In 2014, we started the “Bulldog of the Year” award, to honor a state advocate that embodies bulldog-like tenacity and stubbornness in the quest to improve health care for children. (Georgetown’s mascot, Jack, is a bulldog.) I was so excited that one of my favorite people on the planet, Laura Kellams, was awarded this year’s award for her tireless 8+ years of work with the team at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families (AACF) to cover immigrant children. As Olivia Pham wrote earlier this week, Arkansas moved to adopt CHIPRA’s ICHIA option, which will not not only cover the state’s lawfully residing immigrants during their first five years in the U.S. but also Marshallese immigrant children, who, due to their special immigration status were fully blocked from accessing ARKids First (Medicaid and CHIP in Arkansas), even after five years.

I jumped at the chance to write this blog because I had the good fortune to work alongside Laura in Arkansas, where she runs AACF’s northwest Arkansas office. Despite a lot of Wal-Mart-driven wealth, the highly-populated corner of the state has many children in poverty and a large community of immigrants, including one of the largest Marshallese populations in the mainland U.S.

Before she launched AACF’s northwest office, Laura was a reporter for the statewide newspaper, skillfully covering each legislative session in Little Rock for more than a decade. This is where she was first exposed to AACF, enthusiastic to learn that children had a voice at the capitol. Now she’s an integral part of the chorus as one of the strongest voices for children in the state.

Laura is super smart (especially about policy), kind, and funny. She’s also entirely too modest. Few know about her 2005 fellowship here in DC working for the Senate Finance committee—doing research that ultimately landed on the front page of the Washington Post. And her colleagues in northwest Arkansas know well her deep love for her state and community—as evidenced not only by her work but also her tireless volunteer commitments.

Governor Hutchinson held a signing ceremony for the ICHIA resolution, where Marshallese community leaders danced in celebration. Laura was crowned in thanks for her leadership and commitment to the community. The caption on her Facebook album is “best work day ever” – after her many years of work I know it was. And it was one of my best work days ever to see her receive national recognition for her tireless work on behalf of Arkansas children. Congratulations, Laura, on your major award!