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.
Brittany Cooper-d’Orsay, a 2005 ASMSA alumna, was the keynote speaker at the May 5 symposium. Cooper-d’Orsay is the executive director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program and the community engagement coordinator for the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.
Students competed in either the Arts, History and Literature or the Visual and Performing Arts categories.
Awards announced during the ceremony included:
Arts, History, and Literature
Creative Writing: 1. Kaira Harper, a junior from Jonesboro 2. A tie between Pragya Chauhan, a junior from Bentonville, and Alex Pyburn, a junior from Sherwood 3. Zoie Cleghorn, a junior from Winthrop
Humanities: 1. Avery Binuya, a junior from Lamar 2. Cyrus Sorsby, a junior from Little Rock 3. Emily Xiong, a junior from White Hall
History and Culture: 1. Stella Bentley, a junior from Eureka Springs 2. Savannah Peters, a junior from North Little Rock 3. Rebecca Breeden, a junior from Jonesboro
Best Presentation: Savannah Peters, a junior from North Little Rock, History and Culture; Marley Coop, a junior from Cherokee Village, Humanities; and Morgan McKenna, a junior from Charleston, Creative Writing
Visual and Performing Arts
Fine Arts — Juniors: 1. Gwen Oliver, a junior from Jonesboro 2. Ciara Stephens, a junior from Cherry Valley 3. Anara Johnson, a junior from Pine Bluff
Fine Arts — Seniors: 1. Eureka Smith, a senior from Hot Springs 2. Nicholas O’Brien, a senior from Harrisburg 3. Makayla Hampton, a senior from Brinkley
Fine Arts — Best in Show: Gwen Oliver, a junior from Jonesboro, for her piece “Simplistic”
Music (Research): 1. Shea Stabila, a junior from Pangburn 2. Alex Caldwell, a junior from Junction City
Music (Composition): 1. Ivy Monroe, a junior from Conway 2. Alex Back, a junior from Benton
Music (Performance): 1. Quinn Corp, a junior from Charleston 2. Landon Samples, a junior from White Hall
Overall Winners
Overall Winners for each major category were also announced. Stella Bentley, a junior from Eureka Springs, was the overall winner for the Arts, History, and Literature category. Quinn Corp, a junior from Charleston, was selected as the overall winner for the Visual and Performing Arts category.