Category: News

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts has announced its 2033 Facilities Plan, a dynamic roadmap that charts the continued evolution of the residential high school campus over the next decade. The plan builds on more than 15 years of transformation guided by the school’s original 2008 Master Plan and sets the stage for new facilities that will further enhance student life, learning and creativity.

The unveiling of the 2033 Facilities Plan comes as ASMSA completes the first phase of its comprehensive campus redevelopment. Since construction of the Student Center began in 2010, more than $42.5 million has been allocated toward new and renovated spaces across the downtown Hot Springs campus.

The plan stems from two years of discussions and feedback with institutional stakeholders.  The feedback from surveys and a campus working group was translated into a vision for campus by local architectural firms Harris Architecture and Taylor Kempkes Architects.

The most recent milestone came earlier this year as ASMSA finalized its exit from the former St. Joseph Hospital complex, which originally served as the residence hall and faculty office spaces, marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter for the institution and its surrounding community.

In 2010, the City of Hot Springs committed to rehabilitating the site for future expansion as part of a request for state funding to support construction of the Student Center while also reaffirming the community’s commitment to the school’s long-term success it first articulated in 1992 as part of the campaign for selection as the host site for ASMSA.

“The first phase of the campus redevelopment has been to ensure that students and colleagues have access to purpose-built spaces that align with ASMSA’s specialized mission and residential community of learning,” ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice said. “Over the past 15 years, we have mindfully developed processes and fiscal strategies that allow for the continued evolution of campus.”

ASMSA’s attention now turns to reimagining the footprint of the former hospital as the Arts Zone, a vibrant creative district dedicated to the visual and performing arts components of the school’s legislated mission. The new zone will include phased facilities for studios, rehearsal and exhibition spaces designed to support the school’s growing arts programs. While not a traditional performing arts center, facilities will feature flexible spaces for student showcases, concerts and interdisciplinary performances that blend STEM and the arts in true ASMSA fashion.

“The last decade has seen tremendous growth in meeting the visual and performing arts components of ASMSA’s mission,” Alderdice added. “Re-establishing this ‘front door’ for campus and the gateway to downtown will take approximately $30 million to complete in the coming years. However, between our campus and the former Majestic Hotel site, Hot Springs has a tremendous opportunity to redefine this end of Central Avenue for the future.”

An immediate component of the 2033 Facilities Plan is Alumni Hall and New Charter Field, a $4.25 million project that will create a comprehensive Wellness Zone for physical fitness, informal athletics and outdoor recreation. The project will include a new indoor facility alongside revitalized outdoor fields, offering students and staff greater opportunities for fitness, intramural activities and community engagement. ASMSA will seek approval for the project from the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees in November 2025 with an mid-2028 completion date.

“The 2033 Facilities Plan represents more than a set of construction projects,” Alderdice said. “It’s an intentional commitment to creating an environment where Arkansas’ exceptional students can live, learn and thrive.  Our goal continues to be to ensure that our campus facilities reflect the excellence and creativity we ask of them every day.”

To read more about the 2033 Facilities Plan, visit https://www.asmsa.org/about-us/facilities/.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts has opened the application process for its residential program for current freshmen and sophomores in the Classes of 2028 and 2029.

ASMSA is a public high school serving academically and artistically motivated students from all backgrounds from throughout the state of Arkansas. About 250 students in the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th grades attend classes and live on the Hot Springs campus in a residential community of learning unlike any other in the state.

“Our experienced and highly credentialed faculty coupled with a well-trained and innovative Student Life staff provide both the resources and support needed to prepare all students for success,” said Jason Hudnell, director of admissions and talent development. “Our commitment to STEM education is complemented by a thriving arts, humanities and music program that opens even more opportunities for students to thrive in our community of learning.”

The school was recently named the top public high school in Arkansas for the fourth straight year and No. 55 in the nation by Niche.com, a website that provides in-depth profiles on thousands of colleges, school districts and individual K-12 schools across the nation. ASMSA was also named the best public high school for college prep in the state.

