The Oscar Washington Junior Educational Fund celebrated students and educators on Saturday, April 11th during its ninth annual gala. The event honored 17 scholarship recipients this year, including high school and trade scholars.

We are proud to spotlight Sydnie Washington and the meaningful clinical experience she gained through her internship at the Vein and Vascular Institute at Arkansas Heart Hospital. Immersing herself in nearly 400 hours of hands-on patient care, Sydnie strengthened not only her clinical skills but also her commitment to compassionate, patient-centered medicine. Below, she reflects on…

Sydni Hood is making moves, and making it look easy!  Now completing her sophomore year of college, she has achieved several exciting milestones. This year, she was honored with the Peer Mentor of the Year Award at her university, a recognition of her dedication to supporting and uplifting fellow students through mentorship. She also became…

Mark Leverett knew as a kid that he better find a way to stay out of trouble — and get paid for it. Leverett, a state district judge in Little Rock who has worked in the environmental court, was first elected in 2008.

Faith Kelly is not only an academic weapon, she’s also recently been crowned royalty.  Faith has had the honor of being crowned the 2024-2025 Miss Old Gold & Black in the Miss Old Gold & Black Scholarship Pageant held by the Nu Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Arkansas Tech University. She…

Sydney Franklin is committed to making a change in her community. She was recently selected as the only student from the United States to receive the Change Maker Award, which recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to their community through volunteering, creativity, and commitment to the service of others. Sydney was honored…

Saylor Wilkinson is the heart of healthcare.  After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tulsa, passed her National Council Licensure Examination in July of 2023. She was offered a job at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she currently works as an oncology nurse.  We’re so proud of you,…

Christian Holden is adjusting well to undergraduate life at Hendrix College. On campus, she’s involved in several clubs, including the financial committee and student magazine. She’s not only been enjoying her classes but has been handling the workload impressively well, receiving a 3.5 GPA on this semester’s midterms. She says that writing essays has been…

Sarah Means is going onward and upward! She attended her first two years of her undergraduate career at Arkansas State University Beebe where she graduated with honors with her associates in Liberal Arts and Science. She is now completing her bachelor of arts at Arkansas State in Jonesboro, and even plans to graduate a semester…

Daniel Haley is balancing extracurricular opportunities and academic responsibilities like a pro in his second year of undergraduate education. He is currently an intern for the Arkansas Razorbacks Communications department, where he has had the opportunity to work closely with ESPN and the SEC over the past year and a half. He also was able…