Honors College students receive Arkansas research awards

Honors students at Harding continue to rise to, and reach beyond, the challenges extend to them. They choose to participate in a variety of projects that prepare them well for success in college and in their future careers. A cornerstone of the Honors experience is student-led scholarship in every discipline. Students conceptualize their own research projects and are guided by expert faculty mentors along the way. 

In Fall 2025, three students received Student Undergraduate Research Fellowships from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education for their work. 

Cybersecurity major Caden Haustein worked with Dr. John Stone on a project titled "A Needs-Based Analysis of Vehicle Forensics for Arkansas Law Enforcement."

Molecular and cellular biology major Murphy Hernandez and Dr. Ryan Stork collaborated on a project titled “Disrupted Light Pattern and Hunger Stress in Rabidosa rabida.”

Public administration major Lillian Reynolds worked with Professor Zac Muncy on “Threshold Barriers: Legal and Institutional Barriers for Arkansas Small Businesses.”

Each student will recieve $4,000 over two semesters including student stipends, research expenses and funds for presentation at a regional or national conference. Haustein, Hernandez and Reynolds were three of 62 students from seven Arkansas universities who earned awards. Harding was the only private university among them. 

Dr. Jaime Murphy, Honors College senior faculty fellow, assisted these students throughout the application process, which is similar to a full grant process. Students write project proposals and submit resumes, official transcripts and letters of recommendation. 

“While it is easy to focus on the resume-building aspect of this award, the skills that are developed — experimental design or planning, writing, communication, networking — are invaluable,” Murphy said. “One of the hallmarks of excellent Honors Capstone projects or theses is the contributory nature of the project. Each of the projects selected for ADHE SURF are contributory in their own discipline. Murphy will pursue original research in the field of wolf spider biology. Lillian will identify stumbling blocks and helpful pathways for small business development in Arkansas, and Caden will identify the vehicular forensics needs of Arkansas law enforcement.”

Haustein, Hernandez and Reynolds are third-year students on track to graduate with distinction, the College’s highest academic designation. 

Learn more about the Honors College at harding.edu/honors.