Community College Month Featured Student: Sydney Blackman

April is Community College Month, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville is dedicated to preparing students for success in a variety of fields. UACCB is an affordable, valuable destination for those looking to continue their education close to home, and this month is set aside to highlight the opportunities for all.

A 2022 homeschool graduate, Sydney Blackman, said she only had a general idea of what she wanted to do – but where she wanted to study was an easier choice.

“I chose UACCB because it was close to home and I wasn’t ready to move yet, and it would be easy to transfer to Arkansas State,” Blackman said.

Growing up in Newark, Blackman said she was active in 4-H and showed cattle and goats, and she would like to earn a degree in agriculture.

“I will graduate in December from UACCB with an associate of ag technology, and stay another semester to earn a degree in agriculture business. I just have three classes left to get an ag business degree, so it makes sense to stay an extra semester and have two associate’s degrees,” she said. “I’m not sure what I want to do, but it will be something in the agriculture field.”

Blackman said she was already familiar with the UACCB campus, having attended various 4-H events here, but her first experience with the faculty and staff was when she was getting her GED.

“I started talking to everybody and met my advisor here. It felt like a place where people saw me as a person and not just a number,” she said.

Right now Blackman works as a tutor in the Student Success Center and said she loves her job. “I couldn’t think of a better place to be a nerd,” she said with a laugh.

She said she would encourage other students to use their voice and be heard, especially when it comes to reaching out with questions. “Everybody’s so nice and they all want to help; they’re not there to intimidate people.”

Story by Andrea Bruner