The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts will hold commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 at 4 p.m., Saturday, May 20, at the Bank OZK Arena at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

Jean Lacefield will deliver the commencement address. Lacefield served in upper management for Frito Lay Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc. Most recently, she served as Chair of Arkansans for the Arts.  ARftA's purpose is to serve the people of Arkansas as an independent statewide organization providing leadership focused on the promotion and advancement of the creative economy, on transforming policy in arts education, and uniting the state into one voice with a call to action by policymakers to increase investment in the arts.

Rose Brown of Donaldson, Ai’Yanna Tombs of North Little Rock and Talana Small of White Hall — all members of the Class of 2023 — will also speak during the ceremony.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts held its 2023 Honors Convocation on Monday, May 15. The annual Honors Convocation is an opportunity to recognize the students’ academic achievements for the school year as well as special awards and fellowships.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics Sciences and the Arts recognized students for their achievements in the 2023 Arts and Humanities Research Capstone Symposium during an awards ceremony on May 9.

The symposium is an opportunity for ASMSA students to showcase their talents within the arts and humanities. The event features lectures and performances by students in the fields of arts and literature, creative writing, fine arts, history and music. The lectures and performances are the result of capstone research projects conducted by the students as a required part of ASMSA’s academic program. The symposium was held May 5 on campus.

Several Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students earned recognition at the recent 2023 FBLA State Conference including a few who qualified for this year’s national conference.

Sixteen ASMSA students attended the conference which was held April 3-4 in Little Rock. Participants competed in various business-related contests. The events are either an objective subject test, a performance/product event or a combination of both a test and performance/product event. Students qualified for the state competition at the District IV Spring Conference earlier this year. Winners were announced at the Arkansas State FBLA Leadership Awards Ceremony was held on April 4.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts was named the 2022 Hot Springs Historic Preservation Champion of the Year by the Hot Springs Metro Partnership for its $5.5 million renovation project of Helen Selig Hall and Auditorium.

The award was announced during the organization’s Economic Development Awards ceremony at the Metro Partnership’s Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet on April 18 at National Park College. The honor recognizes an entity that has shown great care for the preservation of a historic structure in Hot Springs.

ASMSA converted the former St. Joseph Hospital convent and chapel complex on campus into residential housing for students, a mental health hub with offices for professional counseling staff, a new student union and an auditorium. The restoration of the two buildings was completed in September 2022.

The National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS) recently released a major study of its high school members, many that are among the top-performing STEM schools in the U.S.

The Insights Survey examined NCSSS member student performance, school and board diversity, and the key issues on the minds of school administrators and teachers. The study was underwritten by the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts, an NCSSS member institution.

Sixteen Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students earned the Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy for the spring semester.

The Arkansas Seal of Biliteracy is awarded each spring and fall to students in ninth through 12th grades who demonstrate a proficiency in English and at least one other language before graduating high school. More than 700 students across the state earned the seal this spring.

Two Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts educators have been named state finalists for the 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Tracy Watson, a mathematics instructor, and Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak, a life sciences instructor, were selected for this year’s finalists for the program that recognizes outstanding mathematics and science teachers who have demonstrated a commitment to professional development, innovative teaching techniques and use of technology in their classrooms. Seven Arkansas teachers overall were named state finalists.