Author: Donnie Sewell

The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees approved Domain Architecture to serve as the design firm for ASMSA’s Alumni Hall and New Charter Field project at its regular November meeting.

The Baton Rouge firm with a presence in northwest Arkansas was recommended by a campus selection committee to design the $4.25 million project that will provide new fitness, wellness and community hubs for campus. The initiative represents a strategic investment in student wellness, employee-student connection and long-range campus vitality.

Alumni Hall will serve as a flexible indoor gathering space. The 10,000-square-foot building will include cardio and strength training areas, a dedicated esports lab, a studio space for dance and yoga as well as areas for club meetings, guest speakers and residential life programming.

ASMSA’s previous exercise room was located within the former St. Joseph’s Hospital, which sits on the front of campus along Whittington Avenue. ASMSA returned the complex to the City of Hot Springs earlier this year. Once the city demolishes the complex, the property is set to be returned to ASMSA for future development.

ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice said the facility addresses a missing element of campus life and a need articulated by students and colleagues alike for more than two decades.

“This next step in the evolution of campus was shaped by what students have been asking for over many years: a place that feels built around them, not retrofitted for them. Alumni Hall creates room for students to gather, stay active, and build community in ways that strengthen both their well-being and their experience at ASMSA.”

New Charter Field will provide an outdoor space for recreational sports and other activities, creating a safe, well-lit and multi-use green space for everything from informal play to structured wellness programming.

Alumni Hall and New Charter Field will be located adjacent to the parking lot behind the Student Center. The original Charter Field once occupied the space where the Student Center and its parking lot is located. When ASMSA broke ground in August 2010 for the new residential space, students no longer had a large outdoor recreational space on campus. The Student Center was completed and opened in 2012.

The project will be completed debt-free through institutional carryover funds and capital outlay funds. A campus working group of staff, faculty and students is being created to work with Domain Architecture to assist with the overall design and planning as the project moves forward. A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Homecoming and Alumni Weekend in October 2026. Construction is estimated for completion in mid-2028.

Photo caption: This is a preliminary drawing used as a concept for the future Alumni Hall that was created by Harris Architecture, ASMSA's on-call architect. Domain Architecture has been selected to design the $4.25 million Alumni Hall and New Charter Field project.

Aarush Goyal, a senior at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Program is the largest corporate-sponsored, achievement-based scholarship program in the United States, according to Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation website. It is a joint effort of Coca-Cola bottlers across the country and The Coca-Cola Company.

Goyal of Bentonville said being selected as a semifinalist was an honor. “It means a lot to have my hard work and dedication recognized by such a respected program,” he said. “More than anything, it’s humbling to know that my efforts to make a difference in my school and community are being acknowledged among so many other inspiring students.”

The program selected 1,238 semifinalists from a pool of more than 107,000 applicants. The semifinalists pool will be narrowed to 250 Regional Finalists in early January 2026 to take part in online interviews. From those, 150 students will be named Coke Scholars-select in February and invited to attend the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend in Atlanta in April. Upon completion of the Scholars Weekend, the students will be named official Coca-Cola Scholars and receive a $20,000 scholarship.

Goyal said he was working in a lab at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences when he received an email from The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation.

“I had just wrapped up an experiment and decided to check my inbox,” Goyal said. “When I saw the message from The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, I opened it with a mix of nerves and excitement. The moment I read that I was moving on as a semifinalist, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was such a rewarding feeling.”

University of Arkansas System President Jay B. Silveria has announced that Stuart Flynn, currently dean of academic affairs at Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & the Arts (ASMSA), has been named interim executive director at the state’s residential high school and will begin that role Jan. 1, 2026.

Current ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice announced in June his plans to step down in December after 13 years of leadership at the school.

A national search for a permanent executive director is also officially underway, with the school solidifying its job profile and launching a web presence for the search process intended to keep the public informed. The search site can be found here. Michael Moore, Ph.D., the UA System’s vice president for academic affairs, is leading the search, working with a previously announced committee to advise Silveria as he seeks a candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.

“I've been fortunate to have spent enough time at ASMSA to recognize the breadth of institutional knowledge Mr. Flynn has acquired and the level of respect his colleagues on campus have for his leadership,” Silveria said. “We are grateful he’s agreed to take on the responsibility of interim executive director and to keep things progressing during this time of transition.”

Flynn was named dean of academic affairs at ASMSA in May 2019, leaving his position as director of student support services at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) in Birmingham, Ala. He previously served as a creative writing instructor from 2001-2015 at ASFA and chair of ASFA’s Creative Writing Department from 2002-2015. Flynn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arkansas School of Law and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from the University of Alabama.

Stuart Flynn was named dean of academic affairs in May after a national search. He assumed the duties in July. He follows Bob Gregory, who left the school to relocate near family out of state. Gregory had served as dean of academic affairs since Spring 2013.

