The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts held it 26th annual Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Saturday, May 23.
This year’s ceremony was unlike the previous 25, however. It was the school’s first-ever virtual commencement, featuring both administrative and student speakers, a video processional and graduates announcing their future plans via video. The commencement and an Honors Convocation recognizing students’ academic achievements for the 2019-20 school year were broadcast on the school’s Facebook page.
The virtual commencement became necessary as Arkansas continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the institution to begin offering remote instruction in mid-March. The University of Arkansas System, of which ASMSA is a member, and the state of Arkansas ruled out traditional commencement ceremonies in May because of the pandemic. ASMSA has tentatively scheduled an in-person ceremony for Aug. 1.
The Class of 2020 included 107 graduates. Students earned more than $16 million in scholarship offers and tied a school record for the top average ACT composite score — 30.6 — set previously by the Class of 2017.
Director Corey Alderdice offered remarks focusing on the Class of 2020’s resiliency in the face of an unexpected situation that led to a new way of experiencing ASMSA. He acknowledged the way the spring semester of their senior year played out was unfair to them.
“You should be here with us now,” Alderdice said. “We should be together celebrating your sacrifices and hard work. We should be hugging, high-fiving, laughing and celebrating together in Hot Springs. You should be surrounded with your friends, teachers, RMs and family. This is unprecedented and beyond our control. You’ve been robbed of a traditional rite of passage.”
He encouraged the graduates to not approach the uncertain situation with fear and despair. He said their character and willingness to jump head-first into uncertainty, as they did when they first applied for the school, would continue to help them rise to future challenges.
“This spirit of resiliency — of staring uncertainty in the face and making the choice to press forward — is what we need now more than ever,” Alderdice said. “It is your brilliance, compassion and determination that will guide the world through this crisis and all those that may come in the future.
“Your innovation will find cures. Your creativity will calm and enlighten. Our world will endure this challenge and all others because of the unique talents you have cultivated.”
In lieu of a traditional commencement speaker, the ceremony focused on the graduating seniors, including featuring several of them offering remarks on their experience at ASMSA.
Katrina Smith, a senior from Franklin, recalled that applying and making the decision to attend ASMSA as one of the “scariest moments of my life, but ultimately the best decision I could have made.” She said the combination of rigorous academics and the residential living environment combined to create a place where students “thrive, and most importantly, find themselves.”
“The young student that walks into move-in their first year is not the same adult that walks across the stage at the end of their senior year. We are encouraged to blossom, shape our lives and become the best version of ourselves that we can be.”
Megan Gray, a senior from Sheridan, encouraged her fellow graduates to not define their time at ASMSA solely by the coronavirus. Instead they should focus on their time living and learning together while being pushed to be their best selves by their teachers and each other.
“To everyone here, the students of this school came willingly, and most eagerly in fact. Each with a different background. We sit here today to recognize that we all will once again return to different places around the world. We do, however, go forth with one thing in common — that being our shared time here. … So I ask of my fellow students that when your life is seemingly unconquerable, remember that you have overcome such a task before and that you can do it again,” Gray said.
Amadeo Scott, a senior from West Fork, said the school’s teachers “are more than teachers: they are mentors, advisers and truly the strength of AMSA.
“I am so thankful for our teachers,” Scott said. “They care deeply about their students, the opportunities available for us and about our success now and later in life. My capstone adviser were some of the most influential people in my life during my time at ASMSA, and I have no doubt that I would be nowhere near as sure in my major and life goals if I never had them to teach me as I am now.”
Macey Ross, a senior from Jonesboro, spoke about getting to know the family of Class of 1999 alumnus Dan Fredinburg. A former Google executive, Fredinburg died in an avalanche on Mount Everest in 2015. After his death, his family members have made several generous gifts to ASMSA, including funds that helped with the construction of the Creativity and Innovation Complex which houses the Fredinburg Technology Center and the Dan Lab.
Hearing about Fredinburg’s experiences at ASMSA inspired Ross to pursue admission to ASMSA, something her family had already been considering. What followed was an enriching experience that included academic and residential experiences for her and her fellow students that will continue to make a difference in their lives.
“The only ones that can say they have been fortunate enough to share all of these experiences are ASMSA students,” Ross said. “We have all been able to pursue great things, experience wonders and visit places we would have never thought possible. While graduation may seem like it means the tragic end to something great, it really means the beginning of a wonderful future. And as Dan Fredinburg once said, ‘Adventure awaits.’”
Hays Denney, a senior from Alma, served as president of the ASMSA Student Government Association this year. He spoke on the growth and connections the students discovered during their time at the school.
