Three students found just the right angle to convince Schoolcraft College’s Mathematics Department to grant them winners of its most prestigious award.
Sinclair Hansen (1st), Mohammed Armaan (2nd) and Rowyn Han (3rd) are the three students receiving the 30th Annual Pythagorean Prize this year. An annual award given by the Mathematics Department honoring the top students, these three students will be recognized during the annual ceremony, which will be held beginning at 2:30 p.m. April 14 in Waterman A-C in the Vistatech Center.
“These three students are on another plane when it comes to their mathematical talents,” said Larry Choraszewski. “Through their work and dedication, they all have done extremely well in their studies and we’re looking forward to honoring them later this spring.”
To quality for the award, students must meet the following criteria:
- Be enrolled and have taken classes at Schoolcraft College during Fall or Winter semester of the academic year of presentation.
- Be completing or have completed at least three mathematics courses at Schoolcraft College, with at least one course at the Math 200 level or above.
- Have an overall grade point average of at least 3.25.
- Have a grade point average of at least 3.50 in mathematics courses.
- Not have been a first-place winner of this award previously.
- Have submitted a completed application and essay by the deadline date.
Hansen said her passion for math came after attending a meeting of the Math & Physics Club on campus. After getting involved and becoming the vice president of the club, Hansen began organizing practice sessions for the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC) Math League Competition, as well as got involved with the Schoolcraft Scholars Honors Program and the Learning Center as a tutor. She also was involved in the STEAM@Schoolcraft conference, taking first place for her project during the event earlier this spring.
“As I look back on my journey at Schoolcraft—all the friends I’ve made, the honors programs, tutoring sessions, and summer opportunities I’ve embraced—I realize that it all leads back to that one Math & Physics Club flier,” Hansen wrote in her essay. “I am incredibly grateful for the supportive math community at Schoolcraft, whose encouragement and opportunities have not only shaped my college experience but also laid a strong foundation for my future endeavors.”
Armaan knows math is crucial as we prepares to enter the world of computer science engineering. Wanting to learn about both hardware and software, he knows math skills are imperative in his future career, which has led him to develop introductory skillsets in Calculus, statistics, differential equations and linear algebra.
“Math, I believe, is a fundamental tool behind a multitude of disciplines. Social scientists use statistics to conduct and interpret polls and surveys, engineers use multiple branches of math in various applications, medical professionals use math to determine dosages, carpenters use geometry to build structures– just to name a few,” he wrote. “I am fortunate to have developed some of these skills and look forward to expanding my mathematical toolkit as I continue my journey.”
Han was completely frustrated by math in high school. But after taking a gap year and wanting to major in business, she realized she would need to take Calculus I, which terrified her. But instead of shying away, Han rose to the challenge and spent a summer relearning every mathematical concept she could. When it came time to begin Calc I, she found she had a passion for math. After succeeding and acing the course, Han decided to change majors, opting to go for aerospace engineering with her newfound love of numbers.
“Perhaps the most unexpected outcome of my journey is that math taught me more than numbers and concepts, it taught me the importance of facing challenges head on with confidence and a growth mindset,” Han wrote in her essay. “My journey with mathematics has shown me that perseverance and adaptability can turn the impossible into reality, and with this mindset, I am ready to take on whatever challenges lie ahead.”