Name: Perla Zapata

Hometown: De Queen, Arkansas

Year: Freshman

What UCA organizations have you joined?

• Ìý Ìý University Scholars Program

Why did you choose the 51ÇàÂ¥?

I chose UCA because of the University Scholars program from the Honors College. I knew from the moment I stepped foot on the campus that UCA was where I belonged. The campus is beautiful, and I was excited to experience something new.Ìý

What interested you about the University Scholars Program?

I like how the environment focuses on cultivating social consciousness and allows people to share ideas. Being part of that is empowering and inclusive. I love the fact that it’s open-minded. It’s a safe space where students and professors express new ideas, which encompasses what I value.Ìý

What classes have you enjoyed the most?

That’s an easy one. Exploring religion with Dr. Clayton Crockett. It’s one of my favorites. I love how he approaches the topics. He keeps us engaged and challenges us to think outside of our experiences. Students in that class had different religious beliefs, but he helped us respectfully learn other religions.Ìý

What are some favorite places to visit on campus?

Although there are many spots, one of my favorite things to do is visit the fountain. It’s beautiful to sit and stay for a while. My regular study spots are the Farris Hall study room and a specific corner in the library.Ìý

You’re a freshman. What’s something that surprised you after starting to attend UCA?

I didn’t realize how everything connected. Starting out, many of my courses connected even though they were different topics. That made me realize how I was set up to succeed. I am lucky that my professors and this community are helpful. Feeling like I’m on my own has never been an issue.ÌýÌý

What’s a resource you think all students should know?

I didn’t know about the academic success workshops when I started. It’s the easy stuff that you wouldn’t think about that blew my mind, like how to effectively communicate with professors or balancing family, school, and work. I learned that sometimes I need to tell people that it’s okay to say, “No, I don’t have time for that.” It’s okay to compromise and be aware of how much time you have. Time management is critical. If you work an hour and a half a day, you will knock out so much, and you’re not going to be stressed.

You live on campus. What’s something that you brought from home?

Comfort items. I brought a lot of blankets and pillows to make it homey. I think it’s important to make your dorm feel like your own.

What are you looking forward to accomplishing at UCA?

I want to get more involved and join more organizations—hopefully, the Student Government Association.

Name:

Hometown:ÌýLittle Rock, Arkansas

Area of Study:ÌýPhysical Therapy, doctoral student

What UCA organizations have you joined?

• Minorities Mentoring in Health Care

Why did you choose the 51ÇàÂ¥?

I came to UCA because the physical therapy program is top in the nation. I immediately liked the campus as an undergrad, and thought going to physical therapy school would be a good transition.

What drew you to physical therapy?

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the elderly population. There’s a demand for more health care workers to be involved in it, especially for physical therapy that is more hands-on. I get more time with patients. I get to actually be there and help them and see that progress.Ìý

Physical therapy wasn’t always the plan, but in the back of my mind, I always wanted to be in the health care field. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, so I spent some time shadowing different options. During that time, physical therapy was tucked away in the back of my mind. I decided that was what I wanted to commit my life.

What’s the best class you’ve had?

Three classes: adult neurological rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, and musculoskeletal physical therapy. A lot pertains to what I want to do with my career and help the elderly population. I’ve learned about the different diagnoses, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.Ìý

What are essential qualities to have to be a physical therapist?

Being personable and approachable is the most feedback I’ve gotten from patients. The more positive you are the better your patients will react. They can ask me things that they wouldn’t usually ask somebody who’s not approachable. That trust segues into conversations like, ‘I’m having this issue. What can I do about it?’ You can catch problems in therapy before it gets worse. Physical therapy sessions include techniques and interventions that don’t necessarily feel good, but it helps a patient to have a professional with a smile on their face and say, ‘I know this hurts, but we have to work.’

What PT issues do you want to address with older people?

Top of the list is balance and postural issues. Much of the elderly community deals with a loss of balance, leading to an increased risk of falls. I’ve learned a lot in my neuro class on how to address their postural imbalance impairment and strengthen their muscupostlature to help them move around the house or walk throughout the community.Ìý

I’ve been certified for a program called . It is physical therapy designed specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. They tend to struggle with a slow, shuffling gait, and their movements aren’t as big as they used to be. They tend to keep their body close and packed together. This certification taught me how to help patients expand their movements beyond a slow, compact motion and move their bodies more.