ASMSA offers a broad range of courses that are all taught at the college level, including about 70 courses for college credit. Most students earn an average of 50 hours of college credit by the time they graduate with all students earning at least 30 hours — or a full year of credit.

Enrollment is tuition-free, and housing, meals and books are provided to all students at no cost from the state.

“ASMSA empowers families of high-achieving as well as aspirational and motivated students from all across Arkansas to choose a high school that best meets the needs of their students no matter their ZIP code or income status,” Hudnell said.

Students apply to ASMSA through a competitive admissions process that evaluates high school coursework, ACT/SAT/CLT scores, responses to essay questions, recommendation forms and other accomplishments. Finalist candidates are invited to attend Interview Weekends in April. The process is similar to application to selective colleges and universities.

The rigorous application process assists ASMSA in identifying for admission well-rounded young Arkansans who possess a strong sense of character, actively contribute to their communities and seek out the most challenging coursework available to them. Students must submit their completed application no later than March 1, 2026. To learn more about ASMSA’s application process and the requirements for admission, visit asmsa.org/thrive, email admissions@asmsa.org or call/text 501.622.5235.

ASMSA also offers families a separate online program independent of the residential experience. The ASMSA Online Academy offers students an opportunity to complete a thoughtfully curated sequence of AP courses over two years, generally as high school juniors and seniors although younger students who demonstrate academic readiness may apply. The application period for the ASMSA Online Academy will open in January 2026.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts is the top public high school in Arkansas for the fourth consecutive year in the 2026 Niche.com rankings.

Niche.com is a website that provides in-depth profiles of thousands of colleges, K-12 districts and individual schools across the nation. Parents and students use Niche’s information to find the right school for them.

In addition to being No. 1 on the website’s Best Public High Schools in Arkansas list, ASMSA is ranked in the top half percent of public high schools in the nation. The school is No. 55 out of almost 20,200 public high schools nationwide. It is the only public high school in Arkansas ranked in the top 150 nationally. ASMSA is also rated as top in the state in Niche.com’s Best College Prep Public High Schools in Arkansas list.

ASMSA earned an A-plus Overall Niche Grade as well as A-plus grades in the individual categories of Academics, Teachers, College Prep, and Resources and Facilities. It achieved an A grade in the Administration category as well as the Clubs and Activities Category. To view ASMSA’s profile, visit https://asmsa.me/nicheprofile.

“What makes these rankings meaningful is that they aren’t just numbers,” said ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice. “Instead, they are rooted in the reviews and stories of the students, alumni and parents who experienced ASMSA firsthand. That’s the strongest endorsement of school choice we could ask for.”

ASMSA is a public high school with both residential and online programs school for talented and highly motivated students in the 10^th through 12^th grades who have an interest and aptitude for mathematics and science as well as a passion for creativity and the arts. ASMSA is the early college campus of the University of Arkansas System. Students from across Arkansas choose to attend ASMSA for advanced academic opportunities that may not be available at their local school.

The school also ranked No. 14 on Niche’s Most Diverse Public High Schools in Arkansas. Niche uses demographic data to determine the ranking, including student racial diversity, gender diversity and percentage of economically disadvantaged students. About 42 of ASMSA students are from families who qualify for federal school menu programs, and about 38 percent identify as students of color.

The data reflects an effort by the school to meet the demand for school choice for Arkansas students and their parents. As the State of Arkansas focuses on providing students and parents access to quality education no matter their ZIP code, race or family income, Niche’s ranking reflects ASMSA’s commitment to ensuring those opportunities exist for the state’s most talented and motivated students.

“Thanks to the vision and support of the State of Arkansas, ASMSA’s residential program ensures that geography is never a barrier to opportunity,” Alderdice said. “Empowered parents and motivated students can choose a world-class education right here at home at no cost to them.”

Grades, ratings and rankings for each school are determined by information provided to Niche by the U.S. Department of Education, self-reported information from each individual institution as well as reviews by students, parents and alumni of the school. To see a full list of the 2026 Best Public high Schools in Arkansas, visit https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/arkansas/.

Nine students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts recently earned the Computer Science Students of Distinction Award.

