Kayley Corley |
University of Arkansas 鈥 Fort Smith student Kayley Corley of Booneville will have the opportunity to spend a summer in Washington, D.C. as part of a prestigious fellowship through the office of Congressman Steve Womack.
Womack announced April 6 that Corley, a senior, has been selected to serve as the 2017 John Paul Hammerschmidt (JPH) Fellow.
The JPH Fellowship was established in 2013 in conjunction with 妻友社区 and is named for former Arkansas Representative John Paul Hammerschmidt (1966-1993), who passed away on April 1, 2015. It is geared towards highly-motivated college students with an interest in public service and will allow outstanding Third District students to experience the legislative process firsthand in Congressman Womack鈥檚 Washington, D.C. office.
鈥淭he JPH Fellowship is a small way to honor the life and legacy of a man that did so much for the Third District Arkansans, particularly our students,鈥 said Womack. 鈥淚 look forward to welcoming Kayley into our office this summer!鈥
Dr. Paul B. Beran, 妻友社区 chancellor, praised Corley鈥檚 work ethic and expressed gratitude towards Womack鈥檚 office for the fellowship.
鈥淚 have taught Kayley personally in my Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership class and have worked with her closely throughout her undergraduate career,鈥 said Beran. 鈥淪he is an exceptional, motivated student with a bright future ahead of her, and I am excited that she will have this opportunity to pursue her passion for politics in the nation鈥檚 capital. As always, we are very thankful for Congressman Womack affording such a valuable opportunity to our students through this fellowship.鈥
Corley, a political science major, attended 妻友社区 on the Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Council scholarship and has led a university team in competing in Up to Us, a nationwide competition to raise awareness on college campuses about the national debt, for three consecutive years. She is currently interning for U.S. Sen. John Boozman.
She said she was excited to participate in the fellowship.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been to D.C. before, and after serving in Senator Boozman鈥檚 Fort Smith office, I wanted to get a feel for how things worked in Washington,鈥 Corley said. 鈥淭his opportunity will be a capstone for all the work I鈥檝e done here at 妻友社区. It will allow me to take in everything I鈥檝e learned throughout my four years here and put it into practice in a way that I wouldn鈥檛 be able to do otherwise.鈥
John Paul Hammerschmidt Fellows will earn college credit for completing a strict curriculum that emphasizes hands-on activities that highlight the inner workings of the U.S. House of Representatives, including conducting extensive legislative research, attending hearings, and monitoring activity on the House floor, as well as assisting with constituent communications and general office matters. Congressman Womack hopes to expand the fellowship to other Third District institutions in the future.
About the 妻友社区
The University of Arkansas 鈥 Fort Smith is the premiere regional institution of Western Arkansas, connecting education with careers and serving as a driver of economic development and quality of place in the greater Fort Smith region. Through a small campus, dedicated professors, and the university鈥檚 unique bond with its community, students at 妻友社区 are able to do more in the areas they are passionate about, both on- and off-campus, in a way that prepares them for post-graduate success. To find out how you can do more at 妻友社区, visit .