The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts kicked off its 30-year anniversary celebration by recognizing the contributions of both current and former faculty during a luncheon on Wednesday.

August 23 is celebrated annually as ASMSA’s Founders Day. On Aug. 23, 1993, the school’s first students began classes at what was then known as the Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences. Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, marked the three decades since that inaugural day of instruction.

Faculty members from across the school’s past and present gathered for a luncheon, recognition of their service and a beam-signing for the new Campus Administration Building currently under construction.

Nhi Le has a strong passion for medicine. Working in the medical field is a lifelong dream for her, and she has participated in teen volunteer programs at hospitals over the past few summers.

This summer, she participated in the teen volunteer program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. As part of her volunteer work, Le held a bake sale to raise funds for the institute’s Patient Support Fund. After her bake sale, Le was able to donate half of the funds she raised — $429 — to the fund.

Le also donated $429 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she had volunteered in the Chemotherapy Section and General Pediatric Clinic during the summer of 2022.  The funds were used to help purchase toys and gifts for the hospital’s young patients.

“I got to experience taking care of patients firsthand and creating trusting relationships,” said Le, a senior at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts. “I always feel grateful for all the opportunities I have received; therefore I decided that I wanted to pay it forward and share my passion for helping others, especially the young children I worked with.”

She spent about two months researching different cookie recipes and practicing baking before starting the fundraiser. With the help of her family and friends as well as customers at a business association meeting, she was able to turn her treats into a sweet gift for both medical facilities.

Le said volunteering at the hospitals as well as at Camp Aldersgate, a camp for individuals with special needs in Little Rock, has reinforced her desire to work in the medical field.

“The past three summers working at three different hospitals plus Camp Aldersgate have helped me realize I want to make an impact for tpeople in need. I believe that taking small actions compounds into making huge differences. Thus, I always look for ways to share the love of helping those who are in need,” she said.

Twenty students from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts were named 2023 Computer Science Students of Distinction by the Arkansas Academy of Computing.

The Computer Science Students of Distinction Award recognizes high school juniors and seniors for their academic achievements in computer education. It was created in 2019 by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Arkansas Academy of Computing partnered with the Education Department, CSforAR, IMPAC, the Arkansas Computer Science Teachers Association, the Arkansas STEM Coalition and the Arkansas Community Foundation to promote the program.

Eligible 11^th- and 12^th- graders in Arkansas public, private and home schools were selected using their accomplishments in computer-related academics, competitive achievements, personal growth and service to others.

ASMSA students who were recognized include:

• Eliana Adamos of Harrison, Class of 2023;
• Madison Arenaz of Holcomb, Mo., Class of 2023;
• Nasya Choy of Conway, Class of 2024;
• Shane Driver of Helena-West Helena, Class of 2024;
• Nil Gipson of Sherwood, Class of 2023;
• Lilly Harden of Hot Springs, Class of 2024;
• Grayson Jackson of Benton, Class of 2024;
• Nhi Le of Little Rock, Class of 2024;
• Michelle Lin of Little Rock, Class of 2024;
• James Mathis of Russellville, Class of 2024;
• Cecil Mitchell of Belleville, Class of 2023;
• Grace Moody of Little Rock, Class of 2024;
• Andrew Nguyen of Sherwood, Class of 2024;
• Chelsea Nwankwo of Alexander, Class of 2023;
• Brent Marcus Orlina of Little Rock, Class of 2024;
• Jayden Patel of Blytheville, Class of 2024;
• Michael Schranz of Hot Springs, Class of 2024;
• Shreyam Tripathi of Conway, Class of 2023;
• Charis Xiong of White Hall, Class of 2023; and
• Vicky Zhu of El Dorado, Class of 2023.

The Arkansas Academy of Computing is an organization comprised of more than 200 individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of Computing in Arkansas. In addition to providing administration and funding for the CSSoD, the Arkansas Academy of Computing offers supplemental scholarships for students majoring in computing degree programs at these Arkansas universities: Arkansas State University, Arkansas Tech, Henderson State, South Arkansas, UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UA Monticello, UA Pine Bluff, and the University of Central Arkansas.

For more information on the Arkansas Academy of Computing, visit: https://www.araoc.org.

Ashley Kincannon, a computer science specialist at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, was selected as Arkansas’ 2023 California Casualty Award for Teaching Excellence.

Kincannon was selected as the 2021 Arkansas Education Association Teacher of the Year. That led her to be selected for the California Casualty Award by the National Educational Association Foundation through the AEA.

The California Casualty awardees represent educators from across the country who embody excellence in their practice, advocacy for the profession, commitment to equity and opportunity, community engagement and leadership in professional development, according to The NEA Foundation website.

Kincannon accepted the California Casualty Award during the NEA Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education Gala held in Washington, D.C., in May. She was excited to attend the NEA awards ceremony.

“Being recognized at the national level was incredible because I had the opportunity to network with educators from across the nation. I enjoy learning about what others are doing in their classrooms and state because it broadens my perspective and gives me additional ideas for what I can do here in Arkansas,” she said.

Kincannon said receiving the award served as validation of who she is as an educator.

“I am passionate and dedicated to this profession because I would not be where I am today without the educators who touched my life and planted seeds of inspiration within me,” Kincannon said. “Educators have a special role and opportunity to change the lives of their students. I am thankful for my journey as an educator, and I look forward to what the future holds for me.”

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts received Gold Medal recognition in the Arkansas Computer Science Gold Medal School Program sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education Office of Computer Science.

ASMSA is the first school to achieve the Computer Science Gold Medal designation since the program was established in the fall of 2020 by the Arkansas Department of Education. The program recognizes Arkansas high schools for outstanding work in implementing computer science and computing programs.

Ranks are based on information submitted to and reviewed by the Office of Computer Science. As part of the ranking rubric, schools obtaining a minimum number of points may receive a bronze, silver or gold ranking, with gold being the highest level and requiring high performance in a majority of the criteria. In addition to ASMSA, seven other high schools across the state earned either a Silver or Bronze Medal for the 2022-23 cycle.

Three students from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts earned recognition at the 2023 FBLA National Leadership Conference that was held June 26-30 in Atlanta.

The team of Meera Patel of Hot Springs and Kelvin Orduna of Huntsville won eighth place in the Website Design category. Sarah Pham of Hot Springs won 10^th place in the Introduction to Financial Math competition. Patel, Orduna and Pham qualified for the national competition by winning first place in their respective categories at Arkansas’ FBLA State Conference in April.

Karilynn Arellan of Mineral Springs represented Arkansas as a state officer at the national conference. She will serve as Arkansas District IV Vice President during the upcoming school year. She also competed in the Introduction to FBLA event at the conference. Kiley Barton of Sims competed in the Economics category at the national conference.

The competitions are either an objective subject test, a performance/product event or a combination of both a test and performance/product event. The national conference was attended by more than 13,000 members, advisers and guests.

Corey Alderdice, director of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, became president of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Board of Directors on July 1.

Alderdice will serve as president of the organization’s board through the 2023-24 academic year, with his term set to expire in November 2024. He was installed as the board’s president-elect in November 2022 and was set to become president in November 2023. Alderdice stepped into the role early as the previous president retired from their school at the end of June. Alderdice has served on the NCSSS Board of Directors since November 2019.