WASHINGTON – Arkansas high school students are lending their voices to Washington policies as members of U.S. Senator John Boozman’s Congressional Youth Cabinet, a program to expose students to the legislative process and opportunities for advocacy and civic engagement.

The group of 44 juniors from all four congressional districts met for the first time in Little Rock on Friday.

“I am pleased to launch this program in Arkansas and bring together young leaders from all corners of the state,” Boozman said. “I look forward to receiving their feedback on subjects that interest them and their peers and discussing the challenges facing our nation. We all have a responsibility to use our talents to improve our communities and I am grateful that these students are interested in helping shape the future and advocate on issues important to them.” 

The Congressional Youth Cabinet is a nonpartisan initiative that allows students to gain first-hand experience engaging in the democratic process. Participants will attend several meetings throughout the school year. As part of the program, they will research a national issue they select and present their recommendations for Boozman at the final meeting in April.

Information about this year’s program was distributed to all Arkansas public school districts and interested students submitted applications to participate. Students were chosen to represent all four congressional districts with an emphasis on community involvement and leadership. 

The following students are participants:

1st Congressional District

Angel Castillo of Stuttgart
Anthony Wayne Conklin of Austin
Roxana Flores of Jonesboro
Kayla Jones of Jonesboro
Shannon Langston of Blytheville
Sabrina Martin of Marked Tree
Emma McDaniel of Jonesboro
Mary Katherine Osborne of Wynne
Jackson Parrish of Marked Tree
Vivian Qualls of Ash Flat
Benjamin Robert of Bay
Myra Roork of Salem
Kevin Walker of Gassville

2nd Congressional District

Lauren Brown of Searcy
Reyna Chambers of Little Rock
Benjamin Collins of North Little Rock
Adam Graddy of Clinton
Josh Hale of North Little Rock 
Andrew Hogue of Beebe
Nicki Hooten of Greenbrier
Carolyn Hopkins of Springfield
Haley Roberts of Little Rock
Jennifer Song of Little Rock
Sophia Young of Little Rock

3rd Congressional District

Samuel Cobbs of Rogers
Trent Curtis of Dover
Morgan DiBasilio of Rogers
Cora Ferguson of Fayetteville
Reeya Gandhi of Berryville
Garrett Hays of Gentry
Brian Huang of Fayetteville
Kade Jarvis of Gravette
Alex Jordan of Lincoln
Obadiah Koster of Bentonville
Zegita Rapert of Fayetteville
Elizabeth Ricker of Rogers

4th Congressional District

Mica Chesshir of Texarkana
Jance Cook of Texarkana
Tyler Dickson of Royal
Tiffany Hobson of Sims
Mekinzie Kyle of Mena
Javan Patterson of Texarkana
Madison Stanley of Texarkana
Emily Staton of Magazine