Author: Donnie Sewell

Isabella Zhang spent her summer break working in a lab at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences researching a DNA inhibitor that may help reduce cancer cells in gliomas in the future.

On July 29, Zhang, a junior at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, had an opportunity to share her research at the 13^th annual Arkansas Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium at UAMS in Little Rock. The symposium provided students from 36 colleges and universities as well as seven high schools from across the United States an opportunity to present their research.

Zhang worked this summer in the laboratory of Dr. Alicia Byrd, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Thanks to funds from the ASMSA Foundation, Zhang was able to live in student housing on the UAMS campus this summer, making her summer research possible.

Her research focused on a compound that may possibly inhibit high expression levels of DNA helicase B (HELB). High levels of HELB reduce overall survival chances of patients with gliomas, the most common primary tumors of the brain and spinal cord, according to Zhang’s research. A HELB inhibitor could be a valuable therapeutic target for gliomas, but no HELB inhibitors have been discovered.

Zhang is the first ASMSA sophomore to work in a UAMS lab after informally auditing the junior Capstone class last year. Byrd has previously hosted ASMSA students in her lab working on similar research, including Luis Vidal of the Class of 2026, Carmella Lewis of the Class of 2025 and Hannah Taylor of the Class of 2024.

Dr. Whitney Holden and Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak, who both serve as a Life Sciences Instructor of Excellence at ASMSA, helped connect Zhang with Byrd. Holden said Zhang showed early enthusiasm for research that shows great potential.

“Isabella has demonstrated remarkable initiative and scientific maturity, becoming the first ASMSA sophomore to conduct summer research at UAMS before formally beginning her junior Capstone year,” Holden said. “The best part is that this is only the beginning for Isabella! Thanks to her hard work and scientific curiosity as well as the resources ASMSA provides, she is well positioned to continue doing rigorous research with the potential to improve health in our communities.”

Holden cited the ASMSA Foundation’s support for Zhang’s summer housing and the institutional support from the Residential Life department of providing twice-weekly transportation to UAMS for Zhang and other students this year to continue research at UAMS.

“It is a big team effort here at ASMSA to support our emerging young scientists,” Holden said.

The symposium was sponsored by the UAMS College of Medicine Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with support from the UAMS Graduate School, the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) program, the Center for Molecular Interactions in Cancer, the Central Arkansas Chapter of Sigma XI and MedChemExpress.

To read more about the symposium, click here.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts student music ensembles recently released their concert schedules for the 2026-27 school year.

The ASMSA Wind Ensemble, ASMSA String Ensemble, ASMSA Jazz Ensemble and the ASMSA Choir will hold their respective performances in the Creativity and Innovation Complex on campus at 200 Whittington Ave. The December 2026 and in May 2027 performances will include both the ASMSA String Ensemble and the ASMSA Choir.

The concert performance schedule is:

• String Ensemble, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 13;
• Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15;
• Choir, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8;
• String Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8;
• Jazz Ensemble, 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 9;
• Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10;
• String Ensemble, 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 2, 2027;
• Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m., Thursday, March 4, 2027;
• Choir, 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 4;
• String Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 4;
• Jazz Ensemble, 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 5; and
• Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 6.

The concerts are free and open to the public. They will also be broadcast live on the school’s social media pages on Facebook (www.facebook.com/armathsciarts) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/@armathsciarts_video).

Eight Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students were among the approximately 400 rising seniors who attended the 47th annual Arkansas Governor’s School in July.

Arkansas Governor’s School is a four-week noncredit program that creates a unique learning experience for some of the state’s top students to become potential leaders. Participants choose from nine areas of study in STEM, arts and humanities subjects. The program is funded by the Arkansas State Legislature through the state Department of Education, allowing participants to attend at no cost. It is held annually on the Arkansas Tech University campus in Russellville.

Students also attended classes on epistemology — a branch of philosophy that examines the nature, origin and limits of knowledge — and a class that helped them explore their own thoughts on learning. Evening events included movies that were discussed in class, speakers, field trips and recreational opportunities. Arkansas Lt. Gov. Leslie Rutledge spoke to the students on the final full day.

ASMSA students who participated in Arkansas Governor’s School and their chosen focus area included:

• Clem Sutterfield of Little Rock, Social Science;
• Judah Raimondi of Summit, English;
• Divi O’Dell of Cabot, Visual Arts;
• Dane Adamson of Lonoke, Drama;
• Wyatt Cowan of Texarkana, Math;
• Gabby Cowan of Texarkana, Natural Science;
• Amelia Wesley of Hot Springs, Instrumental Music; and
• Colt Erwin of Hot Springs, Math.

Seven Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students earned recognition in the Arts Across Arkansas 2026 competition.

ASMSA students placed in the Film, Literary Arts and Music Composition categories. The event included exhibitions and performances by 54 students from about 30 schools who were selected as finalists in six arts categories. More than 160 students were nominated for the awards, which were announced during the state finals on March 28 at the University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College.

