Meet Aly Hobson, Arkansas Press Women’s Youngest Winner of 2025
Aly Hobson, a 17-year-old rising senior at White Hall High School, is the youngest winner of the Arkansas Press Women’s 2025 Professional Communications Contest. She received third place in the category of Children’s Book – Fiction for her debut title, “Abbie Jane Learns to Advocate.”
“I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember,” she said. “It started with short stories and journal entries, but over time, writing became my way of processing the world around me and advocating for the causes that matter most to me. It’s been both an outlet and a tool for change.”
Hobson wrote the award-winning book at just 15 during what she describes as one of the most challenging seasons of her life. After being diagnosed with chronic illnesses, she wanted to create a story that could bring comfort, understanding, and empowerment to children facing adversity.
The book follows a young girl who sees her friend being mistreated because of a disability. Rather than staying silent, Abbie Jane speaks up and teaches her classmates about kindness, inclusion, and the importance of standing up for others.
“I wrote it not just for me, but for every young person who has ever felt overlooked or underestimated,” Hobson said. “The goal is to teach the concept of advocacy at a young age, so children understand its power and how to use it.”
The Arkansas Press Women judges praised Hobson’s book for its timely message and age-appropriate approach to complex topics. Hobson, who hadn’t expected to win, was humbled by the recognition.
“It was surreal,” she said. “I didn’t write the book to win an award. I wrote it to give a voice to kids who often don’t get one. But to have it recognized in that way reminded me that storytelling has real power. It made me even more determined to keep writing and using my voice for good.”
Hobson’s ambitions go far beyond children’s literature. She’s currently planning a sequel or short series featuring Abbie Jane and her friends in new advocacy adventures. Her writing interests also include public policy. She’s already drafted sample legislation aimed at improving healthcare access for medically complex youth.
Hobson is no stranger to advocacy. She has accumulated more than 1,500 hours of community service and founded Everyday Fighter: Advocating for Youth Battling Chronic Illnesses, a service initiative that has reached over 10,000 people nationwide. Through four years in the Miss Arkansas’ Teen Organization, Hobson has built a platform focused on amplifying the voices of young people navigating chronic conditions. This year, she was named a Top 15 Semifinalist, won Overall Interview, and was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers at the state competition.
This summer, she’ll represent Arkansas at Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., as one of only two delegates selected out of nearly 700 participants at Arkansas Girls State. She also serves on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Youth Advisory Council, is an ambassador for the Arkansas Food Bank, and a “You’re the Cure” advocate for the American Heart Association. At White Hall High School, she’s active in Education Accelerated by Service and Technology and Future Business Leaders of America.
After high school, Hobson plans to attend the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville to major in political science and communications on the pre-law track. Her long-term goal is to earn a law degree and a master’s degree in public service, work in public policy and eventually run for office.
“I want to work in public policy and become a voice for children and families who are too often left out of the conversation,” Hobson said. “I’ve learned that your circumstances don’t define your outcome. I want to help shape a future where every child has the opportunity to be seen, supported and empowered.”
Anyone who is interested in purchasing a copy of “Abbie Jane Learns to Advocate” or would like to donate 10 copies or more to a classroom of their choosing can email everydayfighterar@gmail.com.