What are your favorite places to visit on campus?

I spend a lot of time in the HPER Center, whether it’s playing basketball, working out, or just participating in any of the things they have going on there.Ìý

What advice would you give to new students or someone thinking about attending UCA?

The biggest advice that I tend to give people is to spend more time deciding what you want to do and value your education. Before I transferred to UCA, I had to figure things out. I had to take my time. That allowed me to shadow physical therapists to see what they do, what their day was like, and how they treat patients. I think being able to do that drove home the idea of doing this for the rest of my life. This is a great career, and I wouldn’t change anything about it.

Name:

Hometown:ÌýPocahontas, Arkansas

Major/Year:ÌýGraduate student, Health Promotion; Class of 2020, Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Science

Why did you choose UCA?

I chose UCA because I attended many of the summer camps that the campus hosted, and I enjoyed the nature and beauty that the campus offered.ÌýThe central location was a bonus, as I was never too far from friends and family.

What drew you to your major?

Exercise was a hobby of mine at the time, and I was curious to learn more about it. I figured that I would enjoy my classes more if I was learning about something I was passionate about.

You are an avid bicyclist. Tell us about that.

I was drawn to biking during my sophomoreÌýyear as a way to stay active, explore nature and feed my competitive spirit. I have found such a strong community with cycling here in Conway that has kept me riding. I was also given the opportunity to race bikes on a local team, Blue Sail Coffee Cycling, which has allowed me to stay competitive.ÌýConway offers some amazing places to ride.ÌýYou can hit the quiet roads around the new airport onÌýLollie Road and Round Mountain,Ìýor hit one of the many localÌýmountain bikeÌýtrails.ÌýNo matter where I chose to ride, I can always expect an enjoyable experience.

What’s your favorite things to do or places toÌývisit onÌýcampus?

I actually enjoy spending time in the library. The atmosphere of people studying and working together on assignments really motivates me to practice good study habits and learn.

What’s the best class that you’ve ever taken?

Exercise physiology.ÌýThis class paved the way to how involved exercise can be.ÌýWe learned how exercise is not just about big muscles, but instead how it can enhance so many different aspects of our health and wellness. My professor, Dr. Thomas Lowder, taught this course in such a way that made it exciting and interactive.

What’s aÌýfavoriteÌýexperience you’ve had at UCA?

My favorite experience at UCA was working at the HPER. This was a part-time job that allowed me to get my foot in the door of the fitness world and build relationships with other students and faculty.

What are the goals that you want to accomplish at UCA?

My current goal is to finish my Master of Science in Health Promotion to further my career in the health and fitness industry.

For Hannah Roberson, her desire to enter the medical field began as a child. Now, the junior biology major is studying to be a physician assistant to specialize in treating children.

Name:ÌýHannah Roberson

Hometown:ÌýMt. Vernon, Arkansas

Major/Year:ÌýBiology major, Junior

What UCA organizations have you joined?

• • • Alpha Sigma Alpha
    • Baptist Colligate Ministry
    • Biology Club
    • Food Recovery Network
    • Pre-PA Club

Why did you choose the 51ÇàÂ¥?ÌýI chose UCA because of my mom and sister. They went here, and I heard a lot of good things from them. I’m 30 minutes away from Conway, and I work in town. I knew that UCA’s community was awesome, and it had a lot of people I knew who had been. UCA had connections that would be able to help me further, and it was close enough that it still felt like home.

What drew you to want to pursue the medical field? It’s actually a funny story. When I was four years old, I was watching a commercial about treating children who have conditions like cleft palates. I looked at my mom and said, ‘I want to go do that.’ I interned at the Conway Regional Medical Center when I was in 9^th grade for two weeks. I really liked it, and I’m just a big fan of helping people when I can. I know that I can do that with a biology degree. I decided that I wanted to practice pediatrics as a physician’s assistant, or perhaps return to school later to study nursing so I can pursue what I really love. I’ve been teaching dance and preschool gym classes, so I get along with kids really well.

