Dear Friends,

What follows is a a monthly informational newsletter related to the department of Mathematics and Computer Science. It contains a student profile plus highlights of some of recent news and upcoming events. I hope this information helps you support our departmental mission.

Class of 2007 Senior Spotlight

Name: Crystal DeGroot
Hometown: Flint, Michigan

Crystal DeGroot preparing for class in the science complex atrium.

Why would someone interested in becoming a veterinarian choose to major in mathematics? For Crystal DeGroot, the answer is easy - because she can!

Crystal is majoring in applied mathematics with a Pre-Veterinary concentration, certainly an uncommon combination. That said, giving students the opportunity to explore the breadth of the liberal arts is part of the academic tradition of Albion College. "Coming into college, I had no clue as to what I wanted to study and Albion has such an amazing academic reputation that I knew I could study anything and earn a great education."

I love walking around campus and recognizing almost every face you see.

Playing collegiate soccer was important to Crystal. Despite the big adjustment of becoming involved in soccer before the start of classes, "the team made it easy and I automatically had 20 new friends." She was a part of the Albion College Women's Varsity Soccer team all four years and was a co-captain as a senior.

The friendly atmosphere was also a factor in her decision to come to Albion. "I love walking around campus and recognizing almost every face you see. They are not kidding when they tell you that you are not just a number here at Albion." Crystal also enjoys exploring the restaurants and little shops in town. "It is such a friendly place and the service is always so friendly."

She credits the size of Albion College for helping her academically. "Because it is such a small department student-wise, every upper-level class you have, you know your peers and are all willing to help one another along the way." In challenging courses, students mutually supporting each other is vital to success. "Without the other peers in my classes, I would not have made it through some of the courses I have taken!"

Crystal says the professors have also been very influential. "Their knowledge and love of Math and CS reminds me why I want to be a math major." In fact. she credits her decision to be a math major to Dr. Messer. "After I took Calc II with Dr. Messer, I knew I wanted to continue with math. I fell in love with integrals and derivatives and how there was always a right answer and your opinion didn't matter!"

"I also love how well you get to know your professors and how willing they are to mentor and guide you at almost anytime of the day, including nights and weekends", says Crystal. She encourages all students to seek out their professors. "Go to your professors for help! Be humble and do not be afraid to ask questions, even if you think you don't understand even the simplest things. Your professors will always be willing to help no matter how frustrated you may be!"

For Crystal, the favorite part of being a mathematics major is the reactions she gets. "Many times I get called crazy! It makes me very proud to be a part of the Albion Math/CS Department."

Recent News and Upcoming Events

•  Two Albion College mathematics students completed their work in 2007 Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM) sponsored by the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications. On the evening of Thursday, February 8, 2006 at 8pm, the Albion College mathematical modeling team of Shane Walton ('07) and Lesley Simanton ('08) were presented with the choice of solving two different, yet thought-provoking real-life problems in mathematical modeling.  Over the course of the next ninety-six hours, the team independently selected, sweated, solved, and wrote up a paper presenting "their" solution to the problem.  The solution was completed at 8pm on Monday, February 12, 2007 and have been submitted to COMAP for judging.  Professor Darren Mason organized the participation of the Albion students in this year's MCM. Final results of this highly competitive international contest will be available by March 31, 2007.

  
  Shane Walton ('07) and Lesley Simanton ('08) worked on Problem B of the 2007 MCM.
  
  
• Mark Bollman has published a review of Gregory Miller's Probability: Modeling and Applications to Random Processes on the Mathematical Association of America's MAA Reviews Web site. This textbook is designed for a probability course with a strong calculus prerequisite, and breaks some new ground by interlacing material on stochastic modeling among the more mainstream probability topics, while deliberately downplaying examples involving dice and cards. In his review, Mark agrees that this latter omission is a valid choice and notes that the book "does more than live up to its ambitious title".
  
• The department is searching for a one-year visiting faculty member for the 2007-08 academic year. The position will provide partial coverage for Mark Bollman and Darren Mason during their sabbaticals. Complete details are available at www.albion.edu/mathcs/Position0708_Math_OY.asp.
  
• Mark Bollman, along with four other members of the Albion College Assessment Committee, presented a paper, "Assessment, Outcomes, and Success" at the 7th Annual Texas A & M University Assessment Conference. Joining Mark in the presentation were Drew Christopher (Psychology), Scott Hendrix (English/Writing Center), Tom Johnson (Physical Education), and Melissa Mercer-Tachick (Education). The paper outlined the steps taken by the College since 2002 to assess student learning measured in reference to specific learning outcomes and the successful assessment report prepared in 2004. Mark is in his fifth year of service on the Assessment Committee.
  