As dean of academic affairs at ASMSA, Flynn is the lead academic administrator for the campus, providing leadership, supervision and evaluation to faculty members and staff within the academic component of the institution. He also determines teaching schedules and oversees the planning and implementation of statewide professional development and outreach opportunities for teachers around the state through digital learning, among other duties.

“I want to thank President Silveria for trusting me with this responsibility,” Flynn said. “I’m honored to serve the ASMSA community in this capacity, and I look forward to working with all ASMSA stakeholders as we continue working together to provide meaningful educational opportunities for Arkansas families in a learning environment dedicated to academic growth and student well-being."

Corey Alderdice, executive director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, was named the 2025 Arkansas Executive of the Year in the Public Sector/Education category by Arkansas Business.

Alderdice was recognized at an awards ceremony held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Nov. 13. Other category finalists were Jim Hudson, secretary of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration; Dr. Pearl McElfish, founding director of the Institute for Community Health Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Dr. DuShun Scarbrough Sr., executive director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission; and Dr. Todd Shields, chancellor of Arkansas State University.

“While Arkansas Business honored me as an individual, every achievement behind this recognition is the product of the collective work of ASMSA students who push boundaries, dedicated educators who embrace challenge, and partners who believe in expanding opportunity,” Alderdice said.  “Stewarding ASMSA these past thirteen years has been the real honor even amid this special recognition.”

A video of the ceremony may be viewed here.

Awards were also announced for five other categories: Small Private Company, Large Private Company, Nonprofit Organization, Financial Executive and Board Member. In addition to Alderdice and McElfish who both serve at institutions within the University of Arkansas System, UA Board of Trustees Chair Kelly Eichler was named a finalist in the Board Member category.

This was the second year of the program, which is an expansion of the former CFO of the Year Awards. It recognized and honored the region’s most outstanding senior executives, according to a release by Arkansas Business. Nomination forms were submitted to an independent panel of judges that met in late July to determine finalists and winners.

For more information about the Arkansas Executive of the Year Awards and a list of this year’s winners, visit www.ArkansasBusiness.com/event/executive. The celebration was presented by Arkansas Talent Group.

Six Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts chorus members were selected for recognition for the Arkansas Choral Directors Association Region 3 All-Region Honor Chorus.

Five students earned spots to participate in the Senior High All-Region Clinic that was held on Nov. 8 at First Baptist Church in Hot Springs. Another student was named as a first alternate for the clinic. They qualified for the clinic at All-Region auditions that were held Oct. 4 at Bryant Junior High.

Student musicians who earned recognition were:
• Tenor 1: Andrew Archer, a senior from Camden, 30^th chair, TTBB Chorus;
• Tenor 2: Beau Goldthorpe, a senior from Benton, 11^th chair, SATB Chorus, and Daniel Leslie, a sophomore from Jonesboro, 18^th chair, SATB Chorus;
• Bass 1: Faith Wesley, a senior from Hot Springs, 39^th chair, TTBB Chorus;
• Bass 2: Kemdi Ekeanyanwu, a junior from Little Rock, 13^th chair, SATB Chorus; and
• Soprano 1: Tatum Polzin, a senior from Little Rock, 51^st chair, 1^st alternate, SSAA Chorus.

Goldthorpe, Leslie and Ekeanyanwu are all eligible to audition for All-State honors. All-State auditions will be held in February.

Sixteen seniors from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts have been named QuestBridge 2025 National College Match Finalists.

QuestBridge is a nonprofit organization that connects exceptional low-income youth with leading institutions of higher education. QuestBridge works with top universities across the country to offer four-year, full scholarships to deserving students who may otherwise be unable to afford to attend those institutions.

ASMSA seniors selected as Finalists include:

• Nakoa Beattie of Monticello;
• Ridgely Bond of Marion;
• Matthew Carter of Hot Springs;
• Sephorah Faiq of Arkadelphia;
• Bridger Foyt of Blytheville;
• Jack Ghotra of Little Rock;
• Zee Kidd of Little Rock;
• Jacob Lewis of Clinton;
• Tanvi Marupally of Conway;
• Jun Park of Maumelle;
• Lisandro Ramos of Little Rock;
• Emma Sedgwick of Arkadelphia;
• Payton Stinnett of Redfield;
• Paola Sustaita of Sheridan;
• Stevie Watkins of Perryville; and
• Faith Wesley of Hot Springs.

QuestBridge partnered this year with 55 colleges and universities to offer scholarships at institutions such as Duke University, Rice University, Stanford University, Yale University and others.

Students apply for the scholarships through QuestBridge’s free National College Match application. They may list up to 15 of the partner schools at which they would like to be considered for admission.

Finalists who receive a match will be notified in early December. Finalists who do not receive a match for a scholarship will still be eligible to be considered for regular admission to partner schools and may still receive financial aid in the future.

Match Scholarship recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship that includes tuition and fees, housing and food, books and travel expenses, worth more than $200,000. The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college that covers the cost of attendance, including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses. All Match Scholarship packages have no parental contribution or student loans.

