ATU Students Attend Seminar in Nation’s Capital

ATU Delegation Inside Washington Seminar January 2025 and Senator Boozman
Photographed (from left-to-right): Ellie Stokes, Alexis Wilf, Riley Dunman, Bella Timm, U.S. Senator John Boozman, Rose Gunther, Mikayla McMurray, Dr. James Stobaugh and Bethani Walter.

Seven Arkansas Tech University students participated in the 2025 Inside Washington Seminar hosted by The Washington Center in January.

The week-long event in Washington, D.C., provided ATU students and their ATU faculty mentor, Dr. James Stobaugh, with the opportunity to listen to speakers each morning and visit with a variety of politicians, think tank representatives and media professionals each afternoon.

“Some highlights included a one-hour meeting with Senator (John) Boozman, where he graciously answered students’ questions,” said Stobaugh, ATU associate professor of sociology and criminal justice. “Representative (Bruce) Westerman’s office arranged a tour of the Capitol for us, and the students also had the unexpected and historic opportunity to witness Jimmy Carter lying in state at the Capitol.”

Riley Dunman of Ola, Rose Gunther of Bigelow, Mikayla McMurray of Dardanelle, Ellie Stokes of Dardanelle, Bella Timm of Hot Springs, Bethani Walter of Dardanelle and Alexis Wilf of Bentonville are the ATU students who participated in the 2025 Inside Washington Seminar.

They were paired with students from Salisbury University, Ferris State University and the University of Southern Mississippi.

“This collaboration provided valuable networking opportunities with peers from across the country, and several new friendships emerged as a result,” said Stobaugh.

For more information about opportunities through The Washington Center available to ATU students, send e-mail to Dr. Michael Rogers, ATU professor of political science, at mrogers6@atu.edu.