The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recognized students for their academic achievements during the 2022 Honors Convocation held May 16 in the Creativity and Innovation Complex on campus.
Awards for students’ academic achievements were announced for each department — Humanities, Mathematics/Computer Science and Science. The event also included a presentation of special awards and featured two student speakers — seniors Emma Cavaneau of Benton and Stacia Toney of Eudora.
Toney’s speech reflected on the determination as well as the passion members of the Class of 2022 showed during their time at ASMSA.
“We have shown ourselves, and each other, how determined, motivated, loving and passionate we are as people, which will serve us well in the future,” Toney said. “We were determined to enjoy every moment we were given and make the most of our time here — no matter what it may have looked like.
“We were motivated enough to maintain high scholastic standards for our class despite the rigor that comes with attending this school. We were loving enough to be a shoulder to cry on for our classmates in need. Most importantly, we were passionate enough about our futures that we created an entire community within our class that made sure everyone was always giving their best. When life knocked us down, we picked each other up.”
Cavaneau spoke about the defining factor it took for members of the Class of 2022 to come to ASMSA — bravery. Students showed their bravery by choosing to move to ASMSA, leaving their home, their family and their friends behind for a new experience.
“The absence of our parents and guardians along with the friends many of us grew up with, the unfamiliarity of a new town, and the large group of unknown new peers presented us all with yet another hurdle to overcome, might I add, in the middle of a pandemic. In spite of all this, we bravely accepted this challenge and lived vivaciously,” she said.
Cavaneau also encouraged her classmates to thank everyone who made their time at ASMSA possible and successful including themselves.
“Whether you are receiving an award or not, you have all achieved great things,” she said. “I want you to thank your parents, friends, families and teachers for helping you get to where you are today. But most importantly, I want you to thank yourself. Thank yourself for making the bold decision to attend ASMSA. Thank yourself for doing all this hard work. Thank yourself for pushing your limits. And thank yourself for being brave!”
A video of the entire 2022 Honors Convocation may be viewed at https://asmsa.me/honorsvideo22. To view a photo album of awardees, visit https://asmsa.me/honors22album.
The individual departmental awards included:
Humanities Department
Outstanding Graphic Arts Junior — Natalie McCollum, a junior from Bismarck
Outstanding Graphic Arts Senior — Kenzie Crain, a senior from Malvern
Outstanding Visual Arts Junior — Evyn Phillips, a junior from Benton
Outstanding Visual Arts Senior — Danielle Luyet, a senior from Conway
Outstanding Jazz Ensemble Student — Kacie Koen, a junior from Benton
Outstanding Wind Ensemble Junior — Courtland Callis, a junior from Alexander
Outstanding Wind Ensemble Senior — Meadow Kelly, a senior from Fayetteville
Outstanding String Orchestra Student — Drew Pirtle, a junior from Blytheville
Outstanding Choir Student — Shawn Chen, a senior from Little Rock
Outstanding Music Senior — Nathan Robinson, a senior from Hot Springs Village
Outstanding Music Junior — Zephyr Smith, a junior from Hot Springs
Outstanding Creative Writing Junior — Kacie Koen, a junior from Benton
Outstanding U.S. History — Spencer Lile, a senior from Benton
Outstanding World History — Nasya Choy, a sophomore from Conway
Outstanding Sociology Student — Madison Dengel, a junior from Cabot
Outstanding Psychology Student — Lillian Slaton, a senior from Benton
Outstanding Humanities Senior — Isaiah Jellenik, a senior from Conway
Outstanding Humanities Junior — Madison Dengel, a junior from Cabot
Outstanding Beginning French — Haley Tripp, a junior from Nashville
