, is coming off a rough stretch. The Mavericks lost their midweek game to Dallas Baptist 6-1 and were swept in a weekend series against Lamar after winning the opener 10-2 before dropping the next two games.

Arkansas has the edge historically, leading the all-time series 7-1. The teams haven’t met since 2006, when the Razorbacks swept a series in Honolulu. This will be the first time UT Arlington plays in Fayetteville.

Pitching Matchups to Watch

The Hogs will roll out a strong weekend rotation.

Friday’s starter is right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 1.93 ERA). He’ll face UT Arlington right-hander Caylon Dygert (0-0, 1.80 ERA). That matchup could set the tone for the series opener.

On Saturday, left-hander Hunter Dietz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Arkansas against Dylan Skolfield (0-2, 6.48 ERA) for the Mavericks.

Sunday’s game will feature left-hander Colin Fisher (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Razorbacks. UT Arlington has not yet named a starter for the series finale.

After seeing how important pitching was in the 1-0 win over Arkansas State, Arkansas will look for more steady outings from its starters and bullpen.

Finding Consistency Early

Through nine games, the Hogs have shown flashes of strong offense and solid pitching. But the midweek split showed that consistency is still forming.

The loss to Arkansas State proved that mistakes can pile up fast. The narrow win that followed showed that disciplined pitching and defense can close out tight games.

This weekend gives Arkansas another chance to sharpen its approach before the schedule gets tougher later in the season.

For fans, the path to watching is simple. Friday’s game streams on SEC Network+, and radio coverage will be available in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM and AM 1590, along with other affiliates across the state.

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Arkansas

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Shawn Price
February 26, 2026

COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.

The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.

James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.

Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.

Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).

South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.

Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.

Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.

Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.

Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).

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