ASMSA 2022 Honors Convocation recognizes student achievements

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

 

 

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