Back in 2014, then-candidate Asa Hutchinson introduced Arkansas to his 11-year-old granddaughter, Ella Beth, calling her his inspiration to put computer science, particularly coding, in every Arkansas high school.
He made the issue -- and Ella Beth, who taught herself to code -- part of what would be a successful campaign for governor that year.
It isn't necessarily what got him elected, but it was a memorable part of that campaign and his next.
Hutchinson is safely ensconced in his second term now; but his commitment to computer science education has not wavered. He still sees it as opening opportunities to young Arkansans and keeps working to persuade more of them to learn the skills.
In his first year in office, Hutchinson pushed for and got the Legislature to require all public schools in Arkansas to offer at least one "high-level" class in computer science.
When he signed the law in 2015, the number of Arkansas students taking computer classes topped out at just over 1,100. The number enrolled last year was 8,044, or just shy of 18 percent of the state's public-school enrollment.
Notably, about 1,000 of those students take their computer science classes online, which is an option in schools without a teacher certified in the subject matter.
Although schools must offer the courses, students aren't required to take them.
Students do get periodic encouragement from Gov. Hutchinson himself, who has recently been on his ninth computer science education tour of state schools.
A reporter from the Democrat-Gazette was with him in Lonoke when Hutchinson reflected on the program.
"It was like I was a person from Mars. They weren't into it," he said of the early experience.
What was then a hard sell isn't so difficult now that the curriculum has been worked into lower grade levels as well as high school. More schools have embraced it, according to Hutchinson.
The state has also taken steps to encourage teachers to obtain certification in the subject by expanding a stipend program. High school teachers can get a one-time, $2,000 stipend if certified in computer science.
The state is also encouraging students by awarding up to $1,000 in cash to students who score well on the Advanced Placement computer-science exam.
Hutchinson sees a background in computer science as preparing students to compete in a computer-savvy world. But he also thinks companies that need tech-savvy workers will be more likely to come to Arkansas.
The most basic argument for this kind of education is that students learn to solve problems and to speak the language of computers.
Whether a student is preparing to take over the family farm, start a business or pursue a profession, these are skills to build on for those who go to college or who go directly into the workforce.
For those who are college bound, there is news on that front, too.
Just last month, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved a new data science bachelor's degree program for the Fayetteville campus.
Its start date is fall 2020, pending review by the state Division of Higher Education.
Months earlier, Hutchinson had signaled his support, asserting the program would allow Arkansas students to continue their computer science and data science education at the collegiate level. He also said it would attract out-of-state talent to Arkansas.
Both will benefit Arkansas businesses by supplying them with a technically trained workforce "ready to meet the demands of an increasingly digital world," Hutchinson wrote in an endorsement letter.
Several other Arkansas universities have related offerings, but the approach at UA Fayetteville is unique, according to campus Chancellor Joe Steinmetz.
Three different UA colleges -- engineering, business and arts and sciences -- are collaborating to offer the degree, he said. He also noted the participation of people from industry and business in shaping the degree.
Announcement of the new degree dovetails nicely with Hutchinson's continuing efforts to improve the state's standing when it comes to computer-science education.
Certainly, that 2015 law that required public schools to offer at least one computer-science class has had an impact.
So has Hutchinson's cheerleading for coding and computer-science education. Cash incentives to teachers and to students help, too.
But the real success will be measured over time as the governor's granddaughter and others like her show what they can do with this education.
Commentary on 10/30/2019