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It was a great honor to be the keynote speaker at the Youth Excellence Awards earlier this week at Bentonville Jr. High. This fantastic event recognizes the young people from Arkansas’ 3rd who have overcome tremendous adversity, from dealing with physical disabilities, to mental health challenges, to family hardships.
I get to interact with the best and brightest around the country and the world as a U.S. Congressman, but nothing warms my heart more than being in the presence of young people who have climbed over hurdles in pursuit of excellence. They prove the greatness of America, and their resilience is truly inspiring.
Their success also couldn’t be achieved without the parents and teachers who’ve helped them navigate difficult mazes throughout their early lives. These people are foundational in showing our youth that they can achieve whatever they set their mind to. It was a special day that I was grateful to be a part of, and I congratulate all the students for their well-earned awards.
Sound of Freedom in the River Valley
Today was a great day for Fort Smith, a great day for Arkansas’ 3rd, and a great day for the Natural State. I visited Ebbing Air National Guard Base, and it was an honor to be there with the team that helped make Fort Smith the home of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mission that will bring F-35 fighter planes and a Republic of Singapore F-16 squadron to the installation. We received an update on the mission and shared our joint enthusiasm.
From our congressional delegation to the Fort Smith City team, we made securing this mission our number one priority. But the true differentiator was the great people of Fort Smith and the River Valley region. Senators Boozman, Cotton and I worked with the Air Force, and we made sure to secure federal funding for the mission, but the enthusiasm the people of this area showed for the mission sold the Air Force and sold our foreign partners.
This event marked the culmination of our first phase but not the culmination of our work. There will be problems in our future to tackle, but through working together, we will ensure this mission continues for decades. I look forward to welcoming our Singaporean friends with open arms and hearing the Sound of Freedom roar once again throughout the River Valley.
Young Arkansas artists
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It always brings me joy to celebrate the great talents of our youth. I want to give a special congratulations to Denise Lor of Siloam Springs High School for winning first place in this year’s Congressional Art Competition! Her remarkable work, “A Reason to Smile”, caught the eye of the judges. Soon her painting will hang in the halls leading to the People’s House to be admired by members and visitors to the nation’s capital.
This nationwide contest is held annually to recognize and encourage artistic talent of high schoolers across the United States and in each congressional district. This year we had 40 applicants, and we celebrated the top five finalists Wednesday evening:
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1st Place: Denise Lor, Siloam Springs High School, “A Reason to Smile”
2nd Place: Jocelyn Cordero, Haas Hall Academy at the Lane, High School, “Man in the Red Car”
3rd Place: Yuno Brenes, Siloam Springs High School, “Self Portrait of Acception”
4th Place: Caroline Dewey, Siloam Springs High School, “Gratified”
5th Place: Olivia Summerhill, Haas Hall Academy at the Lane, “The Brick House on Belmont St.”
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Submissions were also considered for the Patriot Award, which honors a piece that celebrates and artfully represents American ideals. This recognition was presented to Lillian Samuels, a sophomore at Huntsville High School, for her “Fallen Soldier” artwork. This year’s winner of the People’s Choice Award, which was decided by the public via online vote, also went to Lillian Samuels for “Fallen Soldier.”
Each year, I’m proud of the impressive participation from the Third District, which showcases the talent and creativity of the young people of Arkansas.
More photos from the week:
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The folks at Daisy Airgun and I go way back to my time as the Mayor of Rogers! I brought my team by to the Daisy Airgun Museum to take a walk through the story of this historic company.
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Caught up with my long-time friend Shara Guest at the Youth Excellence Awards! She was a basketball stud when we were growing up, and now she gives incredible support to the kids in our community.
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I got to see Arkansas Poly & Printing’s work in action this week in Van Buren. I’m proud to have such a great, American-made manufacturer here in AR-3.
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I always love spending time with the people of Crawford County and hearing about their successes and challenges. I spoke to the Van Buren Government Affairs Committee and gave an honest, inside look into what’s happening in Washington. Events like this allow me to get a real pulse on what’s going on in the area and inform me on how I can better represent Arkansas’ 3rd.
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What started as an abandoned high school, is now a bustling community center that was built by the community itself. I was proud to see firsthand the people of Eureka Springs’ new business centers and child development centers.
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I stopped to talk to young men who volunteered to take an empty building in Eureka Springs, repurpose it, and make it meaningful for the community. It’s young people like this, who are driven by a passion for learning practical skills and giving back to others, who will preserve and grow our great nation.
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Thursday was a big day for Berryville! I cut the ribbon in honor of the completion of its new business park, which will be an asset in driving economic development. I love to see firsthand how work in Washington trickles down to small town America. I will always stand in support of our local communities in any way I can. Thanks for having me.
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While I’m in Berryville, I can’t miss making a stop at Nighthawk Custom. It was great to see how much they’ve expanded over the last few years, and the precise craftmanship never ceases to amaze me.
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It was a thrill for me to be at Bonneville Elementary School this morning and read to the young and curious kindergarten kiddos. It was also great to see my former intern, Grace Kindy, in action as a teacher!
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The most important thing we can do for our young people is educate. I’m grateful for the teachers at Booneville Elementary, like Mrs. Shock, who dedicate themselves to developing the future of our great nation. Mrs. Shock is retiring this year after 37 years of giving back and investing in the bright young minds of AR-3. It always brings me joy to share with students what I view as the key to success in life – when there’s an expectation, always seek to exceed it.
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We are ground zero for some pretty exciting stuff in Fort Smith. I spoke this morning at the Fort Smith Chamber First Friday Breakfast about the significance of AR-3 being home to the FMS mission. This will bring a tremendous boom to the area, and we look forward to incorporating our Singaporean friends into the activities of Arkansas River Valley.
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I will be back in D.C. next week for legislative business, but I wish you a great weekend ahead! Be sure to check out my website, Twitter, and Instagram pages in the meantime.
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