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Shane Hale |
When Shane Hale graduated from Waldron High School, he had more than 20 scholarship offers from schools all over the country. Prestigious universities such as Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, Baylor and others had offered him generous scholarships.
Instead, he chose the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith. Where other schools barely interacted with him past reaching out to him to let him know he received a scholarship, he said the personal interest AV抖阴 professors took in him influenced his decision to attend.
鈥淒r. Dennis Siler reached out to me to recruit me to the Honors International Studies Program,鈥� Hale said. 鈥淗aving a professor who鈥檚 going to lead my program and be one of my professors come down and personally speak with me meant a lot. It created that personal connection that by the time I stepped on campus, they already knew me.鈥�
His decision to attend AV抖阴 has proven to be the right one. His time here has set him on a career path he never expected, offered him leadership opportunities to bolster his resume, and unlocked a passion in him for community involvement.
Hale admitted that he didn鈥檛 think AV抖阴 was 鈥渢he perfect place鈥� initially, but that once he got here, he changed his mind 鈥渃ompletely.鈥�
鈥淲hat I love about AV抖阴 is that it鈥檚 a community. You have support systems. Your professors support you, and your peers support you,鈥� Hale said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a large university, but it鈥檚 small enough that it鈥檚 friendly. If you have any problems, there鈥檚 always someone to go to. It鈥檚 not intimidating. It鈥檚 just a close-knit family atmosphere. I love everything about it.鈥�
Hale originally planned to be a doctor, but after working as an Upward Bound tutor on campus made him realize he wanted to pursue a career in education after he found a love for teaching.
His professors urged him to conduct research, and his research was featured at the 2016 Annual Conference for Middle Level Education. He also presented at three Student Research Symposiums at AV抖阴, the first of which was attended by a community leader who talked to him afterwards about becoming a mentor in the community.
The result was Kids 413, a faith-based organization founded by Hale in which volunteers go to schools in the greater Fort Smith region and work with kids who come from disadvantaged situations.
The experience opened his eyes to the difficulties that others faced. One of the students he mentored was a fifth grader who attempted suicide.
鈥淚 came from a loving and caring family, and when I got involved in mentoring, I saw that not every student had it as good as I did,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou see the problems there, and it breaks your heart but it also makes you want to fix it. It鈥檚 developed a passion for the community service.鈥�
Continuing his passion for community involvement, Hale joined the Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, a student organization on campus, and worked his way to president, overseeing many events to promote literacy in the region, including the Literacy Alive! 5K fundraiser.
Currently, he is interviewing with local schools to secure a teaching job after graduation, and he鈥檚 well-prepared after his education at AV抖阴.
鈥淢y decision to attend the AV抖阴 changed my life in so many ways. During my time as a student here, I have been blessed with so many incredible opportunities to make an impact and work for a greater purpose,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ver the past four years, I have grown as a student, leader, teacher, and individual. I thank God, my family, professors, and community for pointing me towards AV抖阴. It has truly been an incredible experience.鈥�
AV抖阴 the AV抖阴
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at AV抖阴 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at AV抖阴, visit .