Arkansas Tech University graduate student Armando Harper is one of 168 college and university students from around the United States of America named to the 2026 All In Campus Challenge Student Voting Honor Roll.
The honor roll recognizes students at participating campuses who have gone above and beyond to advance non-partisan student voter registration, education and turnout efforts in their communities.
“(Voting) is everybody’s right, and everybody has the right to express themselves by voting based upon what they believe in,” said Harper. “I believe everyone should be knowledgeable when it comes to voting. It’s important that we give students a pathway to become engaged citizens.”
A graduate student from Gurdon, Harper earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in business data analytics from Arkansas Tech in May 2025. He will add a Master of Business Administration degree from ATU during May 2026 graduation.
During his time working in the ATU Department of Campus Life, Harper has provided leadership for voter registration drives and voter education events that encouraged civic engagement among the Arkansas Tech student body and prepared them for the process of voting at a polling location.
Perhaps the most distinctive civic engagement program Harper helped offer on the ATU campus was entitled “Red, White and Clueless.” It provided Arkansas Tech students with the opportunity to participate in a trivia contest that drew questions from the United States of America citizenship test. Many participants realized they do not know their native land as well as they might have thought.
Harper said he could not have earned his place on the All In Campus Challenge Student Voting Honor Roll without the guidance and mentorship of ATU Department of Campus Life staff members such as Megan Bell and Joceline Argueta as well as the assistance of fellow graduate assistant Paula Gonzalez.
“I couldn’t do anything if it wasn’t for their help,” said Harper. “Megan always helped me out when it came to producing videos or coming up with different ideas to get students involved. This award is an honor and a blessing to see that my work is being recognized.”
A member of the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football team from 2021-25, Harper hopes to pursue a career in sports analytics after completing his master’s degree this spring.
“It’s been a lot of growth,” said Harper when asked to reflect on his ATU experience. “I’ve had my highs, and I’ve had my lows. I’ve made beautiful connections with a bunch of different people I never could have imagined meeting. Reflecting back on who I was when I got to Tech to who I am today…I’m proud of who I’ve become. That kid that came from a small town to Russellville…it helps me remember to keep my faith in God. My support system has always been there for me. It’s been an awesome road. I love Russellville. I love Tech. I bleed green and gold now.”