“ASMSA has created bonds in our lives that are going to last a very long time,” Denney said. “It goes to show that ASMSA is more than just a vessel for education. It’s a launch pad to discover what we love and what works for us. Some people, including me, have made a complete turnaround on what they want to pursue, and if not for ASMSA, would have happened a lot later.”
2020 26th annual ASMSA Commencement Ceremony from ARMathSciArts on Vimeo.
Below is the list of graduates by county.
Baxter: Sophia Meinshausen of Mountain Home, Ben Smith of Mountain Home
Boone: Reed James of Harrison
Calhoun: Ryan Reynolds of Hampton
Clay: Rebbeca Edwards of Piggott
Cleburne: Madelyn Talbert of Greers Ferry
Columbia: Emma Schroeder of Magnolia, Kyle Smith of Emerson
Conway: Kasey Meyer of Center Ridge
Craighead: Yoo-Jin Ahn of Jonesboro, Amanda Buxton of Jonesboro, Solomon Ni of Jonesboro, Ben Oliver of Jonesboro, Madison Powell of Jonesboro, Macey Ross of Jonesboro
Crawford: Hays Denney of Alma, Ginavieve Hunter of Mulberry, Sophia McLain of Van Buren, Hadley Medlock of Alma
Crittenden: Logan Richerson of West Memphis, Sarah Semiche of West Memphis, Tamryn Woolfork of Marion
Faulkner: Jesse Easley of Conway, Ethan Hemphill of Conway, Cooper North of Conway, Vaniel Simmons of Conway, Ethan Talley of Conway
Franklin: Tyler Crabtree of Altus, Jordin Kinnard of Ozark, Minnie Lee of Charleston
Garland: Jenna Allemand of Hot Springs, Andrews Brister of Hot Springs, Cameron Elliott of Hot Springs, Gunner Evans of Hot Springs, Emma Hill of Hot Springs, Dawson Jones of Hot Springs, Faheem Matin of Hot Springs, Vraj Modi of Hot Springs, A.J. Navarro of Hot Springs, Ian Panzer of Hot Springs, Dylan Thomas of Hot Springs
Grant: Megan Gray of Sheridan
Hot Spring: Caitlin England of Magnet Cove, Esther Filipek of Bismarck, Oliver Owings of Malvern, Ashley Pizzolato of Donaldson, Quincy Presley of Malvern
Izard: Katrina Smith of Franklin
Jefferson: Ghailan Fadah of Pine Bluff, Maria Quintero-Pena of White Hall, Sarah Xie of White Hall
Johnson: Gwen Coleman of Clarksville, Jason Hoang of Hartman
Lawrence: Andi Jones of Portia
Lonoke: Sydney Hazeslip of Cabot, Shaan Hyder of Cabot, Rachel Means of Carlisle, Trey Nichols of Cabot, Emily Smith of Cabot, Gabrielle Taunton of Austin, Alexx Weaver of Lonoke
Madison: Abigail Bryan of Huntsville
Marion: James Rhodes of Bull Shoals
Miller: Blaine Martin of Texarkana
Mississippi: Jerami Bennett of Blytheville, Devin Patel of Blytheville
Phillips: Joshua Bryant of West Helena, Adina Holloway of West Helena, Marley Vincent of Barton, Domonique Weathersby of Helena
Poinsett: Caleb Brown of Harrisburg
Pope: Sarah Balenko of Russellville, Amanda Carson of Russellville, Micah Vess of Dover
Pulaski: Salim Al-Tamimi of Jacksonville, Karsen Beck of Maumelle, Sydney Davidson of North Little Rock, Tristan Eoff of Little Rock, Isabel Han of Maumelle, Victoria Hwang of Maumelle, Jared Johnson of Jacksonville, Riasat Omar of Little Rock, Howard Grant Orlina of Little Rock, Cooper Parks of Little Rock, Aynsleigh Washam of Maumelle, Gabriel Watson of Little Rock
Saline: Tatiana Camp of Mablevale, Tierney Earnest of Benton, Madison Esteves of Hot Springs Village, Hannah Grimes of Benton, Carson Hardin of East End, Madison Heiderscheidt of Little Rock, Nnume Nwankwo of Alexander, Jacob Tidwell of Benton, Keo Ward of Benton
Searcy: Michael Jaeger of Leslie
Sebastian: Eilene Pearson of Hartford, Luke Stouffer of Fort Smith
Sevier: Said Angeles of De Queen, Ronan Devlin of De Queen,
Washington: Chloe Biermann of Fayetteville, Max Dearing of Fayetteville, Maggie Hendrix of Fayetteville, Trinity Robinson of Fayetteville, Amadeo Scott of West Fork
White: Haven Whitney of Searcy
Woodruff: Roriana Burgess of Augusta