University of Central Arkansas Norbert O. Schedler Honors College student Sydney Fallon completed a solo international art exhibition in Seoul, South Korea, over the summer as an Honors capstone project. The exhibition, titled “Art & Seoul”, was held July 24-27 at Mi&Gallery in the Jongno district near Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Inspired by her own lived experience as a Korean adoptee, Fallon created “Art & Seoul” to explore themes of identity, belonging and the Korean adoptee experience through a series of sculptural works created in collaboration with Korean adoptees around the world. Each sculpture incorporated adoption file materials, personal photographs and participant narratives, resulting in an interactive installation.

The project began as an idea during Fallon’s interview for admission into the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College. Inspired by her passion for art and travel, she developed “Art & Seoul” over more than two years with the support of Honors faculty and mentors in the BTĚěĚĂDepartment of Art and Design.

“Ever since I entered the Art program at BTĚěĚĂin 2022, I knew I wanted to focus my artwork on the Korean international adoptee and Korean American experience. I think that my enrollment in the Honors College at BTĚěĚĂhelped me to dream bigger as an artist,” Fallon said.

With guidance from mentor Sandra Luckett, she selected sculpture as the primary medium and built the exhibition around inspiration from Doljabi (돌잡이), a Korean tradition in which symbolic objects are chosen to foreshadow a child’s future. Participants were asked to select an object representing their relationship with South Korea, forming the conceptual foundation for the work.

The exhibition coincided with the student’s first extended return to South Korea since her 2004 adoption. The reception on July 26 aligned with the anniversary of the day she first met her parents, adding personal significance to the milestone. More than 70 attendees, including adoptees and advocates involved with EARS (Emergency Action for Records Storage), participated in the gallery event and online tour.

Throughout the development process, Fallon received extensive academic and creative support from Honors College faculty, including Ellen Hostetter, as well as professors Michael Lierly, Jeff Young, Gayle Seymour and David House.
Fallon said she hopes the exhibition encourages viewers to reconsider their perceptions of international adoption and identity. “If even one person who interacted with “Art & Seoul” was inspired not to stay silent, I believe I will have succeeded,” she said.

Attendees of the 2025 Wellness Summit at the University of Central Arkansas

The University of Central Arkansas recently hosted the 2025 Wellness Summit, allowing honors students around the state enrolled in the “Honors Arkansas Research Scholars: Health and Wellness in Arkansas” course to present their research.

The summit brought together honors students, faculty and guests to share innovative approaches to improving wellness in Arkansas communities. Participating institutions included Arkansas State University Mountain Home, Arkansas Tech University, Southern Arkansas University, Texas A&M Texarkana, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, University of Arkansas Community College Morrilton, and University of Central Arkansas.

“The Wellness Summit gives our students a platform to turn their research into real-world impact,” Dr. Leah Horton, associate dean of the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College at UCA, said. Horton coordinated the logistics for the event along with Drs. Louise Hancox and Jennie Popp at UA Fayetteville.

The event, hosted by Honors Arkansas, featured a full day of engagement focused on advancing health and wellness across the state. The itinerary included a student poster session, where participants presented research projects developed throughout the semester as well as individual research with a health and wellness emphasis.

The keynote luncheon featured Dr. Stephanie Rose, BTĚěĚĂassociate professor and Addiction Studies Program coordinator. Rose spoke of her efforts to spearhead bringing naloxone boxes to campuses across Arkansas through the Collegiate Naloxbox Bystander Rescue Program and Arkansas Act 811, which now requires all colleges, high schools and junior high schools to have naloxone boxes on their campuses.

Lunch was sponsored by the UA Fayetteville Women’s Giving Circle. Afternoon professional development sessions and a student mixer provided opportunities for students to reflect and connect.

The “Health and Wellness in Arkansas” course was the third of its kind to bring students together from four-year and two-year honors programs and colleges across the state. The Honors Research course focuses on challenging honors students to investigate critical issues facing Arkansas. The first course in 2021 focused on hunger and food insecurity, and the 2023 course investigated voting rights.

This past spring, the health and wellness course introduced themes ranging from maternal and child health to healthcare disparities, mental health and substance abuse. Students heard from a number of guest speakers who work in various health fields in the state, including Arkansas Rep. Denise Garner; Craig Wilson, health policy director at Arkansas Center for Health Improvement; Joy Gray, branch chief of the Arkansas Department of Health; and Ashlie Hilbun, chief strategy officer at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, among others.

The collaborative, statewide initiative exemplifies the mission of Honors Arkansas: to enhance the scholarly, professional and social experiences of high-achieving students across the state. Through research and dialogue, participating students researched how to build a healthier, more equitable future for Arkansas.

The entering Schedler Honors College and Schedler Honors Program classes of 2025 have an average high school GPA above 4.1. The Honors College class includes 117 students from Arkansas and 7 students from out of state. All members of the incoming honors class were selected using a holistic admissions process that factors in the applicant’s academic performance, writing ability, and service and leadership potential. The process, which requires written essays, letters of recommendation, and participation in a daylong orientation and interview, has been held up within the national collegiate honors community as one of the most in-depth admissions processes in the nation.The students selected represent an exceptional group of students.

Acceptance into either honors pathway comes with access to supplemental scholarship funding for every student, access to a living-learning community in Jefferson W. Farris Honors Hall, and participation in a unique interdisciplinary curriculum. Students in both programs take part in the high-impact practices of service learning, project-based education, collaborative work, and undergraduate research. Honors students also receive exclusive grant funding support for study abroad, undergraduate research, and internships. Established in 1982 by Norbert O. Schedler under the leadership of then-President Jefferson Farris Jr., the Schedler Honors College at BTĚěĚĂhas become one of the most full-featured honors colleges in the nation and is a leader in providing enhanced educational opportunities in a living learning environment designed to develop students as citizen-scholars.

Established in 2018, the Schedler Honors Program, formerly known as the University Scholars Program, is a four-year honors program that operates alongside the Norbert O. Schedler Honors College. The program was started under the leadership of Honors College Dean Patricia Smith and BTĚěĚĂPresident Houston Davis to increase honors opportunities for a growing number of highly motivated students.

These are the Honors Scholars for fall 2025.

The University of Central Arkansas has announced the Presidential Scholars and Dean’s List for spring 2025.

Recognition as a Presidential Scholar or Dean’s List scholar is based on grades earned during each semester of the regular academic year. Eligibility on the Dean’s List requires at least a 3.5 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours. Students must achieve a 4.0 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours to qualify as a Presidential Scholar.

More than 1,200 students qualified to be Presidential Scholars. More than 1,400 students qualified as Dean’s List scholars. They are listed below: