National Park College (NPC) recognized bachelor’s degree graduates who completed four-year programs on campus through university partnerships during its April Board of Trustees meeting last week, highlighting the continued impact of expanded access to higher education in Hot Springs.
A total of 39 students earned bachelor’s degrees through partnerships with the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) and Southern Arkansas University (SAU), representing high-demand fields including education, business, nursing, science and technology.
"The Start-Here-Finish-Here model for bachelor's degrees has been fantastic for our students, many of whom may find it difficult to leave Hot Springs to complete their degrees elsewhere,” said Dr. Chuck Argo, vice president for academic affairs. “These opportunities in business, computer science, education, and nursing have grown significantly in the last three years, and we anticipate that these programs will only continue to grow in popularity as a cost-effective and convenient alternative to relocating elsewhere."
Graduates from UAM included 12 in elementary education, nine in business and seven in nursing.
“The bachelor’s programs with the University of Arkansas at Monticello are bearing fruit,” said NPC President Dr. Wade Derden. “I’m grateful for this partnership, which allows us to provide important, relevant four-year degrees right here in Hot Springs—expanding opportunities for our students while strengthening the workforce in our region.”
Students completing degrees through SAU included three in biology with a pre-health emphasis, one in pre-health professional biochemistry and three in general computer science.
“Our numbers are growing across these programs, with each cohort larger than the last,” said Jennifer Lyons, dean of instruction. “Job placement is strong, and area schools are already requesting our interns for next year. It’s meaningful to offer these opportunities to our students and our community. Keeping local talent close is the goal, and our students are delivering.”
NPC Dean of Nursing and Health Sciences Janice Ivers highlighted the impact of the RN-to-BSN partnership and its early success.
“The success of the NPC–UAM RN-to-BSN partnership has been evident from the very beginning,” said Ivers. “We launched in July 2025 with nine students, and already seven are on track to complete their final leadership course and graduate this June.”
“This program has created a seamless pathway for working RNs, building on the 90 credit hours they completed at NPC and their nursing license, with an additional 30 hours through UAM, and provides meaningful scholarship support to help them continue their education,” she added.
“We’ve learned a great deal in this first year about how to best support these students and ensure the program remains strong moving forward,” Ivers said. “Seeing these nurses choose to walk at NPC’s graduation ceremony speaks to the strength of the partnership and their continued connection to our institution.”
For students, completing a bachelor’s degree locally has created new pathways for advancement while strengthening ties to the community.
“There has been great support from both NPC and UAM throughout this program,” said Hanna Collie, elementary education graduate. “Anytime I had questions or felt unsure, faculty were always there to guide me and support me along the way. That support gave me the confidence to step into the classroom and begin my career.”
Collie has accepted a position teaching first grade at Bismarck Elementary School and was named Education Intern of the Year by faculty and her peers.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me,” said Sonia Lopez, business graduate. “I graduated from NPC in 2013, and over the years I developed a strong interest in business. When the opportunity to pursue my bachelor’s degree became available, I felt called to take that next step.
“I’m grateful for the guidance and encouragement I received from my instructors throughout the program and I’m excited to see what comes next,” Lopez said.
“Pursuing my BSN through NPC’s partnership with UAM has been incredibly rewarding and allowed me to continue my education right here in our community,” said Jessica Weatherford, BSN graduate. “The relationships I built with instructors at NPC gave me the confidence to take this next step.
Now, I’m teaching in the Simulation Lab, helping shape the next generation of nurses while giving back to the program that invested in me and continuing to grow professionally in the community I love and serve,” Weatherford added.
Together, these graduates reflect NPC’s continued commitment to providing accessible, affordable pathways to four-year degrees while supporting workforce needs across the region.