UAPB Friday Feature News Digest | April 10, 2026 | | #UAPB | #UAPBDearMother | #1TEAM1ROAR | #UAPB1873 | |
The 153rd Annual Founders' Week Theme:
"Legacy In Action: Where History Inspires Tomorrow"
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Chancellor Graham's Commentary Published in
Arkansas Business
| | 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. | |
UAPB’s Tim Campbell Named 2026 Arkansas Business
40 Under 40 Honoree
Tim Campbell, executive director of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Emerging Scholars Leadership Institute, has been named as one of the 2026 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honorees.
Click to learn more
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UAPB’s Ta’Yanna Dandridge Selected as National Sara’s Wish Foundation Fellow
Ta’Yanna “Tee” Dandridge, senior research/program assistant in the Office of International Programs and Studies at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), has been selected as the 2026 Sara’s Wish Foundation Fellow by The Forum on Education Abroad.
Click to learn more
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UAPB Students Earn Top Honors at Arkansas Southern Fisheries Society
Students from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries earned top recognition at the Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society meeting, held Feb. 11–13 in Russellville, Arkansas.
Three UAPB students received awards for their research presentations and contributions to the field.
Click to learn more
| | Investment Workshop Featuring Brian Oh for Students and Faculty to be Hosted at UAPB on April 13, 2026 | | |
Wall Street is coming to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB)! An exclusive Investment Workshop for students and faculty will take place on Monday, April 13, 2026 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the STEM Building Conference Room.
The facilitator will be Brian Oh, a professional Hedge Fund Manager straight from Wall Street. This is a rare opportunity to learn the ropes of markets, hedge funds, and high-level career paths.
Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be served. There will also be giveaways and assistance in opening individual brokerage accounts.
The workshop is being organized by the UAPB School of Business and Management Investment Club.
CLICK TO REGISTER
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Lights, Legacy, Action: UAPB Showcases Student Filmmakers, Honors MLK Legacy, and Welcomes Work
by Ben Proudfoot and Stephen Curry
| | The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (HSDFF), in partnership with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), will launch its America250 series on April 23 as part of the 153-year-old 1890 Land-Grant HBCU’s Founders’ Week Celebration by co-hosting this year’s UAPB Film Festival, with UAPB student short films, along with a free screening of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival award-winning documentary short The Baddest Speechwriter of All directed by Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot and basketball legend Stephen Curry. Click to learn more. CLICK to REGISTER or use the QR Code. | | UAPB Industry Meet Highlights Innovations Advancing Arkansas Catfish Production | | |
The Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) recently held the Aquatic Innovation Industry Meet 2026 at UAPB campus, bringing together students, researchers and industry leaders to explore innovations shaping Arkansas aquaculture and global aquatic food production systems.
Click to learn more
| | Dr. Stephon Fitzpatrick Shares Agricultural Journey Leadership with UAPB MANNRS Students | | |
Students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) recently had the opportunity to hear from Dr. Stephon Fitzpatrick, executive director of Together We Grow, who shared his personal and professional journey in agriculture during a presentation with members of MANNRS.
During the presentation, Dr. Fitzpatrick reflected on his path into agriculture and the experiences that shaped his career. A product of historically Black colleges and universities, he described himself as a first-generation college student and the first in his family to enter the agriculture industry.
Click to learn more
| | | | UAPB Small Farm Program Outreach Presents Conservation: Beekeeping and Pollinators Workshop | |
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Small Farm Program will present an empowerment workshop titled "Conservation: Beekeeping & Pollinators" on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
The workshop will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2101 Oliver Road in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Dr. Yong Park, known as "The Bee Guy," will be featured. Lunch will be provided.
For more information, contact Hailey Wilkins atwilkinsha@uapb.edu.
| | UAPB to Host 2026 Southwest Arkansas Small Farms Conference in Hope | |
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Small Farm Program will host the 2026 Southwest Arkansas Small Farms Conference on Thursday, April 30, at the University of Arkansas at Hope-Texarkana, Hempstead Hall, 2500 S. Main St. in Hope.
The one-day conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and will focus on the theme “Building Connections That Strengthen Rural Communities.”
Click link to learn more
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UAPB Student Hawulethu Ndlovu Wins Third Place in DART Student Symposium and Poster Competition
Hawulethu Ndlovu, a student in the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s (UAPB) Department of Computer Science, won third place in the undergraduate category for a data science-related research project at the DART Student Symposium and Poster Competition. The event was held at the Clinton Library in Little Rock, Ark. on April 6, 2026.
The award carries a $250 prize, according to Dr. Vinay Raj, an associate professor in the Department of Biology at UAPB, and president of the Arkansas Academy of Science. Ndlovu, who is mentored by Dr. Raj, competed against other students from different universities across Arkansas, including the University of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Southern Arkansas University.