The award recognizes Arkansas high school juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in computer science. Award winners are chosen based on several criteria including computer-related academic achievement, competitive achievement, personal achievement and service achievement.

ASMSA students who were recognized include students who are currently enrolled as well as recent graduates. They are:

• Nathan Allred, a senior from Harrison;
• Andrew Archer, a senior from Camden;
• Paul Boerwinkle, a senior from El Dorado;
• Benjamin Dong, a senior from Arkadelphia;
• Jun Park, a senior from Maumelle;
• Kavan Patel, a Class of 2025 graduate from Sherwood;
• D’Kirrah Ragland, a senior from North Little Rock;
• Riley Raymick, a Class of 2025 graduate from Sheridan; and
• Mason Vaden, a senior from Dardanelle.

The program is facilitated by the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative and administered by the Arkansas Academy of Computing. AAoC is comprised of more than 201 members who have demonstrated a significant impact on computing in Arkansas.

Students with the highest overall scores were forwarded to a final AAoC selection committee which made the final determination as to who was recognized as Computer Science Students of Distinction. Winners received a certificate and recognition on the Students of Distinction Alumni page.

Six students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts have been named 2026 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists.

The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced the names of more than 16,000 Semifinalists in the 71^st annual National Merit Scholarship Program on Sept. 10. The students, all members of the Class of 2026, will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.

The ASMSA seniors named Semifinalists are:

• Aarush Goyal of Bentonville;
• Tristan Henson of Maumelle;
• Anna Le of Fort Smith;
• Catherine Van Dorple of Cabot;
• Faith Wesley of Hot Springs; and
• Kaiyan Yu of Benton.

To be considered for the National Merit Scholarship Program, students take the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as a junior. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of anticipated graduating seniors.

Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist standing, including a detailed scholarship application that includes information about a Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received.

Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. is a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance. It was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in four batches in the spring and summer of 2026. Winners will receive scholarships sponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Program, national corporations and businesses, and colleges and universities across the nation.

University of Arkansas System President Jay B. Silveria has announced the names of a 12-member advisory search committee set to help the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences & the Arts (ASMSA) identify a new executive director at one of the nation’s top residential high schools in Hot Springs.

Current ASMSA Executive Director Corey Alderdice announced in June his plans to step down in December after 13 years of leadership at the school. Michael Moore, Ph.D., the UA System’s vice president for academic affairs, will chair the search, working with the committee to advise Silveria as he seeks a candidate to recommend to the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas for final approval.

“Anyone who’s ever stepped foot on the campus at ASMSA or has interacted with its students knows the caliber of quality Director Alderdice has grown at the institution,” Silveria said. “The campus has an outstanding trajectory and tremendous momentum moving toward the future, and I thank Dr. Moore and all of the members of this committee for volunteering their time and efforts in ensuring the campus will be in good hands moving forward.”

The committee members include representation from the institution’s board of visitors, campus faculty and staff, parents of students, alumni and community stakeholders. Moore said his initial goal will be to create a web presence through the institution to keep students, parents and the public informed of the process, and that he is eager to get started.

“It goes without saying that we’re entering this process with student success and wellbeing in mind so the Hot Springs community and the state can continue relying on ASMSA being a high- quality institution that fosters the growth and education of some of Arkansas’s brightest learners,” Moore said. “I look forward to working with the search committee, listening to the needs of all ASMSA stakeholders, and finding the next leader to advance the legacy of ASMSA.”

The ASMSA Advisory Executive Director Search Committee Includes:

• Dr. Michael Moore, Vice President for Academic Affairs, UA System
• Dr. Marlene Battle, ASMSA Class of 1997, Director of Education for the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, ASMSA Board of Visitors Chair
• Dr. Alicia Cotabish, ASMSA Parents Advisory Council, parent
• Dr. Jack Waddell, ASMSA Class of 1999, ASMSA faculty, physics Instructor of Excellence
• Dr. Zac Cowsert, ASMSA Class of 2008, ASMSA faculty, history instructor
• Stuart Flynn, ASMSA Dean of Academic Affairs
• Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak, ASMSA, Chair of the Science Department
• Dr. Mary Leigh, ASMSA, Chair of the Arts and Humanities Department
• Maddisyn Karn, ASMSA, licensed social worker
• Brandi Brazil, ASMSA, Director of Human Resources and Campus Culture
• Eric Jackson, Senior Vice President, Oaklawn
• Donnie Sewell, ASMSA, public information specialist

