Congratulations to graduates honored during the 2026 Razorbug Diploma Tour, which celebrates the success of Arkansas students who studied online. Flexible learning options make it possible to earn your degree from the University of Arkansas no matter where you live. For the fifth year in a row, the iconic Razorbug – a converted Volkswagen Beetle – and faculty from the University of Arkansas campus will travel to the hometowns of graduates to present their diplomas:
- Bauxite
- Lonoke
- Hot Springs
- Warren
- Hampton
Over the last 10 years, almost 10,000 people nationwide have earned U of A degrees and certificates after studying online. Most of them were working adults who could not come to the Fayetteville campus. Their stories are unique. This tour highlights 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."
April Rummel - Cabot, AR
"I was starting my life over and wanted to go back to school, go after my dream. I have wanted to be a teacher all my life. It really is a calling God puts on your heart."
Presenters
|
Niki Avery |
Hot Springs |
|
John Bacon, Kevin Beaumont, and Allison Prewitt-Kinkaid |
Warren Hampton |
|
Micah Hale |
Lonoke |
|
Don Johnson |
Bauxite |
Collaborators
|
Academic Colleges |
Presented the diplomas |
|
Office of Admissions |
Loaned us the Razorbug |
|
Office of the Registrar |
Printed diplomas |
|
U of A Bookstore |
Ordered the diploma frames |
|
University Relations |
Helped promote the tour |
|
Video |
Kris Katrosh |
|
Global Campus |
Multiple Teams: Graduation data, travel arrangements, media production, information technology, photography |