What interests you about being a physician assistant? As a PA, you can basically do everything a doctor does. I can still go in and prescribe medications. I can still go over with patients, like ‘Here’s the surgery you will have. Let me explain what’s going to happen.’ I can show X-rays. I can go and check in on people. I can assist in surgery. So it’s many of the same things as a doctor.

What classes have you enjoyed the most? I really enjoy hands-on things. I loved Organic Chemistry I and II. The classes themselves are hard, but it’s manageable or me because those labs are so hands-on. It’s really interesting to see how things work and why they work. I don’t think we realize how intricate humans or plants are until we go down into those things. So much is happening on such a microscopic level, and we can’t see it.

Who has been your favorite professor? I had Dr. [Greg] Naumiec for Organic Chemistry I and II, and he is terrific. You would run into his class, and he was that professor who would ask, ‘Are you okay? If you need to take 20 minutes and look over your notes, it’s fine.’ He just really cares about his students. I actually took his classes a year apart, and it’s awesome for me to go into his lab a year later and he’d say ‘Hannah you’re in the wrong lab spot.’ And I was thinking, ‘It’s been a year. How do you remember that?’ He really cares. He’s not just there to teach. He wants to have conversations with you and help you in the best way. I think the biology department as a whole is also good at that.

What are some favorite places to visit on campus? I love the Burdick deli, the 1907 Bread Company. That is one of my favorite spots on campus. The food there is good and it’s so homey. I also love the library. If you get a spot right by the window, it’s nice and you can see all the trees. There’s a spot right in between Doyne and the Math and Science Building. There’s a little concrete table right there, and nobody knows about it because it’s tucked in that area. It’s my favorite spot because everything is green in the summer, and the trees are turning different colors right now.

What’s been your favorite experience at UCA? I enjoyed welcome week during my freshman year. One night when we all packed into the HPER Center during the Play Fair, it was basically speed dating but it was like speed friending. I also joined a sorority on campus my freshman year, and that has been a blessing. I joined it because coming from such a small town I was used to knowing everything. But college is so different. With my sorority, I met genuine people who would see me two weeks later and ask, ‘Hey, how was that exam?’ One of my other favorite UCA experiences is I actually got the chance to sing the national anthem at the senior night for basketball right before COVID hit.

Do you have any advice for UCA students about being involved and active? Don’t try to sit by yourself in class because, most likely, you’re going to see those people again. Reach out to people; find them on Instagram, find them on Facebook, or Snapchat or GroupMe.

Davonne Moore at the Integrated Health Sciences Building

Name: Davonne Moore

Hometown: Crossett, Arkansas

Major/Year: Nursing major, Senior

What UCA organizations have you joined?

• Student Government Association
• President Leadership Fellows
• Minority Mentorship Program
• Student Orientation Staff
• Nursing Student Association
• Black Male Achievement Challenge

Why did you choose the 51ÇàÂ¥?ÌýI loved the atmosphere during my first tour of the campus. Everyone looked so excited to be a 51ÇàÂ¥ Bear, and I wanted that same feeling.

What drew you to nursing?ÌýUCA’s nursing program is one of the best in Arkansas. This program drew me to UCA because of the prestigious reputation and advanced technology. I am so grateful I chose this major because UCA’s nursing program is everything I thought it would be and more. Nursing has always been a career that interested me since I was a child. Being able to be there for someone and care for them at one of their most vulnerable points of life takes a strong individual. Nursing embodies the values of integrity, intellectual humility and ethics. These all are important to me and geared my focus towards nursing as I entered UCA.

What’s been your favorite class that you’ve taken so far?ÌýThe best class I’ve ever taken is human anatomy and physiology with Dr. Mike Martin. He is one of the best professors UCA has by far.

What are your hobbies?ÌýMy favorite things to do include hiking and watching TV in my spare time.

What’s a favorite experience you’ve had at UCA?ÌýMy favorite experience at 51ÇàÂ¥ is my entire freshman year. This is because everything was so new and so interesting to me. I honestly feel that it was the best year of college I’ve had so far because UCA has so many new and fresh experiences for freshmen to be a part of.

What goals do you want to accomplish at UCA?ÌýMy goal is to become a role model for younger students. Role models on campus gives hope to other students that one day they’ll be able to become leaders and inspire others.