Searcian awarded DC Scholarship

Published:
Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:44 PM CDT

LITTLE ROCK - Nicholas Horton of Searcy has been awarded a Patrick Calhoun Leadership Scholarship for 2009. The scholarship will send four Arkansas students to The Leadership Institute's Youth Leadership School in Arlington, Va. in July.

The scholarship's purpose is to prepare young Arkansans for leadership, advance conservative principles, and build a vibrant two-party system in Arkansas. Founded by Morton Blackwell, a former aide to President Ronald Reagan, the Institute's Youth Leadership School has been described as “the boot camp” of politics. The scholarship is sponsored by Rick Calhoun, a Little Rock investment banker, as a tribute to his late father, Patrick Calhoun, a political reformer in the 1960s from Conway County.

After skipping his senior year at Harding Academy, Horton enrolled at Harding University in Searcy and will graduate this month with a degree in Public Administration.

Horton co-founded Libertas Exemplar, a political newsletter at Harding and is a member of the American Studies Institute, Phi Alpha Theta history honors society, and Students In Free Enterprise. Horton served two terms as both Vice Chairman and Chairman of College Republicans at Harding University.

Horton is a member of the White County Republican Committee, volunteers as a baseball coach, and is involved in the worship ministry at his church. He will begin studies for an MBA from Harding University this fall and is currently campaigning for Ward 1 Alderman in White County. He is the son of Tina and Tony Horton of Searcy.

Carter Ford from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville; Caleb Lites from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway; and Richard Caster of Mountain Home are the other Calhoun Scholars for 2009.