For the second year in a row, Gravette High School seniors earned more than $2 million in scholarships, college awards, military education benefits, and offered scholarships. Compared to last year, the Class of 2026 received increased local scholarship support of over $77,000 and broadened the range of pathways represented. This year also included a national spotlight through Leslie Alvarez, who matched with Columbia University through QuestBridge and was selected as a Gates Scholar.
Leslie Alvarez was recognized for receiving a scholarship worth more than $400,000 through Columbia University and QuestBridge. She was also honored as one of the 2026 Gates Scholars, a national scholarship program recognizing exceptional high school seniors for academic achievement, leadership, service, and community impact.
A large portion of the Class of 2026 total came from colleges and universities. Students received awards from Oklahoma State University, John Brown University, Harding University, the University of Arkansas, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of the Ozarks, Arkansas Tech, Missouri Southern State University, and the University of Arkansas Fort Smith. These included academic, honors college, leadership, program-specific, housing, and merit-based scholarships.
A University of Arkansas representative presented scholarship awards to Gravette High School seniors, including Honors College Academy, Leadership, First-Year Advantage Room and Board, Razorback Connection, and Silas Hunt scholarships.
Military education benefits were a notable part of this year’s total, with Arion Bigelow receiving Air Force GI Bill benefits, and Janene Gomez Vicars and Nathaniel Tims receiving Army National Guard GI Bill benefits. Together, these military education benefits totaled more than $240,000. Nineteen seniors accepted the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship, and Kasyn Jones received the Arkansas Governor’s Scholars Scholarship worth $40,000.
Staff Sergeant Nielson of the United States Air Force presented the first military scholarship recognition of the evening. Arion Bigelow was recognized for receiving Air Force GI Bill education benefits valued at $110,000.
Local support continued to be a major part of scholarship night. Gravette seniors received $77,350 directly through area businesses, foundations, clubs, memorial funds, PTOs, and community organizations. These included support from groups such as the American Legion, Arvest Bank, Benton County 4H, Care and Share, Gravette Chamber of Commerce, Gravette Schools PTO groups, Gravette Public Schools Foundation, Kiwanis, Malcolm Winters Memorial, The Meade Scholarship, The DEB Project, and many others. These awards are the Gravette community's continued investment student achievement.
Kevin Aguilar was recognized as the recipient of a $500 scholarship from The Lions Club.
Community Scholarship Recipients:
Kinsley Burrow, Sullivan Schaffer, Katey Stark, Madi Schoonover, Cameron Bedwell, Kevin Aguilar, Brayden Kurvin, Keira Ralph, Victoria Wallis, Kyle Murphy, Spencer Myers, Brenna Horton, Caylee Roughton, Holden Jeffries, Gwenyth Henzie, Jaryn Jackson, Nadiyah Thornton, Kasyn Jones, Reece Murray, Emma Hageman, Yuritzy Gonzalez, Rhett Nading, Lexi Patterson, Kash May, Aidan Lewallan, Kam Nung, Mery Cung, Grace Johnston, Abree Ford
Alexis Lawrence, representing John Brown University, presented a scholarship award to a Gravette High School senior during the scholarship ceremony. The student was recognized for receiving a John Brown University scholarship valued at $18,000 per year.
National and Academic Scholarship Recipients:
Jason Thawng, Sullivan Schaffer, Leslie Alvarez, Kevin Aguilar, Grace Johnston, Cameron Bedwell, Holden Jeffries, Parker Pittman
A University of Central Arkansas representative recognized Parker Pittman for receiving the Schedler Honors College Scholarship, valued at $42,000.
Military Education Benefit Recipients:
Janene Gomez Vicars, Nathaniel Tims, Arion Bigelow
University of Arkansas Scholarship Recipients:
Jaryn Jackson, Holden Jeffries, Kasyn Jones, Katherine King, Jake Martin, Kash May, Nolan McBride, James McNaughton, Rilee Murray, Spencer Myers, Tatiana Ross, Sullivan Schaffer
University of the Ozarks Scholarship Recipients:
Mery Cung, Lillian Sharp, Aidan Lewallen, Porter Bird, Mary-Katelyn Stark
University of Central Arkansas Scholarship Recipients:
Caylee Roughton, Rilee Murray, Aidan Lewallen, Parker Pittman, Victoria Wallis, Brenna Horton, Nolan McBride, Cameron Bedwell, Jaryn Jackson, Kinsley Burrow, Holden Jeffries
Harding University Scholarship Recipients:
Cameron Bedwell, Madelin Schoonover, Keira Ralph
Academic Challenge Scholarship Recipients:
Cameron Bedwell, Clayton Brock Guinn, Helen Chin, Payton Hammel, Gwenyth Henzie, Brenna Horton, Jaryn Jackson, Holden Jeffries, Kasyn Jones, Katherine King, Brayden Kurvin, Aidan Lewallen, Kash May, Rilee Murray, Spencer Myers, Parker Pittman, Caylee Roughton, Alyn Rueda, Katie Stark
Arkansas Governor’s Scholars Scholarship Recipient:
Kasyn Jones
Arkansas Tech Scholarship Recipients:
Brayden Kurvin, Lilly Sharp, Katie Stark, Gwenyth Henzie
John Brown University Scholarship Recipients:
Payton Hammel, Alyn Rueda, Helen Chin, Gwenyth Henzie
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Scholarship Recipients:
Kam Nung, Helen Chin, Danika Maki, Kinsley Burrow, Brayden Kurvin, Logan Renfro, Caylee Roughton, Ian Nelson
Additional College Scholarship Recipients:
Addaleigh Washam, Sullivan Schaffer, Leslie Alvarez
Athletics and Sport-Related Scholarship Recipients:
Kinsley Burrow (Volleyball), Holden Jeffries (Basketball), Cameron Bedwell (Baseball), Madelin Schoonover (Softball), Nadiyah Thornton (Wrestling), Parker Pittman (Basketball)
Distinguished Honors (4.0 GPA, all A’s):
Leslie Alvarez, Cameron Bedwell, Nathaniel Griffith, Jaryn Jackson, Parker Pittman, Tatiana Ross, Madelin Schoonover
High Honors (3.75–3.99 GPA):
Kinsley Burrow, Brenna Horton, Holden Jeffries, Kasyn Jones, Katherine King, Jake Martin, Samuel Moore, Rilee Murray, Keira Ralph, Sullivan Schaffer, Nadiyah Thornton, Victoria Wallis
Honors (3.5–3.74 GPA):
Autumn Brown, Nolan McBride, Spencer Myers, Brady Qualls, Caylee Roughton