Students who earned recognition include:

Film

• Andy Kneebone, a junior from Arkadelphia, and Isabel Ross, a junior from Crossett, first place
• Jhada Armstrong, a senior from Hot Springs, second place

Literary Arts

• Spencer Bryant, a junior from Little Rock, second place
• Layla Cullipher, a junior from Lewisville, third place

Music Composition

• Eli Gregory, a senior from Monticello, second place
• Ian Glasgow, a junior from Sherwood, third place

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Several students were among the finalists in various categories, including:

• Literary Arts: Cody Barton, a junior from El Dorado, and Lexi Louden, a junior from Camden,
• Music Composition: Matthew Carter, a senior from Hot Springs,
• Visual Arts: Isabel Ross, a junior from Crossett, and
• Photography: Lexi Louden, a junior from Camden; Priya James, a senior from Mountainburg; and Eli Gregory, a senior from Monticello

Arts Across Arkansas is a program that aims to encourage, enhance and expand students’ original thoughts, processes, personal experiences and artistic abilities, according to the program’s website. It is sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Division of Arkansas Heritage.

Kemdi Ekeanyanwu has an opportunity to do what only 98 rising high school seniors have a chance to do each summer — participate in the American Legion Boys Nation.

This year’s Boys Nation is set to take place July 17-25 in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area. The program offers delegates from across the nation the opportunity to serve as senators in a mock federal government as well as participate in civic opportunities. The program is supported by the American Legion, the largest U.S. veterans organization with more than 1.6 million members. Boys Nation senators are selected from delegates who participated in Boys State, a similar state-level program. Every state except Hawaii has a Boys State program.

Ekeanyanwu of Little Rock participated in the 85^th annual Arkansas American Legion Boys State held in late May at the University of Arkansas in Conway. He was one of two ASMSA students who were elected to an office during the weeklong program. Ekeanyanwu was selected as a state senator for the mock state legislature. Wyatt Cowan of Texarkana was elected to serve as a justice of the peace for Carvell County.

Ekeanyanwu said Boys State was a great experience that motivated him to come further out of his comfort zone, “meeting and bonding with a community I never thought I’d love so much. The biggest thing I learned about leadership is confidence. What helped me get elected (as a state senator) was confidence as I spoke, and what helped me guide my committee was confidence in my choices and my constituents to get the job done.”

Tristan Henson, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Class of 2026, has been named a Horatio Alger National Scholar.

Henson was one of 105 recipients of the Class of 2026 Horatio Alger National Scholarship, sponsored by the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, Inc. National Scholars receive a $25,000 scholarship to apply toward educational costs of the college or university of their choice. They also have access to a variety of Alger Association-provided resources including counseling and referral services, career exploration opportunities and association alumni connections.

The Alger Association — named for Horatio Alger Jr., a renowned 19^th century author whose tales of overcoming adversity through unyielding perseverance and basic moral principles were popular — is a nonprofit educational organization honoring the achievements of outstanding individuals and encouraging youth to pursue their dreams through higher education.

Four Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts seniors earned recognition at the 2026 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in May.

The team of Nathan Grady of Blytheville, Emily Lin of Little Rock and Kaitleen Toh of Little Rock received a Fourth Grand Award in the Translational Medical Science category at the competition that was held May 9-15 in Phoenix, Ariz. They earned their trip to ISEF by placing second overall at the West Central Regional Science Fair at ASMSA in February.

Nathan Harbut of Hot Springs earned honorable mention recognition in a special awards category sponsored by the American Mathematical Society. Harbut qualified for ISEF at the Arkansas State Science and Engineering Fair in April.

Coley Rogers, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Class of 2026, was selected as the winner of the 2026 Fourth District Congressional Art Competition sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman.

Rogers earned the recognition for her piece called “Chief Wolf’s Robe and the Buffalo.” It was chosen for the top honor by a panel of three judges based on three categories — design/composition, skill/technique and overall execution.

Rogers’ artwork will be placed on display for a year at the U.S. Capitol. The competition is held annually, and each member of the U.S. House of Representatives may host a competition for their district. Top pieces are displayed in Washington, D.C., while other award winners may be displayed in each representative’s offices, both in D.C. and in their home state.

Eight Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy for the Spring 2026 semester while seven students met the qualifications for the Global Seal of Biliteracy.

The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12^th grades who demonstrate a proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school. The program is sponsored by Arkansas Foreign Language Teachers Association and the Arkansas Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages. The Arkansas Department of Education officially endorsed the seal in June 2018. The Seal of Biliteracy program is recognized in 49 states and Washington, D.C.

While Makenna Kutzshebauch was a student at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, one thing seemed almost certain — that she would qualify to compete in the National History Day competition.

Kutzschebauch of Benton, a member of ASMSA’s Class of 2026, had previously qualified to compete in the national competition sponsored by National History Day, an educational, nonprofit organization that promotes history and civics education. The competition is open to middle- and high-school students in five categories: papers, exhibits, performances, documentaries and websites. The categories are divided into junior and senior divisions along with individual and group divisions.

Kutzschebacuch had previously qualified for the national competition as both a sophomore and junior at ASMSA in the documentaries category, creating two short documentaries that focused on the creator of forensic dioramas and industrial radium exposure, respectively.