National Park College (NPC) Honors Program students spent the Fall 2025 semester immersed in local government and civic engagement through the Honors Colloquium, an interdisciplinary course that brings faculty and guest speakers together for weekly lectures and discussions.
Honors Program Director and Assistant Professor of English Jason Chism said, “Each semester, the NPC Honors Program offers an Honors Colloquium, which is a series of lectures and discussions from faculty and guest speakers on a particular theme,” Chism said. “This is an interdisciplinary course, and each week we examine different topics from different academic disciplines on the semester’s overall theme. The course culminates with presentations of service‑oriented research projects.”
The Fall 2025 theme, “Local Government and Civic Engagement,” introduced students to a broad network of local officials and community leaders. Speakers included the Hot Springs mayor, city manager, police and fire chiefs, multiple city directors, Justices of the Peace, local school board members, and directors of nonprofit and community‑service organizations. Several panel discussions highlighted issues such as literacy, public health, food insecurity, child advocacy and services for aging populations.
Students also attended city board, quorum court and school board meetings, gaining firsthand experience with the decision‑making processes that shape their community.
At the end of the semester, students presented a service‑based research project: a local government curriculum designed for use in public schools to strengthen civic education. Two schools have already adopted the curriculum, and two more are considering implementation. According to Chism, local officials have encouraged NPC students to present their work to the Arkansas Board of Education for potential statewide expansion.
“This semester, the Honors Colloquium met its purpose, providing our students with not only valuable information and great experiences but also helping to equip them to be more engaged citizens,” Chism said. “I was delighted by the whole experience, particularly the engagement and enthusiasm our students brought and the impressive and impactful scholarship they produced.”
Students said the course offered meaningful insight into both their community and the importance of local government.
“When I signed up for the Honors Colloquium class, I did not realize the impact it would have on me,” said student LeeAnne Stout. “As a student and an Arkansas resident, I quickly learned that I was very undereducated on not only the processes and roles of local government, but also many resources that our city has. Thanks to this class, I am more confident in my knowledge of local government and more driven to help my community in ways such as volunteering and donating to shelters.”
Stout said the experience surpassed her expectations and recommended the course for future students.
Student Bailey Bell said the colloquium helped her build a deeper understanding of civic involvement and community leadership.
“Before attending Honors Colloquium, I had limited knowledge about local government, especially in comparison to my knowledge of the federal government I learned in high school,” Bell said. “Each week, I began to develop a stronger understanding of our local government and a deeper knowledge about how to get involved in the community.”
Bell said meeting local leaders was one of the most valuable aspects of the course.
“After meeting these folks and learning about their contributions to the community, I feel more connected to the city I live in and inspired to contribute in some way,” she said. “As a future educator, I am especially grateful for this learning opportunity, which will allow me to pass on my newfound passion for local government and community engagement to the next generation of students.”
Chism said the students’ work this semester demonstrated the transformational impact of civic learning.
Picture left to right: Jason Chism, Araya Astalosh, LeeAnn Jackson, Bailey Bell, Ava Grenier, Atticus Webb, and Anna Thompson.