President Tom Courtway and Vice President of Student Affairs Ronnie Williams recognized 55 students for the 2013-2014 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award Feb. 8 during half time of the UCA men’s basketball game.
Who’s Who is an annual program honoring college students who show potential in leadership. During the selection process, an individual student’s GPA, participation within school organizations and community involvement are all taken into account.
Meghan Thompson, Recognized Student Organizations and university events coordinator, said eligible UCA students must have completed at least 90 hours by December 2013 with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Senior Bryce Crabb, one of the recipients, said it was a great experience to win Who’s Who.
“It’s very humbling to be awarded for being invested in UCA,” Crabb said. “It’s almost difficult to accept an award for it when I feel it’s my own great privilege to be a part of these incredible organizations and a student at the best institution in the state. It’s my honor to serve the students at UCA.”
Crabb, economics major, is a member of the Beta Upsilon Chi fraternity, the Student Government Association, the Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Bear Den and Elevation, a group atNew Life Church.
Senior Emily Beane, a sociology major, UCA ambassador and a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, said she’s been aspiring to win Who’s Who since she was a freshman.
“I was really excited because the [Bear Den Executive Board] always helps with the ceremony,” Beane said. “I was on [the Bear Den Executive Board]up until December and I was the president last year.”
Senior Breanna Tidwell, an English major, said she’s always looked up to the people who won Who’s Who in the past.
“I felt extremely honored to win the same award they did,” Tidwell said. “It was enjoyable meeting many different people on campus. If you’re involved in so many things, you get to meet others that you normally wouldn’t have met.”
Tidwell is a resident assistant and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, Real and Social Justice League member.
Senior Taylor Hicks, a creative writing major, said it felt pretty good to win Who’s Who.
“We got cool plaques,” she said. Hicks is the editor-in-chief for UCA’s literary magazine The Vortex, a member of the honors college, a member of Chi Alpha and one of the co-founders of the Write Now! club.
Senior Michelle Kerr, a health and behavioral science major with a physical therapy emphasis, said she was thankful to end her UCA career with the award.
“It was such an honor to receive Who’s Who because it showed how hard work and dedication pays off,” Kerr said. Kerr is a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, All Greek Council, the student orientation staff, UCA Ambassadors and the pre-physical therapy club.
When asked about how other students could hopefully be recipients of the Who’s Who award in future years, Kerr said they should get involved in all different kinds of organizations so they can meet a wide variety of people.
“Stepping out of my comfort zone and joining organizations outside of my sorority has allowed me to meet some amazing people at UCA,” Kerr said.
A full list of the recipients and their majors can be found on OrgSync through MyUCA.