November 1–3, the Arkansas Communications and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) hosted the 58th Arkansas Student Congress in Little Rock, bringing together high school and college students from across the state for three days of legislative debate, leadership development, and civic engagement.

Established in 1968, Arkansas Student Congress is the oldest model legislative event in the state. The annual event provides a unique opportunity for high school students, who serve in the House of Representatives, and college students, who serve in the Senate, to simulate the representative democratic process at the statewide level.

For more than 50 years, ACTAA has hosted the event, which allows students to experience the legislative process through mock political party caucuses, committee meetings, and floor debates over original, student-written legislation. The tournament begins Sunday with party caucuses and committee meetings at Episcopal Collegiate School. On Monday and Tuesday, students convene in the House and Senate chambers of the Arkansas State Capitol to debate and vote on legislation addressing issues of state and national importance.

In addition to recognizing Bentonville West High School and Hendrix College as the top overall delegations in their respective divisions, more than 40 students earned statewide recognition for their accomplishments in debate, bill writing, and parliamentary procedure.

Elected Student Officers

Students participating in Arkansas Student Congress elect their own political party and chamber leadership, providing opportunities to develop parliamentary, organizational, and leadership skills.

Model Democratic Party

• Party Leader: Fiona McFarlene, University of Arkansas

• Party Secretary: Keithan Green, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School

Model Republican Party

• Party Leader: Finn Welch, Hendrix College

• Party Secretary: Clyde Voltaire, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School

House I

• Speaker: Vivian Kincaid, Har-Ber High School

• Clerk: Krithik Rajesh, Bentonville High School

House II

• Speaker: Amelia Garrett, Conway High School

• Clerk: Chayney Melton, Russellville High School

House III

• Speaker: Aditi Shashidhara, Bentonville West High School

• Clerk: Vignesh Nair, Jonesboro High School

Outstanding Legislation

Students compete for recognition of the outstanding legislation presented in each chamber. This year's Best Bill recipients were:

• House I: Lillian Kitchens of Russellville High School for HB111, The S.A.M.S. Act (Sexual Assault Minimum Sentencing).

• House II: Kendyll Robinson and Kendyl Forte of Maumelle High School for HB205, A Bill to the Arkansas General Assembly Prohibiting the Use of Shock Gloves by Any Member of Law Enforcement.

• House III: Aditi Shashidhara and Jaithra Polavarapu of Bentonville West High School for HB305, A Bill Recommending to the Congress of the United States to Strengthen and Expand Conventional-Speed Rail Infrastructure.

• Senate: Caleb Baker and Sydney Kersey of Hendrix College for SB410, A Bill Recommending to the Arkansas General Assembly to End the Unpaid Labor of Incarcerated Individuals.

College Division Awards

Best Senate Delegation

1. Hendrix College

2. University of Arkansas

3. University of Central Arkansas

Additional individual recognitions included:

• Fiona McFarlene, University of Arkansas — Marguerite Pearce Metcalf Award

• Caleb Baker and Lillian Stockton, Hendrix College — Mary Melekian Richardson Award

• Caleb Baker, Hendrix College — Best Overall Floor Delegate, Senate

High School Division Awards

Best Overall House Delegation

1. Bentonville West High School

2. Har-Ber High School

3. Russellville High School

Best Delegation – House I

1. Har-Ber High School

2. Bentonville High School

3. Jonesboro High School

Best Delegation – House II

1. Har-Ber High School

2. Russellville High School (Tie)

3. Bentonville High School (Tie)

4. Conway High School

Best Delegation – House III

1. Bentonville West High School

2. Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School

3. Bentonville High School

Highest-Scoring Delegate of Congress

Aditi Shashidhara of Bentonville West High School earned the distinction of Highest-Scoring Delegate of Congress.

Mary Ingalls Awards

• House I: Layla Adbel-Karim, Jonesboro High School

• House II: Mary Erwin Bright, Episcopal Collegiate School

• House III: Rey Philip, Episcopal Collegiate School

Individual House Awards

• Krithik Rajesh, Bentonville High School — Melinda Milloway Valdez Award (House I)

• Chayney Melton, Russellville High School — Patricia Treadway Award (House II)

• Aditi Shashidhara, Bentonville West High School — Highest-Scoring Delegate (House III)

Best Overall Floor Debate Delegate

• House I: Layla Adbel-Karim, Jonesboro High School

• House II: Sofia Martinez, Sylvan Hills High School

• House III: Julia Penaflor, Har-Ber High School

Through Arkansas Student Congress, ACTAA continues its longstanding commitment to providing students with meaningful opportunities to develop public speaking, critical thinking, legislative advocacy, and leadership skills while engaging with the principles and practices of representative democracy.

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