The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recognized students and their works of arts and literature during the annual Arts and Humanities Research Capstone Symposium Awards ceremony on May 10.
The Arts and Humanities Research Capstone Symposium was held May 7. During the symposium, students presented and discussed the works of art and literature they created for their capstone projects. Every ASMSA student is required to complete a capstone project during their academic career at the school. Students may choose topics throughout the mathematics, sciences, and arts and humanities spectrum.
Awards are recognized in two major categories: Arts and Literature and Visual and Performing Arts. Each major category includes individual topic categories. Overall winners for each major category are selected from the winners of the individual categories.
MacKenzie Allen of Bella Vista won the overall award for Arts and Literature category for her paper titled “Facing the Future: An Examination of Orphan Black and the Philosophy of Human Dignity.”
Nathan Robinson of Hot Springs Village won the overall award for the Visual and Performing Arts category for his project titled “The Dance of Souls — The Journey and Composition.”
“There’s an old joke in long research projects about eating an elephant,” said Dr. Neil Oatsvall, an ASMSA history instructor who serves as the chair of the Humanities Department. “Now, stay with me here and please suspend your judgment about the thought of eating an actual elephant. If you were going to do it, the joke asks, how would you do it? The answer? One bite at a time. Students, by completing your projects, you have eaten the elephant.
“The students who participated in the symposium spent an entire year working up to this past Friday, May 7. They’ve studied great artists and writers who came before them. They’ve experimented with new techniques and ideas. And, for many months now, they’ve been crafting a project that expresses their intellectual and artistic growth over all that time. … I hope all of you know that I am sincerely, and very truthfully, quite proud of you.”
Students who won individual categories included:
Arts and Literature
Nonfiction: 1. Joshua Williams of Searcy 2. Mars King of Hot Springs
Filmmaking: 1. Janie Gentry of Vilonia
Screenwriting: 1. Cade Alberston of Harrisburg 2. Janie Gentry of Vilonia
Creative Writing: 1. Harper Haynes of Maumelle 2. Kenzie Crain of Malvern 3. Harper Hayes of Maumelle
Literature: 1. MacKenzie Allen of Bella Vista 2. Kirstyn Tyner of Charleston 3. Amanda Smothers of Pottsville
History: 1. Kaletra Arnold of Searcy of 2. Robert Neilson of Hot Springs 3. Luna Mae Solleder of Hot Springs
Visual and Performing Arts
Fine Arts: 1. Catherine Kwon of Little Rock 2. Nina Niemotka of Sherwood 3. Hadley Hooper of Marion
Music: 1. Nathan Robinson of Hot Springs Village 2. El Liles of Genoa 3. David Atkinson of North Little Rock