Each year we recognize one student from our incoming first-year engineering class as Freshman of the Year. Students may either self-nominate or are nominated by First-Year Engineering Program faculty, staff, or teaching assistants. The award recipient is selected based upon his/her academic excellence, leadership, and involvement as a first-year engineering student. The First-Year Engineering Program faculty and staff evaluate the nominees to select the finalists. A committee of faculty and staff representing the College of Engineering interview the finalists to select the Freshman of the Year.

 

The winner receives an award as well as a book scholarship at the Annual College of Engineering Student Awards Reception.

 

Freshman of the Year Applications due by Sunday, April 4, 2021

 

We are pleased to announce Breanna Kilgore as the winner of the 2019-2020 Freshman of the Year Award. Coming to the University of Arkansas from El Dorado, Arkansas, Ms. Kilgore is described by her recommenders as “brave,” “dedicated,” and “positive” while showing “perseverance, amazing work ethic and grace.”

The Freshman of the Year Committee writes, “Ms. Kilgore was selected not only for showing excellence thus far in her academic career but also for showing high moral character, University pride, commitment to education, and impressive goal setting.  She is a well-rounded young lady that the committee feels would be a positive representative of the University’s Freshman of the Year Program.”

Ms. Kilgore is a National Science Foundation Path Scholar, a National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering ECAP Scholar, and a United Negro College Fund Scholar. She is on the Sophomore Council board, is a member of the Engineering Career Awareness Program, Lead Hogs, National Society of Black Engineers, and Society of Women Engineers. She has also fundraised with the Arkansas Dance Marathon Team for families of children who have been admitted to the Arkansas Children’s Hospital.

In the words of one of her letters of recommendation “Breanna is the embodiment of the freshman of the year.”

Ms. Kilgore plans to enter her sophomore year in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.