As Arkansans, we are blessed our state is home to many talented, intelligent and capable young people who shine in a variety of ways. Many of our students thrive across academic, athletic, artistic and community-focused extracurricular endeavors, all while balancing a challenging workload and other important responsibilities like family obligations and part-time jobs.

Fortunately, there are many meaningful ways our communities can support bright students and future leaders across The Natural State.

One such opportunity is through my office’s Congressional Youth Cabinet (CYC), a program I have been proud to offer to high school juniors in Arkansas since 2017 to encourage civic engagement and help develop an interest in public service.

Participants invest their time meeting with other students in the congressional district they reside in during the school year while also working with my staff and learning about the legislative process. These young men and women select a topic that interests them, such as rural health or the debate surrounding “name, image and likeness” in college athletics, and spend months collaborating through interviewing subject matter experts and gathering research. The program concludes with an end-of-year presentation to my staff and me where students outline their findings, recommendations and potential legislative solutions. They are also encouraged to describe how their proposals could be funded and implemented. 

The CYC was designed with the intent to provide students from a wide variety of backgrounds and personal interests first-hand experience with the democratic process. Ultimately, the program is a non-partisan opportunity for hardworking and enthusiastic youth to learn how public policy impacts their communities, their families and themselves. 

This year’s CYC – the eighth iteration of the event – included 114 exceptional participants. I was thoroughly impressed with their presentations and am grateful for the deliberate and meaningful work they accomplished over the course of the school year. It was clear they selected topics they were passionate about exploring, which led us to thoughtful discussions and exciting, fresh ideas. 

Multiple groups all chose to present on topics relating to rural health care, such as increasing access for Arkansans in smaller and underserved communities, improving maternal health care and infant outcomes, increasing the availability of non-emergency medical transportation and methods to attract more doctors, nurses and health care professionals to our state. Another focused on the impact of social media on mental and social health. It was clear that leading healthier and fulfilling lives was important to many of these young people.

As a former health care provider, I thoroughly appreciated their perspectives and found their interest in a topic so important to me inspiring. 

While I do not miss two-a-days and exhausting conditioning sessions as a former Razorback football player, I was excited to hear other presentations on the possible impacts of collegiate “name, image and likeness.” And I also learned a great deal from groups that highlighted innovative technologies and trainings to promote safe and productive learning environments in school. That is something, as a former Rogers School Board member, that I know is a concern across communities and school districts.

I appreciated seeing these issues through their eyes and it is safe to say this was a great end to an enjoyable, rewarding experience. 

Students of this character and caliber are a strong representation of our state and nation’s next leaders, and I look forward to seeing them continue down exciting paths that can lead to purposeful, service-oriented futures. I am confident whatever they decide to invest their time and energy in, they will continue to find ways to make their voices heard on the issues and initiatives they care about deeply.

CYC members – from this year and the many before – are the leaders of tomorrow that our nation needs and can anxiously expect to make a real difference.