Golden Lions Among the Class of 2026: UAPB Scholar-Athletes Celebrate Spring Commencement

5/12/2026 9:00:00 AM

Champions in competition. Leaders in the classroom. ????

PINE BLUFF, AR. — Another academic year is in the books, and the UAPB Department of Athletics is still riding high. The Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony served as the latest reminder that Golden Lions scholar-athletes are not just competing at a high level; they are raising the standard of academic excellence across the entire university.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff held its 173rd Commencement on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Pine Bluff Convention Center, with the academic procession beginning at 9:45 a.m. and Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. delivering the keynote address. The ceremony drew thousands of attendees and was livestreamed on UAPB's YouTube channel for those unable to attend in person.

A total of 46 Golden Lions scholar-athletes participated in this year's Spring Commencement, and the accomplishments they brought to the stage were nothing short of remarkable.

For the second time this academic year, UAPB scholar-athletes captured three of the five Chancellor's Medallions awarded by the university, the highest academic honor at UAPB, presented to students who achieve the highest cumulative GPAs within their respective schools. Combined with the three medallions earned in the fall, Golden Lions scholar-athletes have now claimed six Chancellor's Medallions in a single academic year.

This spring's Chancellor's Medallion recipients from Athletics are:

Heidi Price | Softball | School of Agricultural, Fisheries and Human Sciences | 4.0 GPA
Makaila Riedel | Soccer | School of Arts and Sciences | 4.0 GPA
Matthew Dworsky | Baseball | Division of University College | 3.651 GPA

"Commencement is the moment everything comes full circle," said Shon Pilcher, Associate Athletic Director for Academics. "Our scholar athletes put in the work every day, in the classroom, in their sport, and in this community. Watching them walk across that stage is a reminder of why everything we do in academic services matters."

Adding to the distinction of the day, 36 scholar-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the national honor society dedicated to recognizing the academic achievements of collegiate scholar-athletes. Founded in 1996, Chi Alpha Sigma honors junior and senior scholar-athletes who have maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher in a declared major while demonstrating a commitment to their sport and their institution. Membership is among the highest academic recognitions a college scholar-athlete can receive.

Of UAPB's 36 inductees, 20 were graduating seniors honored during the Scholar-Athlete Stole Ceremony, and 16 were juniors who will carry that distinction into their final year of eligibility. Together, they represent the growing culture of academic excellence within Golden Lions Athletics.

"This is what the true mission of college athletics is all about," said Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Robinson. "We are extremely proud of our Golden Lions scholar-athletes for continuing to excel in the classroom while representing UAPB with pride in competition and throughout the community. To see our student-athletes earn some of the university's highest academic honors speaks volumes about their commitment, discipline, and the culture being built within our athletics department. These young men and women are preparing themselves for success long after their playing days are over, and that is something our entire university can celebrate."

UAPB Athletics congratulates the entire Spring Class of 2026. Your dedication to excellence, in competition and in the classroom, is what it means to be a Golden Lion.

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