Corey Alderdice, director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, was named to the Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 Class of 2014.
This is the 21st year the weekly business journal has honored business and political leaders under 40 years old. Honorees are nominated by readers and chosen by the editors of Arkansas Business. The publication released the list of this year’s honorees Monday.
Alderdice, 32, was appointed as ASMSA’s director in May 2012. Before coming to ASMSA, Alderdice was a core figure in the planning and the realization of the Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science, a school similar to ASMSA located on the Western Kentucky University campus in Bowling Green, Ky. Between 2007 and 2012, he served as the assistant director for admissions and public relations of the Gatton Academy.
During his tenure at the school, the Gatton Academy was recognized by Newsweek magazine as “America’s Best High School” in its 2012 rankings. The school was also recognized by Intel as a national finalist in high school science in the company’s annual Schools of Distinction Program.
Since coming to ASMSA, the school was recognized by Newsweek and The Daily Beast as the best public high school in Arkansas and No 13 in the nation in their 2013 rankings. During his tenure at ASMSA, the average ACT score of graduates has risen 2.7 points.
In his profile that appears in the Arkansas Business issue honoring the 2014 class, Alderdice said often so much of the discourse in education focuses on getting students to proficiency that it’s forgotten that many students are excelling. ASMSA students are among those who are excelling and are being prepared to make an early impact on the world.
“A key component of ASMSA's work is reminding our talented and motivated students that they need not wait decades to make an impact on their profession,” he said. “Age is not a determinate of success or leadership, which is why ASMSA seeks to cultivate the talents of promising young minds.”
This year’s class of honorees features bankers, lawyers, doctors, entrepreneurs, fashion designers, educators and farmers, just to name a few. Each have something in common — they have chosen to make Arkansas the place not only where they live but where they also strive to make a difference, both professionally and in their communities. For Alderdice, it’s an important distinction that he hopes ASMSA’s students recognize.
“We challenge students to embrace their identity as the next generation of leaders who will improve the quality of life in Arkansas. It's a true honor to be counted among present generation of emerging leaders in education, business, policy and other fields who are committed to moving our great state forward,” he said.
This year’s class was chosen from more than 300 new nominations and dozens of still-eligible nominations from earlier years, said Gwen Moritz, Arkansas Business editor. A luncheon for this year’s honorees is set for Wednesday in Little Rock.
To read Alderdice's profile and the profiles of the other honorees, visit http://asmsa.me/alderdice40under40.