About the University of Arkansas System (www.uasys.edu)

Since its inception, the University of Arkansas System has developed a tradition of excellence that includes the state’s 1871 flagship, land-grant research university; Arkansas’s premier institution for medical education, treatment and research; a major metropolitan university; an 1890 land-grant university; two regional universities serving southern and western Arkansas; eight community colleges; two schools of law; a presidential school; a residential math and science high school; and a 100 percent-online university and divisions of agriculture, archeology and criminal justice. As the premier higher education system in the state, it enrolls more than 70,000 students, employs more than 27,000 employees, and has a total budget of more than $4 billion. An intrinsic part of the texture and fabric of Arkansas, the UA System is a driving force in the state’s economic, educational and cultural advancement.

About Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts (www.asmsa.org)

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts is one of 17 public residential high schools in the country specializing in the education of academically gifted students with a STEM focus. Located in historic downtown Hot Springs, the school is the early college campus of the University of Arkansas System. For more information about ASMSA, visit asmsa.org or call (501) 622-5100.

Kira Burnett, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Class of 2025, was named a 2025 U.S. National Runner Up in the U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition.

SWJP is a prestigious competition that recognizes high school students in grades 9-12 who have conducted a water-science research project. The competition was founded in 1997 by the Stockholm International Water Institute to complement the Stockholm Water Prize. The U.S. national competition was held June 19-22 at Washington University in St. Louis. Burnett qualified for the national competition by winning the state competition to represent Arkansas this spring.

Burnett was recognized for her research project, “Urbanization’s Impacts on Aquatic Ecosystems: Assessing Phosphorus Transport, Biological Health, and for Endocrine Disruptors.” She conducted the research as a student at ASMSA. Burnett observed the travel of phosphorus, a potentially harmful nutrient when in excess, within Hot Springs Creek to protect the downstream habitat of the Ouachita River. She also examined phosphorus’ effect on macroinvertebrates, which are important stream organisms, and plastic pollutants called phthalates in another body of water that leads into the Ouachita River.

Jason Hudnell, director of admissions at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, has been selected as a member of Leadership Arkansas Class XX.

Hudnell is one of 53 professionals from across the state who were selected to participate in this year’s cohort. The program is sponsored by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas (State Chamber/AIA).

“I am truly honored to be selected for Leadership Arkansas and grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside so many talented and accomplished leaders from across our state,” Hudnell said. “Being part of this program will not only allow me to grow personally and professionally, but it will also strengthen ASMSA’s ability to build connections, share our mission and expand opportunities for Arkansas students. I am humbled to represent ASMSA in this work and look forward to the impact we can make together.”

Corey Alderdice, executive director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, has been named a 2025 Arkansas Executive of the Year finalist by Arkansas Business.

Alderdice is a finalist in the Public Sector/Education category. Other category finalists are Jim Hudson of the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Dr. Pearl McElfish of the Institute for Community Health Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. DuShun Scarbrough Sr. of the Arkansas Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, and Dr. Todd Shields of Arkansas State University.

“It’s a true honor to be named alongside these exceptional public servants and educators,” Alderdice said. “Any executive is only as successful as the team they build. This recognition is really a reflection of the shared commitment of our colleagues at ASMSA and their daily pursuit of excellence.”

Finalists were also selected 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 is the second year of the program, which is an expansion of the former CFO of the Year Awards. It recognizes and honors 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.

An awards ceremony recognizing the winners and finalists will be held at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock on Nov. 13. The winners of each category will be announced at the celebration, which is presented by Arkansas Talent Group. A special supplement of Arkansas Business highlighting the finalists will be included in the Oct. 27 issue of the publication.

For more information about the Arkansas Executive of the Year Awards, visit www.ArkansasBusiness.com/event/executive.