Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) today announced that Andrew Haught, a member of the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (UAFS) class of 2017, has been selected to serve as the 2015 John Paul Hammerschmidt (JPH) Fellow.

The JPH Fellowship was established in 2013 in conjunction with UAFS 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’s Washington, D.C. office.  

After the announcement of Haught’s appointment, Congressman Womack and Dr. Beran, UAFS Chancellor, released the following statements:

"John Paul Hammerschmidt was wholeheartedly committed to serving Third District Arkansans, including our students,” said Womack.  “While he is no longer with us, I am proud to honor John Paul’s life and legacy with this fellowship and look forward to welcoming Andrew to our office."

“Andrew is an exceptional student with a bright future ahead of him, and I’m confident he will excel in the political environment of Washington, D.C., just as he has excelled here on the UAFS campus,” Beran said.  “We are extremely grateful for Congressman Womack affording such a tremendous and exciting opportunity to our students.”

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.

Congressman Steve Womack has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011 and serves on the House Appropriations Defense, Financial Services and General Government, and Labor-Health and Human Services subcommittees and the House Committee on the Budget.

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