Category: News

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!”

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.