The March 2023 Quarterly Report includes information on the first cohort of Faculty Advancement Plan instructors, grants from the Oaklawn Foundation and Blue and You Foundation, and information from the 94th Arkansas General Assembly. You may read the report at https://asmsa.me/march2023qr.
Category: News
Alumni Spotlight: Montae’l Williams (’19) aspires to law, political career
Montae'l Williams is a 2019 ASMSA graduate. He is a senior studying English and Pre-Law at Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Miss. He also serves as a member of the Holly Grove City Council and is an officer candidate in the Army National Guard.
Q: What profession or careers are you considering?
A: As I am currently an officer candidate in the Arkansas Army National Guard, I am definitely working towards becoming an officer and continuing my service for several decades. However, I am also interested in practicing law in hopes of specifically becoming a JAG officer. Furthermore, I aspire to one day branch into politics on a national level, in service to my state or my country. Most of all, I aspire to be a fulltime change agent for the underrepresented.
Q: What was the biggest motivating factor in your decision to attend ASMSA?
A: The biggest motivating factor for my decision to attend ASMSA was the access to adequate education, resources and networking opportunities. Prior to my matriculation through ASMSA, I went to school in the Delta region of Arkansas, which is one of the poorest regions in the country. As such, the education I received in the region heavily reflected the lack of resources. While I did make efforts to change this, I acknowledged that such change wouldn’t occur as fast as I had liked and decided to go to ASMSA instead.
Q: Many young people have a disdain for politics. How can we change that?
A: I believe that a lot of younger people have disdain for politics because they may not know much about it, or what they are familiar with is the mudslinging and dishonesty that candidates often employ to win favor. I think that we change this by not sitting on the sidelines and waiting for things to get better. I believe that we should take up the torch that those before us have laid down.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
A: The best piece of advice that I’ve been given was from a phenomenal counselor who did everything in her power to ensure I was equipped and prepared for college and the real world. Ms. Penny Lock was my guidance counselor during my time at ASMSA and encouraged me to never give up. I would not be where I am today, if it were not for all her kind words and encouragement.
2023 West Central Regional Science Fair winners announced
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recognized the winners of the West Central Regional Science Fair during an awards ceremony held on Feb. 24 in the Creativity and Innovation Complex on campus.
Shreyam Tripathi, a senior from Conway, won first place overall for his project in the Medicine and Health Sciences category. Sydney Hammond, a senior from Conway, won second place overall for her Environmental Science project while Charlotte Boehme, a senior from Little Rock, finished third overall for her Plant Science project.
The three overall winners were awarded a trip to the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair to be held May 14-19 in Dallas, Texas. The event is the world’s largest pre-college STEM competition. More than 1,800 high school students from around the world are expected to compete for nearly $6 million in awards during the Regeneron ISEF.
Two ASMSA students earn recognition in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Two Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students have earned recognition in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards regional competition with one advancing to the national competition.
Michaela Stevens, a junior from Hot Springs, received a Regional Golden Key for her poem “expired film” in the writing competition. Recipients of Golden Keys advance to the national competition, which will announce award winners on March 22.
Gwen Oliver, a junior from Jonesboro, received a Regional Silver Key for her mixed-media artwork “Simplistic.”
ASMSA receives $100K grant from Oaklawn Foundation for Selig Hall Auditorium
The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts announced a $100,000 grant from the Oaklawn Foundation during a ceremony Thursday held on the school’s campus.
The grant was dedicated for the Selig Hall Auditorium as part of a $5.5 million restoration of the former St. Joseph Hospital convent and chapel complex, which was completed in September 2022, converting the spaces into additional residential housing for students, a campus mental health hub with offices for professional counseling staff, a new student union and an auditorium. The renovated facility is named in honor of former Hot Springs Mayor Helen Selig, who was among the earliest and most vocal proponents of bringing the school to the city.
Summer At ASMSA registration open for interested campers
Rising sophomores throughout Arkansas are invited to apply for Summer At ASMSA, a weeklong free residential summer camp at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts in downtown Hot Springs.
Summer At ASMSA participants will spend a week exploring a variety of exciting and fun topics. Campers will participate in hands-on session during the day, enjoy a variety of fun activities in the evenings and live in the Student Center during the week.
