UAPB Friday Feature News Digest | May 1, 2026 | | #UAPB | #UAPBDearMother | #1TEAM1ROAR | #UAPB1873 | | | |
Announcing UAPB's 173rd Commencement
Welcoming Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr.
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) announced Tuesday that Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr. will serve as speaker for its 173rd Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, located at 1 Convention Center Plaza in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The academic procession will begin at 9:45 a.m., followed by the ceremony at 10:00 a.m., which will be livestreamed on UAPB’s YouTube channel at UAPB TV. Additional Commencement details can be found at uapbcommencement.com.
CLICK THIS LINK TO READ MORE
| | | |
We Celebrated Our 153rd Annual Founders' Week
| |
Click the links below to reminisce and see the activities we held each day that week on campus and in the community:
| | | | Keynote Speakers During UAPB 2026 Founders’ Week Celebration | |
Tanesha Thompson, president of the UAPB/AM&N National Alumni Association, and newly appointed pastor, Rev. Joshua Pickett, pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, will serve as keynote speakers during this year’s University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) 153rd Founders’ Week Celebration.
Click to learn more
| |
UAPB STEM Academy Welcomed Entergy Leaders
| | | | |
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) STEM Academy welcomed leaders from Entergy to the campus in April for a student-centered engagement focused on career pathways, workforce development, and expanding opportunities for students pursuing careers in the energy and utilities sector.
The visit, held in the UAPB STEM Building, brought together approximately 150 STEM Academy students with Entergy professionals for a day of interactive learning, dialogue, and mentorship.
Click this link to learn more
| | A Look Inside the Historic DuBocage House in Pine Bluff; KATV Channel 7 Features Tour of Stately Home | | The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) has received the historic DuBocage House in Pine Bluff, AR, as a donation from M.K. Distributors, announced on April 3, 2026. Built in 1866 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the house will be transformed into a hospitality management and training center to boost student development and community engagement. KATV Channel 7 featured a tour of the stately home during an interview with UAPB's Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement George Cotton. Click to take a look inside | |
UAPB Students Earn Top Honors at 1890 Research Symposium
Humphrey Wanjala and Isaiah Atoe, who are both students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff School of Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences (UAPB-SAFHS) earned top honors at the Association of 1890 Research Directors Biennial Research Symposium.
Click to learn more
| | UAPB Investment Club Members Benefit from Investment Summit and Training with Walton Investment Team in Bentonville | | Students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Investment Club recently participated in a two-day investment training program in Bentonville, Ark., in collaboration with the Walton Investment Team, led by President Dr. Kevin Stephenson. The training program brought together students from diverse academic disciplines, including Business Administration, Accounting, Computer Science, and Social Sciences, demonstrating the growing interdisciplinary interest in financial literacy and investment education. Click to learn more | |
UAPB ESLI Director Recognized by Lafayette County Leadership Council
Dr. Kathy Richards, associate director of Placement & Assessment for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Emerging Scholars Leadership Institute, was recently honored by the Lafayette County Leadership Council (LCLC).
Dr. Richards is recognized as “a woman of grace, intellect, and unwavering commitment to community impact,” according to a March 21, 2026, post on the LCLC’s Facebook page.
Click to learn more
| | | |
UAPB's Third Annual Juneteenth in the Bluff
Set for June 19, 2026
| |
We are proud to announce the official musical lineup for Juneteenth in the Bluff 2026! This year we are bringing:
- Lakeside,
- Nellie "Tiger" Travis,
- Urban Mystic, and
- CitiLimitz
They are all taking the stage. This is the one you do NOT want to miss. Tell the family and mark your calendars.
Visit www.juneteenthinthebluff.com for all of the details.
| |
Shenise McGhee One of Eight Top Presenters at National Library Research Summit
Shenise McGhee, a librarian at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s John Brown Watson Memorial Library, was selected as one of the top eight presenters in the United States for the second Empirical Studies in Libraries Summit (ESiLS). The ESiLS is a prestigious national gathering dedicated to advancing research in libraries and information science.
Click this link to read more
| | |
UAPB’s Dr. Steve Lochmann Elected to American Fisheries Society Leadership Track
Dr. Steve Lochmann, professor of fisheries management and ecology at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, has been elected 2nd vice president of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and will be installed on Sept. 1, entering the organization’s presidential rotation.
Click this link to read more.
| | | UAPB/AM&N Alumni Announcements | |
Last Call for Nominations for 2026 Hall of Fame Class and Alumni Queen and King
The UAPB/AM&N National Alumni Association announces a last call for nominations for the 2026 Hall of Fame Class and Alumni Queen and King. The deadline to submit nominations of Wednesday, May 6, 2026.
If you have questions about the Hall of Fame, please contact Dr. Leslie Myles Davis at (972) 358-1426 or the National Alumni Association Office at (870) 536-2309.
CLICK HERE FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME CLASS NOMINATION FORM
CLICK HERE FOR ALUMNI QUEEN AND KING FORM
| |
37th Southern Heritage Classic Game Tickets Now Available
Golden Lions,
The countdown is on.
Get ready for the Southern Heritage Classic Weekend, September 11–13, 2026, as the Black & Gold returns to Memphis in a major way! The 2026 matchup is a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s back-and-forth battle, where the UAPB Golden Lions secured a 24–20 victory over Alcorn State.
Purchase your game tickets and pull up to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium to cheer on the Golden Lions as they defend their SHC title—rocking and swaying with M4 all game long.
Click to purchase tickets
| |
| #UAPBFootball: Golden Lions Announce 2026 Football Slate Highlighted by Homecoming and Classic Matchups | | |
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions have officially announced their 2026 football schedule, highlighted by five home contests, two premier classic appearances, homecoming at Simmons Bank Field, and a nationally televised matchup against an SEC opponent.
The 2026 slate promises an exciting fall for Golden Lion fans, beginning in Week 0 on Saturday, August 29, when UAPB hosts Morehouse College in the Natural State Kickoff Classic at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The matchup marks a celebratory return to the capital city and continues UAPB’s tradition of showcasing Golden Lions football on a premier stage in the state. Click to read more
| | Opportunities for UAPB Students | | UAPB Is Encouraging Registration for the Summer and Fall 2026 to Support Student Momentum | | FAFSA for 2026-27 Now Available! | | |
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2026-27 academic year is now live. Filing the FAFSA is the gateway to the largest source of funding for higher education, including federal grants, loans and work-study. It’s also required for most state and institutional aid, even for families who don’t think they’ll qualify.
All U.S. citizen college students are required to complete the FAFSA each year.
CLICK THIS LINK TO VISIT THE FAFSA WEBSITE
| | | First-time freshman or two-year transfer student, here is the path to graduating in four years with a bachelor's degree. | | | Scholarships for Students | | |
Available for UAPB Students: Scholarship Universe
Scholarship Universe is an online platform that matches students with vetted internal and external scholarships based on their personalized profiles, helping them save time and avoid scams. Students answer questions to find, track, and apply for relevant merit- and need-based opportunities.
| |
USDA 1890 National Scholars Program
The USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is open to high school seniors entering their freshman year of college and to rising sophomores and juniors. For any questions regarding the USDA/1890 National Scholars Program, please contact: Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement
USDA 1890 Programs 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Stop 0601 Washington, DC 20250
Email: 1890init@usda.gov. Click this link to learn more.
| | Here are some useful links to click on to experience more of the PRIDELAND: | | | | |
