Author: Donnie Sewell

The Diamond Lakes Area Master Naturalists recently awarded the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts a grant to benefit the school’s Native Pollinator Garden.

Students in the Senior Research in the Park course will use the $1,120 grant to improve the sloped portion of the garden that is located in front of the ASMSA Student Center. Planned improvements include terracing and adding stone steps to the garden slope to help prevent erosion and increase accessibility to the plants on the upper portion of the slope.

Students in the course will plan and execute the improvements, said Dr. Lindsey Waddell, an instructor of excellence geoscience and chemistry. She serves as a co-instructor in the course along with Dr. Allyn Dodd, an instructor of distinction in biology.

Six Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students were selected for the 2024 South All-Region Orchestra.

Students who were selected for the orchestra include

• Anna Le, a junior from Fort Smith, first violin, third chair;
• Kalyn You, a senior from Everton, first violin, 10^th chair;
• Annette Ha, a senior from Benton, first violin, 11^th chair;
• Paul Murphy, a senior from Conway, cello, 11^th chair;
• Alex Ulmer, a senior from Conway, cello, 12^th chair; and
• Jacob Lewis, a junior from Clinton, flute, second chair.

The South All-Region Orchestra Clinic will be held Nov. 8-9 at Conway High School. The students auditioned for the orchestra on Oct. 12 at Little Rock Mills High School.

It’s not unusual for old buildings to have ghostly accounts attached to them. How many of us don’t remember a house, a cemetery, a lonely stretch of road or even a railroad track in your hometown about which you heard tales?

So, it’s not surprising that a few haunting stories exist about the former St. Joseph’s Hospital on the campus of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts. Portions of the hospital once served as residential living space for students and later as classrooms and faculty offices after 2012 when the Student Center, the current residential space, opened.

Dr. Jack Waddell, a physics Instructor of Excellence and a member of the Class of 1999, had heard plenty of the stories, both as a student and faculty member. He’s now collecting stories from alumni and employees for a booklet. He has received just over 40 so far, he said.

“I’ve had this idea for a while now, usually each October,” Waddell said. “I know when I was a student there were always ghost stories and alleged sightings. I think of ghost stories as a kind of communal folklore. All of us who have lived and worked here have a throughline of shared experiences with this special place, and ghost stories are a fun way to connect us to it.

“To me, it’s not important whether the ghosts are real. The stories are real, and they serve as a purpose to our community.”

One of the stories that stands out to him that has been shared by several staff members is about a figure they call the Tall Man. The figure is a tall man in a black coat and a wide black hat who carries a bag or briefcase. Most of the reports about the Tall Man have been second-hand stories, but one alumna shared a first-hand experience with Waddell.

“An alumna from one of the first years of the school reported a story of her climbing the stairs and suddenly feeling a spike of fear,” he said. “As she started running up the stairs, she saw in the corner of her eye a tall man wearing black with a black hat. It struck me that she used the same description as the staff members’ story, even though none of the staff were even here at the same time as the alumna.”

Waddell is still collecting stories, which can be sent to him via email at waddellj@asmsa.org. He said he’ll also accept audio recordings of ghostly accounts if the person doesn’t want to type a long story. He wants to capture as much as possible of each person’s story.

He hopes to at least have a rough draft of the booklet completed in PDF form by Halloween, but he plans to continue collecting stories to have a more complete set of stories by October 2025. He may print a few copies for people who want a hard copy, either at cost or with proceeds going to the ASMSA Foundation, he said.

When asked if he had any ghostly interactions of his own as a student, he said, “I did! But you’ll have to read the booklet to find out.”

Eleven students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Scienes and the Arts have been named 2024 QuestBridge 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:

• Ezekiel Summers of Paragould;
• Sarah Pham of Hot Springs;
• Karilynn Arellano of Mineral Springs;
• Morgan Broadway of Mablevale;
• Katherine Quintanilla of Nashville;
• Hailey Judkins of Benton;
• Maddox Jessup of Stuttgart;
• Rowan Stewart of Sherwood;
• Plinio Tola of Little Rock;
• Jaime Hernandez Perez of Decatur; and
• Damian Biggs of Washington County.

QuestBridge partnered this year with 52 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 on Dec. 1. 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.

Seven Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students earned Arkansas Choral Directors Association Region 3 Senior High All-Region Choir recognition, including two who earned eligibility to audition for All-State Choir.