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UAPB Social Work Faculty and Students Present at
State Conference on Maternal Mental Health
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) Department of Social Work was proudly represented at the Social Work Action Coalition (SWAC) Conference, where faculty and students delivered a powerful and impactful presentation on maternal mental health.
Click to learn more
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Pine Bluff Branch NAACP 2026 ACT-SO Program Kick Off Features UAPB’s ESLI, Administrators, Faculty, Staff, and Community Leaders
The 2026 season has officially opened for the Pine Bluff NAACP ACT-SO (Afro-Academics, Cultural, Technological, and Scientific Olympics) Program. Competitions began March 7, 2026, and continue through April 11, 2026. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) administrators, faculty, and staff, as well as community leaders, have served as judges for the competitions.
Click to learn more
| | UAPB Faculty Research Highlights Role of Family Support in Women’s Leadership Development | | |
Research by a University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) faculty member is contributing to national conversations on leadership development by examining how family support shapes the leadership journeys of minority women.
Dr. Yunru Shen, instructor in the Merchandising, Textiles and Design Program within the Department of Human Sciences, recently presented her research at the 2026 Academy of Human Resource Development International Research Conference in Irving, Texas.
Click to learn more
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UAPB's Third Annual Juneteenth in the Bluff
Set for June 19, 2026
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We are less than 85 days away from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff's (UAPB) 3rd Annual Juneteenth in the Bluff: An Arts and Culture Festival!
Join us on Friday, June 19, 2026 in downtown Pine Bluff’s Delta Rhythm and Bayous Cultural District (Main Street and East 3rd Avenue) for Southeast Arkansas’s largest Juneteenth festival.
Visit www.juneteenthinthebluff.com for all of the details.
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Pond Strategies for Growing Giant Bass
There is something unique and special about landing a trophy bass, Scott Jones, small impoundment Extension specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, said. Defining “trophy” is subjective.
Click to learn more
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UAPB Executive Cabinet Updates
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff has recently announced executive cabinet appointments that will strengthen institutional leadership and advance the university’s strategic priorities. Click the following link to view Our Leadership on UAPB.EDU.
| | UAPB/AM&N Alumni Announcements | | |
As part of the UAPB Founders' Week Celebration, the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County UAPB/AM&N Alumni Chapter is hosting a Black and Gold Membership Rally for all residents of Pine Bluff and Jefferson County, Arkansas on Monday, April 20, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the UAPB Economic Research and Development Center Business Support Incubator, located at 615 South Main Street in Pine Bluff.
A special invitation is extended to UAPB alumni and employees to join the local chapter!
“Our Chapter's focus is to preserve the legacy of ‘Dear Mother’ and support the mission of UAPB,” says Joyce Bracy Vaughan, the chapter's second vice president who leads the Membership and Scholarship Committee. Gift cards will be awarded and refreshments will be served.
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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
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| #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 Launches “ROAR Into Registration” Campaign to Support Student Success | | |
UAPB has recently launched a "ROAR Into Registration" Campaign to encourage students to take early action in preparation for Summer and Fall 2026 registration. Registration opened for all students on Monday, April 6, 2026.
The campaign is an initiative designed to streamline the registration process and support student success.
University officials encourage students to complete key steps online to ensure a smooth and timely registration experience.
Students are encouraged to take a few minutes to review their status in Workday. This can help avoid registration delays and secure preferred course schedules.
Students who complete these steps early are more likely to register quickly and stay on track for degree completion.
| | | HBCU Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit Scholarship Applications Now Open | | |
We’re excited to share that scholarship applications are now open for the 4th Annual HBCU Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit (HBCU Empower 2026), taking place June 2426, 2026, in Washington, DC.
This opportunity is open to current students, faculty/staff, alumni, aspiring entrepreneurs, community entrepreneurs, and program participants.
Selected scholarship recipients will receive complimentary conference registration and, in some cases, travel and hotel support. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
To learn more, visit hbcuempower.com
CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY FOR HBCU EMPOWER SCHOLARSHIP
| | 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 | | | | |
Carolyn Turman Upperclassmen Scholarship Available
In May 2026, the UAPB/AM&N Memphis Alumni Chapter will award one $1,000 scholarship to a currently enrolled Memphis, Tennessee-area sophomore or junior who will attend UAPB in Fall 2026.
Applicants must demonstrate excellence in:
- Academic achievement
- School and community involvement
- Character
The scholarship application period opened Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and closes Friday, April 17, 2026. If you have any questions or concerns, email uapbmemphisscholarship@gmail.com.
CLICK THIS LINK TO APPLY
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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: | | | | |