Outstanding Intermediate French — Lauralee Jarrett, a senior from Brinkley
Outstanding Advanced French — Kirstyn Tyner, a senior from Charleston
Outstanding Intermediate Spanish — Jayita Ujjaini, a senior from Jonesboro
Outstanding Advanced Spanish — Cadence Ventress, a senior from Benton
Outstanding Beginning Japanese — Layla Lammers, a junior from Blytheville
Outstanding Intermediate Japanese — Nathan Robinson, a senior from Hot Springs Village
Outstanding Photographer — Alex McIntosh, a junior from Arkadelphia
The Daniel A. Benton Award (outstanding history senior): Emma Cavaneau, a senior from Benton
John Harrison Humanities Student Award (outstanding humanities senior): Ben Romero, a senior from Hot Springs Village
Alderdice Family Award for Excellence in the Arts (outstanding art senior): Danielle Luyet, a senior from Conway
Mathematics/Computer Science Department
Outstanding Sophomore Mathematics Student Award — Nasya Choy, a sophomore from Conway
Outstanding Junior Mathematics Student Award — Robert Boerwinkle, a junior from El Dorado
George H. Connor Jr. Award (outstanding male senior) — Bryan Massey, a senior from Conway
Melanie Nichols Award (outstanding female senior) — Gwen Keith-Powell, a senior from North Little Rock
Outstanding Junior Computer Science Student Award — Vicky Zhu, a junior from El Dorado
Outstanding Senior Computer Science Student Award — Trey Clark, a senior from Harrison
Science Department
Outstanding Junior Biology Student — Sydney Hammond, a junior from Conway, and Shreyam Tripathi, a junior from Conway
Outstanding Senior Biology Student — Gwen Keith-Powell, a senior from North Little Rock, and Kinsey Garofalo, a senior from Benton
Outstanding Sophomore Chemistry Student — Chiking Vang, a sophomore from Lincoln, and Michelle Lin, a sophomore from Little Rock
Outstanding Junior Chemistry Student — Layla Lammers, a junior from Blytheville, and Eliana Adamos, a junior from Harrison
Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student — Gwen Keith-Powell, a senior from North Little Rock, and Levi Pile, a senior from North Little Rock
Outstanding Junior Physics Student — Vicky Zhu, a junior from El Dorado
Outstanding Senior Physics Student — Spencer Lile, a senior from Benton, and Meadow Kelly, a senior from Fayetteville
Outstanding Junior Earth & Space Science Student — Ella Blackstock, a junior from Dover, and Drew Johnson, a junior from Crossett
Outstanding Senior Earth & Space Science Student — Mika Brown, a senior from Hope, and Claire Green, a senior from North Little Rock
Outstanding Junior Engineering Student — Riya Patel, a junior from Bald Knob, and John Tucker, a junior from Bald Knob
Outstanding Senior Engineering Student — Danielle Luyet, a senior from Conway, and Meadow Kelly, a senior from Fayetteville
The Dr. Jon Ruehle Life Science Student Award — Claire Green, a senior from North Little Rock
The ASMSA Student Scientist Award — Mika Brown, a senior from Conway
Special Awards
University of Rochester - George Eastman Young Leaders Award - Kacie Koen, a junior from Benton
University of Rochester – Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award - Sydney Hammond, a junior from Conway
University of Rochester – Xerox Award - Robert Boerwinkle, a junior from El Dorado
Fredrick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award - Jaden Williams, a junior from Fort Smith
Student Fellowships and Awards
Alderdice Family Summer Arts Fellowship – Makayla Hampton, a junior from Brinkley
Computer Science Summer Research Fellowship -- Amanda Navarro, a junior from Hot Springs
Fredinburg Technology and Innovation Fellowship – Shreyam Tripathi, a junior from Conway
Murphy USA Summer Research Fellowship – Ella Blackstock, a junior from Dover, and Charlotte Boehme, a junior from Little Rock
Trustees’ Service Fellowship -- Madison Arenaz, a junior from Piggott
ASMSA Class 2000 Student Leadership Impact Award – Breegan Rose, a senior from Heber Springs
Charlie Cole Chaffin Student Service Award – Cadence Ventress, a senior from Benton
ASMSA Student Support Award – Kacie Koen, a junior from Benton