The iconic Razorbug – a converted Volkswagen Beetle – hit the road for the fourth year in a row in 2025 to visit the hometowns of Arkansas graduates who studied online. The Razorbug Diploma Tour celebrated graduates' achievements and collected their stories. The tour honors the University of Arkansas’ commitment to its land-grant mission of serving our home state and its people.
More than 1,240 people nationwide earned U of A degrees and certificates after studying online during the 2024-2025 academic year. Over the last 10 years, more than 9,730 people earned U of A degrees and certificates online.
Each online graduate has a unique story. This tour captures some of them.
Mandy Armstrong - Genoa, AR
"I want to advocate for children maybe like my foster daughter who didn't have a family to go home to. Teenagers are my passion. It was like finding a niche, almost like an 'aha' moment. All my life, this was it."
Bryce Bennett - Greenbrier, AR
"My kids are incredible. We have a lot of conversations about life and what they want to get ready for. They got to see me working hard toward something I wanted to accomplish."
Halle Harp - De Queen, AR
"I didn't know I could finish my degree completely online. I wasn't aware that was an attainable option. But it was and I'm so happy I did find out about that because it was so just easy to navigate my life and work around my schedule while doing it online."
Brooklyn Jackson - Morrilton, AR
"I chose communication because the communication degree is so versatile, and it really allows you to choose whatever job you want moving forward, depending on your skills and interests."
Devon Stubblefield - Little Rock, AR
"I want to be able to show that I am a health care professional, and I'm willing to take any issues that we're having, culturally even, and just make a difference in those lives by saying I'm here to help you make it a better place."
Susan Tyler - Mena, AR
"When I wanted to go back to school, I didn't know what was available. Online was a godsend for me. I don't think a lot of people know about online. I couldn't have done it any other way."
- Mandy Armstrong - Genoa, AR
- April Rummel - Cabot, AR
- Bryce Bennett - Conway, AR
- Halle Harp - De Queen, AR
- Devon Stubblefield - Maumelle, AR
- Susan Tyler - Mena, AR
- Brooklyn Jackson - Morrilton, AR
Presenters
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Suzanne Kucharczyk |
Mena |
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Tim Killian |
Texarkana |
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Molly Jensen |
De Queen |
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Margaret Butcher |
Morrilton |
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Marilou Shreve |
Maumelle |
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Kara Lasater |
Conway |
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Rhett Hutchins |
Cabot |
Collaborators
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Academic Colleges |
Presented the diplomas |
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Office of Admissions |
Loaned us the Razorbug |
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Office of the Registrar |
Printed diplomas |
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U of A Bookstore |
Ordered the diploma frames |
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University Relations |
Helped promote the tour |
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Video |
Kris Katrosh |
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Global Campus |
Multiple Teams: Graduation data, travel arrangements, media production, information technology, photography |