Region 3 All-Region Choir auditions were held Oct. 5 at Bryant High School. Students who earned All-Region recognition include:

• Tatum Polzin, a junior from Little Rock, 33^rd chair, Soprano I, Soprano/Soprano/Alto/Alto Choir;
• Taraji Kiyumbi, a junior from Palestine, 13^th chair, Tenor I, Mixed Chorus;
• Mason Sims, a junior from Compton, 24^th chair, Tenor I, Tenor/Tenor/Bass/Bass Choir;
• Beau Goldthorpe, a junior from Benton, 35^th chair, Tenor II, Tenor/Tenor/Bass/Bass Choir;
• Errol Nagy, a junior from Little Rock, 30^th chair, Bass I, Tenor/Tenor/Bass/Bass Choir;
• Kemdi Ekeanyanwu, a sophomore from Little Rock, 9^th chair, Bass II, Mixed Chorus; and
• Asher Rivera, a junior from Hot Springs, 30^th chair, Bass II, Tenor/Tenor/Bass/Bass Choir.

The Region 3 Senior High All-Region Choir Clinic and concert will be held Nov. 9 at First Baptist Church in Benton.

Kiyumbi and Ekeanyanwu are both eligible to audition for the All-State Honor Choir. Students who placed in the top 20 chairs of their respective parts are eligible to audition for the choir. All-State auditions will be held in Jonesboro in February.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts has opened the application process for the Classes of 2027 and 2028, and the school will offer a new music-focused pathway in Fall 2025.

The Music Program of Distinction (POD) will build on ASMSA’s existing music curriculum to offer a focused experience for students’ talents. It will allow students with a deep passion for music to explore fundamental principles while also focusing on studio time, private lessons and performances that reflect their own personal interests. Music POD students would spend approximately half their time and coursework on music-related activities.

The creation of the Music POD comes a year after ASMSA’s Wind Ensemble and choir earned top honors in Class 3A state competitions as well as the String Ensemble earning state honors for the first time in its history. It also follows the school’s introduction of the Visual Arts and Design Program of Distinction (POD) in 2022. The Art POD provides students with opportunities to take immersive courses in 2D, 3D and other traditional arts topics. The Music POD will follow a similar track for music courses.

“Our experienced and highly credentialed faculty coupled with a well-trained and innovative Student Life staff provide the resources and support needed to prepare all students for success,” said Jason Hudnell, director of admissions. “The expansion of the arts to include our new Music POD that complements our commitment to STEM education opens even more opportunities for students to thrive in our community of learning."

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

The school was recently named the top public high school in Arkansas for the third straight year and No. 31 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 as well as STEM education in the state.

For students interested in STEM subjects or other humanities topics, ASMSA offers a broad range of courses that are all taught at the college level, including 70 courses for college credit. Most students earn an average of 50 hours of college credit by the time they graduate with all students, including those in the Art and Music PODs, earning at least 30 hours — or a full year of credit. Housing, meals and books are provided to all students at no cost with support from the state.

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

Students apply to ASMSA through a competitive admissions process that evaluates high school coursework, ACT/SAT 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 applications 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, 2025. To learn more about ASMSA’s application process and the requirements for admission, visit asmsa.org/admissions, email admissions@asmsa.org or call/text 501.622.5235.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts once again is the top public high school in Arkansas and as well as the top 1 percent of schools across the nation in the 2025 Niche.com rankings.

Niche.com is a website that provides in-depth profiles on 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. It released its 2025 rankings on Sept. 27.

For the third straight year, ASMSA is No. 1 on the website’s Best Public High Schools in Arkansas list. The school is also rated as top in the state in Niche.com’s Best College Prep Public High Schools in Arkansas and Best High Schools for STEM in Arkansas lists.

The school is No. 31 out of more than 20,700 public high schools included in the website’s national rankings, improving 15 spots from the 2024 edition. It is the only public high school in Arkansas to be ranked in the top 150 nationally.

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

“While national rankings are always exciting, what brings me joy about this year's results from Niche.com is that the foundation of their analysis is student, family, and alumni satisfaction with their ASMSA experience and the way we position young Arkansans for success in college and careers,” said Executive Director Corey Alderdice. “Moreso than any number, that speaks volumes about the dedication of our faculty and staff.”

ASMSA is a public, residential 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.

“Our community of learning is honored by this recognition, but we'll strive to find new ways to grow while ensuring that our students thrive during this experience and beyond,” Alderdice said. “With Arkansas' new era of school choice at hand, we look forward to continuing to be the destination of choice for the state's most talented and motivated students.”

The school also ranked No. 12 in 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 40 percent of ASMSA students are from families who qualify for federal school menu programs, and about 41 percent identify as students of color.

“Gov. Sarah Sanders has regularly noted that Arkansas students deserve access to a quality education no matter their ZIP code, race or family income.  Even while seeking out students who must be ready for the demands of an early college experience, we're proud that ASMSA reflects the diversity of our state,” Alderdice said.

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 2025 Best Public High Schools in Arkansas, visit https://www.niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/arkansas/.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts and CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs will hold a Farewell Ceremony for the former St. Joseph’s Hospital at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The former hospital complex is located on the school’s campus. The Farewell Ceremony is open to the public. It will be an opportunity for members of the Hot Springs, Garland County and ASMSA communities to celebrate and reflect on the hospital’s impact on their lives. The ceremony will feature speakers from CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs and ASMSA. It will be held in the ASMSA Student Center courtyard, which is located behind the school’s new Campus Administration Building at 106 Pine St. There will be no public tours of the hospital facility.

CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs used the hospital facility until 1991 when it moved to its current campus, according to a history section on the hospital’s website. Known then as St. Joesph’s Regional Health Center, the hospital had used the Whittington Avenue facility since its construction was completed in 1927, according to the website.

The City of Hot Springs later purchased the vacant property to offer it as a host site for the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences, which was established by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1991. Hot Springs was selected as the host site for the school in May 1992 after a statewide search that included more than 50 applications from cities and towns across Arkansas. The hospital facility was leased to the state for the school’s use.

ASMSA welcomed its charter class of students in 1993. The school used portions of the hospital complex for student residential space, faculty and staff offices, and classrooms over the next 30 years.  The $18 million, 80,000-square-foot ASMSA Student Center opened in August 2012, allowing students and the campus dining facility to move into the new residential space.

A $5.5 million renovation of the hospital’s former convent and chapel that converted the buildings into additional residential and meeting space was completed in September 2022. Both buildings are named for Helen Selig, who helped lead Hot Springs’ site selection efforts and later served as Hot Springs mayor.

The completion of the $5.25 million Campus Administration Building in July allowed the school to shift faculty offices and classrooms from the hospital’s Pine Street wing to other facilities, including the Academic Building and the Creativity and Innovation Complex.

ASMSA plans to return possession of the hospital complex back to the city by the end of this year. The city will then begin the abatement process before eventual demolition of the remaining hospital complex, including the Cedar Street and Pine Street wings. Upon completion of the demolition process, the property will be returned to ASMSA for redevelopment.

For more information about the Farewell Ceremony, contact Ashley Bennett, ASMSA director of institutional advancement, at bennetta@asmsa.org or 501.622.5474.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recently recognized educators from across the state with its annual Teacher Impact Award.

The Teacher Impact Award recognizes educators who helped shape and influence incoming students at ASMSA. Students nominated teachers who aided their growth both intellectually and emotionally. Every educator who was nominated received a certificate of recognition. A letter highlighting their recognition also was sent to each educator’s principal.

A committee of ASMSA staff members read through the recommendations to give further recognition to five educators from different regions within the state. These stand-out teachers received an additional gift.

Jordan Frost of Danville High School

Krista Flud of Harrison High School

Billy Reed of Rison High School

Ronnie Williams of LISA Academy North Middle-High School

Stephanie Hampton of Corning High School

Educators who received additional recognition this year include Krista Flud of Harrison High School, Jordan Frost of Danville High School, Stephanie Hampton of Corning High School, Billy Reed of Rison High School and Ronnie Williams of LISA Academy North Middle-High School in North Little Rock.

Flud is a mathematics teacher at Harrison High School. She was nominated for the award by Casey Williams, a junior from Harrison, who called Flud “the most impactful teacher and person in my entire experience as a student.” Flud was the person who told Williams about ASMSA, encouraged her to apply and served a champion for the school for her parents, Williams said.

“She has always believed in me more than anyone ever has and never forgets to tell me how much I can accomplish if I just put my mind to it,” Williams said. “She always advocated for me and fought to get me where I am today.”

Frost is an English, oral communications and English as a second language instructor at Danville High School. Riley Richardson, a junior from Belleville, nominated Frost.

“Mrs. Frost was the first teacher I told when I got into ASMSA,” Richardson said. “She always believed in me and pushed me to try my hardest. When I got in, I think she was more excited for me than even I was.”

Hampton, a science instructor at Corning High School, was nominated by Jade Espinosa, a junior from Corning. Espinosa said Hampton was supportive throughout her journey to becoming an ASMSA student, offering encouraging words to inspire Espinosa to achieve her goals and finalize her application for the school.

“Not only this, but she furthered my interest in the subject of science through her engaging way of teaching and infectious personality,” Espinosa said. “She is one of the reasons I was influenced and encouraged to dive deeper into studies that involve the medical field as well.”

Lilly Gray, a junior from Rison, nominated Reed, who was her English instructor for two years. She said Reed helped her and her classmates to expand their knowledge of writing and how to interpret text.

“He made sure to challenge me with each assignment and did not hold back on the critiques,” Gray said. “Within the two years I had Mr. Reed, he has changed how I will forever write my essays and how to break down a piece of text.”

Williams is an English teacher at LISA Academy North Middle-High School. Divina O’Dell, a sophomore from Cabot, said Williams offered her encouragement and support as when she decided to apply to ASMSA, “from believing in me to saying that I was a bright and creative student who could do whatever I put my mind to! I had Mr. Williams in seventh-grade, and we’ve never lost touch. He is an engaging teacher and put his all into teaching. I am so grateful he was my teacher.”