Since its inception in 2015, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts’ Coding Arkansas’ Future initiative has provided hundreds of educators from across the state with the professional development they have needed to prepare to teach computer science.

While that has mostly taken place either in person or through live video sessions, educators preparing for the computer science Praxis test in the near future will have an opportunity to do so through a web-based, self-paced version of the initiative’s Computer Science Praxis Prep Course.

Two Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts students proved their financial prowess in The Stock Market Game during the 2020-21 academic school year.

Alec Gatewood, a member of the Class of 2021, and Connor Bailey, a junior, took top honors in this year’s Afterschool semester and yearlong sessions. The contest is sponsored by Economics Arkansas and is a national program of the SIFMA Foundation. It allows students and teachers the opportunity to invest a virtual $100,000 in stocks, bonds and mutual funds throughout a 13-week simulation each school semester. The yearlong session begins in September and ends in April.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts will serve as the host of the 2021 virtual National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools Student Research Conference on Thursday, June 10.

NCSSS provides a forum for specialized secondary schools focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines to exchange information and program ideas. The consortium includes approximately 100 member high schools, many “ranked” among the best in the country along with 55 affiliate members (colleges, universities, summer programs, foundations and corporations) in 32 states.

Claire Green a junior at the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts won second place in the Soybean Science Challenge at the 2021 Virtual Southwestern Energy State Science and Engineering Fair on April 1.

Green also won the SSC Regional Award at the West Central Regional Science Fair held at ASMSA on Feb. 25.

Tristan Goodell, a member of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts Class of 2021, has been selected to receive the Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship.

SMART is a federal scholarship-for-service program intended to train and retain civilian scientists and mathematicians in critical STEM fields to support the national security mission of the Defense Department and meet defense technological challenges.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts yearbook staff achieved Silver Level recognition  the Jostens 2021 National Yearbook Program of Excellence.

The program recognizes engaging yearbooks that reflect a broad representation of the student body while helping students develop 21^st century skills such as communication, collaboration and information and communication technologies literacy.

Ten Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts students earned recognition in the recent Arkansas Young Artists Association Competition.

The Arkansas Young Artist Association is the largest organization of high school visual arts students in the state. Its mission is to encourage and support the visual arts across the state to all high school students through professional speakers, competitions, exhibition and scholarship.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts held commencement for its Class of 2021 on Saturday, May 22, at Bank OZK Arena at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The ceremony honored 96 graduates from 39 Arkansas counties. Heather R. Nelson, cofounder and president of Seal Solar, served as the keynote speaker for the event. The ceremony also featured several student speakers.

The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts held its annual Honors Convocation and Academic Awards ceremony on May 17.

The annual Honors Convocation is an opportunity to recognize the students’ academic achievements for the school year. Special awards and fellowships are announced, and seniors are selected to speak during the event.

Bryson Austin, a senior from the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts, has been named a recipient of the 2021 Gates Scholarship.

The Gates Scholarship is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding minority high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awards the scholarship to 300 students nationwide with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential. Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance that is not covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution. That includes tuition, fees, room, board, books and transportation.