Summer At ASMSA will be held Sunday, June 11, through Saturday, June 17, 2023. Each of the camps is free with no costs for tuition, meals or housing. Campers are selected through a competitive application process. Priority application deadline is April 10, 2023.
Brown excited about Our Future Is Science Scholar Program
Upon arriving at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts as a sophomore, Rose Brown began seeking for ways to get more involved in the world of science. This year, the senior from Donaldson found a special opportunity to do so.
Brown is participating in the Our Future is Science Scholar Program. Our Future Is Science is a joint program between the Aspen Institute and Coda Societies that aims to position societally-minded youth as leaders and innovators who will push science forward in the 21st century.
The Scholar Program brings together teens from across the country through a series of talks and interactions with diverse experts in science, social justice and career development. The goal is to introduce the Scholars to new perspectives and ideas about STEAM disciplines and their interactions with social justice.
21 ASMSA students earn Region 2 All-Region Band honors
Twenty-one students at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts received honors at the Region 2 All-Region Band auditions held Jan. 21 at Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy.
The students who earned recognition include:
- Eliana Adamos, a senior from Harrison, 1st Band, 5th Chair, Flute;
- Grace Adams, a junior from Lamar, 2nd Band, 11th Chair, Flute;
- Shea Stabila, a junior from Pangburn, 1st Band, 6th Chair, Flute;
- Zephyr Smith, a senior from Hot Springs, 1st Band, 2nd Chair, Flute;
- Haley Tripp, a senior from Nashville, 1st Band, 3rd Chair, Flute;
- Chilong Vang, a senior from Lincoln, 1st Band, 15th Chair, Clarinet;
- Emily Xiong, a junior from White Hall, 2nd Band, 7th Chair, Clarinet;
- Kenlee Motley, a senior from Hot Springs, 1st Band, 2nd Chair, Bassoon;
- Dem Dixon, a senior from Hot Springs, 2nd Band, 1st Chair, Alto Saxophone;
- Carter Horton, a junior from Conway, 2nd Band, 3rd Chair, Alto Saxophone;
- Kacie Koen, a senior from Benton, 1st Band, 3rd Chair, Tenor Saxophone;
- Quade Martin, a junior from Vilonia, 2nd Band, 1st Chair, Baritone Saxophone;
- Alex Back, a junior from Benton, 1st Band, 7th Chair, Horn in F;
- Courtland Callis, a senior from Alexander, 1st Band, 3rd Chair, Horn in F;
- Gwen Oliver, a junior from Jonesboro, 1st Band, 8th Chair, Horn in F;
- Quinn Corp, a junior from Charelston, 2nd Band, 1st Chair, Trombone;
- Chelsea Nwankwo, a senior from Alexander, 2nd Band, 6th Chair, Tuba;
- Landon Samples, a junior from White Hall, 1st Band, 5th Chair, Tuba;
- Drew Johnson, a senior from Crossett, 2nd Band, 2nd Chair, Percussion;
- Trent "Ivy" Monroe, a junior from Conway, 2nd Band, 6th Chair, Percussion; and
- Elizabeth Show, a junior from Bismarck, 2nd Band, 10th Chair, Percussion.
Class of 2000 alumnus sworn in as state representative
Giving back to his community through service is nothing new for Matt Brown, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Class of 2000.
As an attorney, Brown has served as coach for Conway High School’s mock trial team and worked with youth in the Faulkner County Teen Court. He was a member of the Conway Planning Commission, helping guide the city’s growth. He’s also served as a Justice of the Peace on the Faulkner County Quorum Court.
Recently he added the title of state representative to his list of accomplishments, becoming a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, representing District 55, which includes a large portion of Conway. He was officially sworn in during a ceremony on Jan. 9.
4 ASMSA students named U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidates
Four Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts seniors were among 84 students statewide named candidates for the 2023 United States Presidential Scholars program, considered one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
The U.S. Presidential Scholars program was established in 1964 by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduation high school seniors.
The 2023 candidates for U.S. Presidential Scholar from ASMSA are:
- Robert Boerwinkle of El Dorado;
- Lydia Krebs of Maumelle;
- Ari Pennington of Hot Springs; and
- Shreyam Tripathi of Conway.