• Albion's team Fighting Black Squirrels comprised of students Gabe Ilko, Paul Krone, Dan Putman, and Mike Smar placed third in the 18th Annual Denison Spring Programming Contest held at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. This year, thirteen teams from nine schools (Albion, Baldwin-Wallace, Denison, Kenyon, Mount Vernon Nazarene, Muskingum, Ohio Wesleyan, Olivet, and Toledo) competed against one another. At the beginning of the competition, detailed descriptions of six challenging problems were given to all participants. Teams were given four hours to correctly write computer programs to solve as many of the problems as possible. Albion's team correctly implemented solutions for two of the six problems. They were the third team to solve a problem and momentarily jumped into the lead as the first team to solve two problems. Two of the contest problems went unsolved by any team. Professor David Reimann coordinated Albion's participation in the contest and traveled with the students to Denison University. Albion has regularly competed in the contest since 1997, with a total of fifteen teams partcipating in ten of the past eleven years. Final standings for all teams are available at the contest site. Congratulations to the Fighting Black Squirrels!
  
  Fighting Black Squirrels: Paul Krone, Gabe Ilko, Mike Smar, and Dan Putman.
  
  
• Mark Bollman gave a talk, "A Rapid History of the Pocket Calculator", at the monthly meeting of the Albion College Odd Topics Society on Wednesday, February 28. Mark's talk was illustrated with calculators from his personal collection of 800 machines; some 40 calculators were displayed during the talk. The Albion College Beta chapter of the Odd Topics Society is sponsored by the Friends of the Albion College Library and meets monthly to provide a forum for individuals to share their more unusual interests with others.
  
• March 22:
  
  Pizza and Pamphlets is the event where the Mathematics and Computer Science Department provides information about fall courses in Mathematics and Computer Science. All Math majors/minors, Computer Science majors/minors, Math/Physics majors, Math/Econ majors, prospective majors, and friends of the department are invited to join us. This year the event will be held at 3:10 pm in Palenske 227. Bring your friends; bring your questions; bring your schedule.
  
• April: The goal of Mathematics Awareness Month, held in April each year, is to increase public understanding of and appreciation for mathematics. The 2007 theme is "Mathematics and the Brain".
  
• April 2: Prospective students are invited to discover the distinctive features that make Albion College a truly special and exciting place. Professors will be available at the departmental table to talk about courses, majors, undergraduate research, special opportunities, alumni success stories, and career options. Prospective students are encouraged to learn about how mathematics and computer science, in collaboration with other disciplines, will lead many of the technical advances during the 21st century. See the admissions Visitation Day page if you are interested.
  
• April 13: Prospective students are invited to discover the distinctive features that make Albion College a truly special and exciting place. Professors will be available at the departmental table to talk about courses, majors, undergraduate research, special opportunities, alumni success stories, and career options. Prospective students are encouraged to learn about how mathematics and computer science, in collaboration with other disciplines, will lead many of the technical advances during the 21st century. See the admissions Visitation Day page if you are interested.
  
• April 26: The purpose of the Elkin R. Isaac Student Research Symposium is to honor excellent student research, scholarship, and creative activity. The participants are nominated by their faculty sponsors after having participated in independent research that results in the significant synthesis of new knowledge. The research must have been performed under the direct supervision of an Albion College faculty member, or in a College-approved off-campus program.
  
• April 27: One of the highlights of Mathematics Awareness Month at Albion College is International Plaid Day. We have contacted people around the world who will join faculty, students, and staff on campus in wearing plaid to show their support of mathematics. In past years, even the Rock took on a suitable color scheme.
  
• P.K. Wong ( Associate Dean and Professor, Emeritus, College of Natural Science, Michigan State University) will give a talk entitled "Wirtinger Inequality and the Theorems of Sturm" for our departmental colloquium on March 29.
  
• David Reimann ( Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Albion College) will give a talk entitled "Imaging the Human Brain" for our departmental colloquium on April 5.
  
• Clifford Weil ( Professor, Department of Mathematics, Michigan State University) will give a talk for our departmental colloquium on April 12.
  
• Mark Meerschaert ( Professor and Chair, Department of Statistics and Probability, Michigan State University) will give a talk for our departmental colloquium on April 19.
  

Please feel free to contact me or visit our website (http://www.albion.edu/mathcs/) for further details on any of these items.

Sincerely,
David A. Reimann
Associate Professor and Chair
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
517-629-0426