Dear Friends,

What follows is 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.

Table of Contents

1. Class of 2007 Senior Spotlight
   1. Jessica Garrison
2. Recent News and Upcoming Events:
   1. Students Seek Internships
   2. Albion Takes First Place In Lower Michigan Mathematics Competition
   3. Dennis Ross Awarded FURSCA Summer Research Grant
   4. Science Complex Receives Silver Rating as a 'Green' Building
   5. Students Recognized at Honors Convocation
   6. SOAR 1 Mathematics Placement
   7. SOAR 2 Mathematics Placement
   8. SOAR 3 Mathematics Placement

Class of 2007 Senior Spotlight

Name: Jessica Garrison
Hometown: Brighton, Michigan

Jessica Garrison takes a break to talk with friends while studying in the Math/CS student research room.

Jessi Garrison has had a passion for math since she was in elementary school. Now, as a 2007 graduate and successful math major, she's ready to spread her love of math to younger generations.

Garrison successfully completed a mathematics major and speech communication minor with a concentration in secondary education this past semester. She was a member of the Fritz Shurmur Education Institute.

Overall, the math professors have been very helpful. They really want their students to understand and appreciate the value and applications of the concepts that are discussed in the various math classes.

"I would like to get a job somewhere, possibly in Madison, Wisconsin, but haven't really thought much about it yet," Garrison said. "I want to teach middle or high school math, preferably Algebra or Algebra II."

On top of academics, Garrison was heavily involved in a wide range of extracurricular activities. She participated in the Newman Club (a Catholic organization on campus), Albion cheer and dance teams, tour guiding, and was a First-Year Experience mentor. She was also accepted into two academic fraternities, Alpha Lambda Delta and Kappa Mu Epsilon, an honors fraternity and an honors math fraternity, respectively.

Garrison chose to attend Albion with her intended career as a teacher in mind. Because future educators at Albion generally graduate with their teaching certificates in less than five years, Garrison ranked Albion higher than her other prospective schools. She also cited Albion's size, the friendly, pretty campus and the personal attention students receive from professors as reasons for choosing Albion.

Looking back, the reasons she chose the school were the things that helped her through her challenging major.

"Overall, the math professors have been very helpful," she said. "They really want their students to understand and appreciate the value and applications of the concepts that are discussed in the various math classes. Most are even willing to stay late to help students out or come in on a weekend. It's easy to see that they want their students to be successful."

One professor in particular, stood out to Garrison as the most influential.

"Karla McCavit has always encouraged me when things get difficult or frustrating," she said. "She was the one who convinced me I should be a math major during Calculus in my first year at Albion. She's an excellent female role model, someone who I would like to be like someday to my students."

Garrison also credits the help of her classmates in easing the difficulty of her math classes.

"When I don't understand something I can almost always get help from another student," she said. "We had a great support group during late night homework sessions in the math lounge."

Those study sessions proved to be one of Garrison's favorite experiences at Albion as well as mentoring for department chair David Reimann's First Year Seminar, Innovations in Imaging, which took her to Niagara Falls and the George Eastman House photography museum.

Garrison has one important tip for future mathematics/computer science majors at Albion.

"Use your resources, there are plenty out there: the Quantitative Skills Center, professors, other students," she said. "You are not alone nor are you the only one struggling. Don't be afraid to ask questions even if you feel like you are the only who doesn't understand."

Garrison reflects fondly on years spent with the professors and students in the math and computer science department.

"I've always been what most people would consider a math geek," she said. "It's been great getting to know professors and students in the math/computer science department who love math the way I do."

Story by Calli McCain, `09.

Recent News and Upcoming Events

• Do you know of any internship opportunities for students majoring in mathematics or computer science? Several of our mathematics and computer science students are seeking internships over the summer. These early career explorations can have a profound impact in their lives. If you are aware of any opportunities, please contact David Reimann (dreimann@albion.edu).
  
• The results of the 31st Lower Michigan Mathematics Competition are in, and Albion's team of Whitney Patton, Jeremy Troisi, and Carmen Weddell took first place, which means that the Klein Kup will return to the Albion College campus. Albion's score on the 10-question exam was 72, putting them 2 points ahead of runner-up Calvin College. Kalamazoo College and Saginaw Valley State University tied for 3rd with 68 points. 35 teams from 12 Michigan colleges participated in this year's LMMC, which was hosted by Calvin College on Saturday, March 31. This is Albion's second LMMC victory; the 2004 team also took first place. Mark Bollman served as advisor to the math team this spring.
  
• Dennis Ross has been awarded a Summer Research Grant from Albion College's FURSCA. Dennis will working with faculty supervisor Harold Connamacher this summer studying the crossing number of complete bipartite graphs. The question is simple: if you have seven pins on opposite sides of a chip and you need to connect wires from each pin on one side to all the pins on the opposite side, how many times must the wires cross each other? However, the answer has eluded mathematicians for decades, and Dennis will explore whether a computer program can help model the problem and find the answer.
  
• The science complex, home of Mathematics & Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics, has been has been awarded Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) through their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The science complex, comprised of Kresge, Norris, Putnam, and Palenske Halls was recently renovated and expanded as part of a $41 Million project. Albion's science complex is Michigan's first large-scale science project to receive a silver or higher LEED rating, and only the third such science-related structure at a college or university in Michigan. In determining whether a building meets LEED standards, the USGBC examines performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The USGBC is a coalition of 8,500 leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The organization's core purpose is to "transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life," according to its web site. See http://www.albion.edu/ac_news/releases2006-07/sciencecomplexleed.asp for more details.
  
• Several mathematics and computer science students received awards at this year's honors convocation. Seniors Dustin Turner and Thomas Youle shared the E. R. Sleight Prize as the outstanding senior mathematics majors. Senior Andrew Lake was awarded the Ronald C. Fryxell Prize as the outstanding senior computer science major. Juniors Carmen Weddell and Dennis Ross shared the James R. Lancaster, Sr. Award as outstanding juniors who best exemplify the liberally educated mathematics or computer science student. The Louis R. Bragg and Mary Huemiller Bragg Scholarship recognizes students who have exhibited promise and achievement in their mathematical studies and is shared by Junior Carmen Weddell, Sophomore Jeremy Troisi, and Freshman Kathryn Wagner. The Ronald C. and Carol J. Fryxell Scholarship recognizes students who have exhibited promise and achievement in their study of computer science and is shared by sophomore Timothy Rambo and freshman Scott Keling. Congratulations to these outstanding students!
  
• June 4: All incoming Albion College students participate in Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). During SOAR, students learn about the academic expectations of our students, take a placement exams, and register for their first semester courses. The department administers a placement test based on the academic background of each student to assist students in selecting the most appropriate mathematics and computer science courses as possible. See our webpage on Preparation for Albion College for more information on the placement process.
  
• June 6: All incoming Albion College students participate in Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). During SOAR, students learn about the academic expectations of our students, take a placement exams, and register for their first semester courses. The department administers a placement test based on the academic background of each student to assist students in selecting the most appropriate mathematics and computer science courses as possible. See our webpage on Preparation for Albion College for more information on the placement process.
  
• June 8: All incoming Albion College students participate in Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration (SOAR). During SOAR, students learn about the academic expectations of our students, take a placement exams, and register for their first semester courses. The department administers a placement test based on the academic background of each student to assist students in selecting the most appropriate mathematics and computer science courses as possible. See our webpage on Preparation for Albion College for more information on the placement process.
  

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