Abigail Thurstenson of Siloam Springs has received a prestigious Honors College Fellowship from the University of Arkansas. The $70,000 fellowship largely covers tuition and fees, books, room and board over four years.
Thurstenson graduated from Siloam Springs High School. She is the daughter of Chris and Sarah Thurstenson.
"The Honors College Fellows are among the best students in the country, and are being recruited by top schools from coast to coast," said Noah Pittman, assistant dean of the Honors College. "We are very proud that these fellowships help bring these students to the University of Arkansas. Their intellectual curiosity and commitment to service will undoubtedly make them leaders in our community."
The fellowship application process is rigorous. Students must score at least 32 on the ACT exam and have a 3.8 grade point average to apply, and Honors College administrators review each student application for evidence of intellectual curiosity, leadership potential and community involvement. The selection process also involves a writing test and campus interview for finalists in early March.
This year's class of Honors College Fellows achieved an average high school GPA of 4.18 and an ACT score of nearly 34, placing them in the 99th percentile nationwide. This class includes 24 National Merit Scholars.
The Honors College Fellowships are made possible by a portion of the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation's $300 million gift to the university in 2002.
General News on 06/29/2016