by Roby Brock (roby@talkbusiness.net)

University of Central Arkansas President Dr. Houston Davis has helped guide the Conway-based university to some solid enrollment gains over the last four years. Earlier this fall, UCA welcomed one of its largest incoming freshman classes with 2,183 students, marking a 26% increase in incoming students from fall 2023, according to preliminary data.

The incoming freshman class represents the largest year-to-year increase in at least 25 years with 446 more students over last year. This cohort of 2,183 is the second-largest incoming freshman class among all Arkansas four-year universities for the ninth consecutive fall.

Overall enrollment for fall 2024 at UCA is 10,123 which is a 3.4% gain from the previous year. New graduate and transfer students, as well as the incoming freshman class, helped to fuel overall growth at the university.

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Perla Zapata, a senior at De Queen High, was awarded De Queen Lions Club Student of the Month in Tuesday’s noon meeting. Perla is a member of the National Honor Society, the FCCLA, Gifted & Talented, Spanish Club, Young Voters, Tennis Team, Bas… — Perla Zapata, a senior at De Queen High, was awarded De Queen Lions Club Student of the Month in Tuesday’s noon meeting. Perla is a member of the National Honor Society, the FCCLA, Gifted & Talented, Spanish Club, Young Voters, Tennis Team, Basketball Team, and Soccer Team. Perla attended the FCCLA National Conference in Atlanta, GA and received a gold medal for a group project. She was a senior maid at De Queen Homecoming this year and was voted Miss Congeniality and People’s Choice at the De Queen High School Pageant. She is president of the Student Council and will be an honor graduate this year at De Queen High. Perla plans to attend UCA and has been accepted in the University Scholars Program.