The search for the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts next Executive Director is open.

The University of Arkansas System invites nominations and applications for the role of Executive Director of ASMSA, which is the system’s early-college campus. ASMSA is a public residential high school serving academically and artistically motivated students of all backgrounds from throughout the state. It is one of only 17 public, residential high schools in the country specializing in the education of talented and motivated students who have an interest and aptitude for mathematics and science as well as a passion for creativity, humanities, and the arts.

Nominations and expressions of interest may be submitted to Dr. Michael Moore, Vice President for Academic Affairs, at mmoore@uasys.edu. To apply, candidates should submit a curriculum vitae/resume and a letter of interest through the Workday system. More information, including the position description, is available at asmsa.me/execdirsearch25. Priority will be given to applications received by January 16, 2026, though the search will remain open until the position is filled.

Moore is serving as the chair of an advisory search committee comprised of faculty, staff, alumni, parents and community members. The committee will make a recommendation to UA System President Jay B. Silveria, who will make the final recommendation to the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees. The board will make the final selection for the next executive director.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts will host the state 2025 Fall Esports Championships on Monday, Dec. 8, in the Creativity and Innovation Complex.

The event will feature semifinal matches for Splatoon and Super Smash Bros as well as the championship matches for League of Legends, Splatoon and Super Smash Bros. The competitions will begin at 10 a.m.

The schedule of events include:

• 10 a.m. — Splatoon Semifinals No. 1 and No. 2
• 11 a.m. — Super Smash Bros Semifinals No. 1 and No. 2
• 12 p.m. — League of Legends Championship
• 2 p.m. — Splatoon Championship; and
• 3 p.m. — Super Smash Bros Championship.

Teams and ticket information will be announced at a later date. The event will be open to the public. The championships are being held by the Arkansas Activities Association and PlayVs. ASMSA is located at 200 Whittington Ave. in Hot Springs.

Two Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts seniors were selected to participate in national programs sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that provide firsthand experiences in STEM fields. Participating in the programs has helped affirm possible career paths.

Jacob Lewis attended MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES) Summer, a six-week, on-campus program that immerses students from across the country in life at MIT. Luis Vidal is participating in the MITES Semester program, a six-month STEM and college preparation experience that is conducted virtually from June through December.

Participants in MITES Summer took five rigorous math, science and humanities courses while living on the college’s campus in Cambridge, Mass. Students also had the opportunity to partake in lab tours, social events and college admissions counseling. Lewis, who is from Clinton, attended the program from June 21 through Aug. 1. It was an opportunity to get a firsthand look at MIT and the Boston area while meeting like-minded peers, he said.

“The experience was amazing,” Lewis said. “It taught me so much about the college application process, introduced me into an entire community of MITES scholars and gave me lifelong friends.”

He is considering studying biochemistry followed by a career in genetic engineering or pharmaceutical drug development. His interactions with the teachers and teacher assistants in the program helped him reconsider what he wants to study.

This year is the 50^th anniversary for the MITES program, and the theme this year was “Dream, Believe, Achieve.” Lewis said the theme “honestly influenced how I approach my goals and has made me more confident in what I will achieve in life, so I think that’s a pretty good motto.”

His summer stay in the Boston area and other parts of Massachusetts also had another personal effect on him. “Honestly, the whole experience influenced me to live in Massachusetts later in life,” he said.

Vidal of Fort Smith began his MIT experience a bit later — June 23, but it continues until December. The MITES Semester program is designed to allow students to participate virtually on a schedule that fits their needs. It is broken into two segments that provide a direct learning experience that then transitions into college and career preparation phase.

During the STEM immersion phase, which ran from June 23 through Aug. 7, participants took two classes — one core lass such as Physics, Calculus or Science Writing and Communications and a project course focused on a research topic. Vidal took Science Writing and Communications as well as a course called Stem Cells and Regeneration. In addition to attending the two classes, students also participated in webinars twice a week.

Vidal wrote a 1,000-word paper based on interviews with Dr. Ranu Jang, a distinguished professor of biomedical engineering and an associate vice-chancellor at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Her research focuses on engineering and neuroscience.

“She actually taught me so many things I didn’t know prior to that interview,” Vidal said. “I was not sure that I really wanted to go into prosthetics before the interview and even before summer, but after hearing her explanation, it really reinforced my passion for this.”

For the Stem Cells and Regeneration course, Vidal conducted a research project on planarian worms, which have the ability to regenerate.

He began the second phase — College and Career Prep — on Aug. 10, and it continues until Dec. 7. Participants engage in essay workshops, interview prep and webinars to assist in preparing for applications.

Vidal said he participated in the program to meet and develop a network of like-minded people “who are also just as passionate in STEM as me.” To help with that kind of development, the MITES Semester program places participants in small groups of 10 to 15 people. Each cluster meets for an hour a week throughout the program’s duration to play games, discuss college prep, do mock interviews or talk about other subjects, Vidal said. “It’s random but cool!”