Top Sciences and Mathematics Students Named during Convocation of Scholars
JONESBORO – The Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics at Arkansas State University recognized its most outstanding graduating students during the 2025-26 academic year, according to Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, dean of the college. The Convocation of Scholars ceremony was held at the Cooper Alumni Center.
The Chancellor’s Scholar award was presented to Renee Pye of Sheridan. The Chancellor’s
Scholar is the graduating student with the highest overall grade point average in
the respective academic college and the most credit hours at A-State.
The recipients of the 4.0 Scholar Award were Pye, Salma Abdel-Karim of Jonesboro,
Jenna Brown of Des Arc, Alexander Flores of Jonesboro, Kalayna King of Conway, Cara
Pirani of Cordova, Tenn., Victoria Poole of Batesville, Olivia Sloan of Walnut Ridge,
and Gareth Yarbrough of Paragould.
Abdel-Karim also won the Beck College of Sciences and Mathematics Dean’s Award, which
recognizes a student who most exemplifies resilience, discipline and strength of character
in the academic journey.
The departmental awards are presented to the graduate in each degree program who has
most excelled in scholarship, leadership and service to the department.
Those receiving awards in their respective degree programs (by department) were:
Biological Sciences
Kalayna King of Conway and Olivia Sloan of Walnut Ridge, Bachelor of Science (BS),
biological sciences (pre-professional studies); Destiny Taylor of Jonesboro, BS, biological
sciences (zoology emphasis); Lillian Glidewell of Paragould, BS, biological sciences
(environmental science emphasis); Sarah Watson of Dyer, Tenn., BS, biological sciences
(biology evolution, ecology and organismal biology emphasis); Austin Bailey of Cave
City, BS, wildlife, fisheries and conservation; and Zach Rikard of Jonesboro, BS,
biotechnology.
Chemistry and Physics
Salma Abdel-Karim of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Arts (BA), chemistry; Dawn Gipson of Sherwood,
BS, chemistry; Kaylee Leddy of Cave City, BS, biochemistry.
Mathematics and Statistics
Sebastian Barger of Paragould and Sam Hobson of Jonesboro, Bachelor of Science in
Education (BSE), mathematics; Joseph Cowell of Ozark, BS, mathematics; Willem Coertzen
of Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, BS, actuarial sciences.
Graduate Programs
Graduate student awards were presented to three master’s degree students and one doctoral
degree candidate.
The students and their respective programs were: Hoang Vu of Vietnam, MS, statistics;
Helena Wheeler of Pottsville, Ark., MS, environmental sciences; Kipa Tamrakar of
Kathmandu, Nepal, MS, molecular biosciences; and Orithea Regn of Des Plaines, Ill.,
Ph.D., environmental sciences.
The graduating ambassadors for the college also were recognized. They are Salma Abdel-Karim
of Jonesboro, Austin Bailey of Cave City, Kalayna King of Conway, Mollie McClain of
Marianna, Thomas Naylor of Maumelle and Renee Pye of Sheridan.
