Students presented research, explored innovative approaches to improving health, wellness in Arkansas communities
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, UCA associate 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.