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Each December, I like to pause and reflect on the moments that have shaped our year. 2025 has been full of growth, innovation, and meaningful impact across Arkansas.
As I look back on the progress we have made together, I am reminded that every program delivered, every teacher trained, and every student reached began with the belief and generosity of supporters like you. Your commitment fuels our shared vision that every Arkansas student is equipped with the tools to make informed decisions, seize opportunity, and pursue their own pathway to success.
The start of a new year is always an invitation to imagine what’s possible. Because of you, we enter 2026 with strong momentum, bold ideas, and a deep sense of gratitude. Thank you for continuing to walk alongside us. The best is yet to come.
- Kathleen Lawson, Executive Director
TEN HIGHLIGHTS FROM A YEAR OF IMPACT |
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Twenty-five student teams pitched their innovative products at Park Plaza Mall, bringing energy, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit back to this beloved event.
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Excellence and Leadership in Free Enterprise Awards were presented statewide, honoring Ed Clifford, Jimmy Moses, Dave Stickler, and the Northwest Arkansas Council.
SAVE THE DATE | Our next celebration is coming in October 2026.
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By combining the High School Economics Challenge and Personal Finance Challenge, we created one exciting day of competition at UCA, resulting in greater student engagement and a simpler process for teachers and schools.
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We welcomed Alli Kleypas as our new Development & Communications Specialist. We were also honored to serve as a host site for a Bank of America Student Leader and had tremendous help from two student interns during our busy summer season. One of them, Maeher Kumar, a senior at Central High School, has continued with us as a valued part-time team member.
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With financial support from Tempus Realty, every elementary student at Murrell Taylor now has a funded 529 account. This initiative represents a powerful investment in the future of Arkansas students.
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Every elementary school in Arkansas received a ready to use financial literacy resource along with a copy of Sheila Bair’s Isabel’s Car Wash. We were honored to later welcome Sheila, former Chair of the FDIC, as the keynote speaker at our REAL Econ for All Conference.
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Mark your calendars for April 16th as we welcome Steve Forbes, with the event graciously hosted by Jim and Lynne Walton and Randy and Valorie Lawson.
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This year we proudly added two new Master Economics Teachers, Sam Sloan of Pocahontas and Alundra Dickson of Little Rock, further strengthening our statewide network of skilled educator leaders.
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A record-breaking 17,731 students participated in this year’s student investment simulation, the highest participation in our history.
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More teachers than ever before accessed high-quality economics and personal finance content through Economics Arkansas making this a record year in both teacher reach and direct student engagement.
Thank you for believing in the power of economic education and helping make this vital work possible. Here is to an even more impactful 2026!
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Economics Arkansas equips teachers to help students become smart consumers, wise investors, and informed citizens. Your support brings economics to life in classrooms across the state.
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