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Abigail Wells strives to be a resource.

As a freshman in high school, Wells was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and underwent an amputation of her right leg along with chemotherapy. Throughout this, Wells pushed herself to stay focused on school.

“I was still doing schoolwork and taking AP classes while going through treatment, but after my life looked a whole lot different,” she said. “I knew I needed to be near my parents, and BT����was the most accessible place.”

The decision to come to BT����quickly proved to be the right one.

“When I came to campus, I knew that I would be able to thrive,” Wells said. “It was the best decision. I love it here.”

Wells is now a senior at UCA, majoring in public administration and health promotion. She started BearsAdapt, a registered student organization inspired by the nonprofit she founded after graduating from high school, Natural State Adaptive Sports.

“When I was trying to debate ‘should I amputate, should I not?’ I saw people like Hunter Woodhall running with a prosthetic blade. I was like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be okay, I can still live life,’” she continued. “But I thought, ‘this would be so nice if I had support, if there were resources,’ and so I decided to be the resource.”

Wells aims to build a community for people with disabilities, provide access to resources and educate others to foster a more inclusive environment.

“That has all come from me never believing that things can’t change, and if I put my mind to it, I can at least have an impact on it,” she said. “I feel like you can at least move something 1%, and that’s why I’ve been so involved.”

Wells is also involved in Bears at the Ballot, UCA’s chapter of Vote Everywhere, and was named a Newman Civic Fellow. The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes student leaders and provides them with training, resources and a national network of peers. Through this, Wells was also awarded a $1,500 grant to support Disability Awareness Week at UCA.

After graduation, Wells plans to pursue a master’s degree in public health and a juris doctor so that she can continue to provide assistance and resources to those who need them.

“I would love to work at the CDC or in Arkansas at the Department of Health,” she said. “Somewhere that I can help with legislation because there’s so many people who need an advocate.”