Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Mathematics and Computer Science > Past Commendations > 2006



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2006
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January 2006 Congratulations Graduate! This month we salute Sean Mocker, who graduated in December 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. He is the son of Robert and Paula Mocker of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of Sharpsville High School. Sean would like to thank all of the people that he met and worked with here at Thiel, and believes that the friendships that he has made here will last throughout his lifetime. We are very proud of Sean and wish him the best in the start of his career. Top

February 2006 Actuarial Student Succeeds at New Challenge This month we salute Mike Young, a senior Mathematics and Actuarial Studies major, for successfully passing his second Actuarial Exam. The challenging second exam focuses on financial managment. It covers topics such as accumulation of money through compound interest in bank accounts and sinking funds, bond pricing, and stock pricing. Mike took the test in Erie, PA in November 2005, and received his results in early January. Mike is the son of Charles and Barbara Young of LaPorte, Indiana, and is a graduate of LaPorte High School. He is planning to work toward a career as an actuary after graduation, and is currently in the process of applying to several actuarial firms. Mike would like to send a special thank you to all of the professors in the Math department for helping him in this endeavor - especially Professor Oman, Professor Amon and Dr. Hesemann. We are very proud of Mike and wish him continued success in his future career. Top

March 2006 Professor Curry Receives Distinguished Adjunct Award This month we commend Jennifer Curry, who was honored with Thiel College's Distinguished Adjunct Award. Professor Curry was presented with this faculty award at the Founder's Day Convocation which was held on February 2, 2006. Professor Curry joined the Thiel College faculty in 2001 and since then has proven - to students and colleagues alike - to be a dedicated and effective teacher. She volunteered her time to chair a committee that updated and improved the math placement tests. She also offered her own time to undertake the time consuming task of finding a new, appropriate textbook when the algebra text the department had been using went out of print. She has also been nominated to the leadership committee. Before teaching in Thiel's math department, Jennifer was an adjunct in the business department at Penn State Shenango's campus. She has also been a business adjunct at Kent State Trumbull since 2000. She and her husband, Randall, reside in Greenville. Top

April 2006 Commitment to Scholarship This month we commend two of our department’s distinguished faculty members for their outstanding scholastic efforts. Feeling More “Secure” We honor Professor Andrew Grover for his work while on sabbatical leave during the fall 2005 term.  Last spring Professor Grover assisted Professor Jamie Pinchot and Professor Judith Newton in the development of the new Web Development and E-Commerce majors at Thiel.  A critical component of these new majors was the inclusion of a course in Information System Security and Forensics.  To address this need, Professor Grover started developing the course in the spring of 2005.  Through ongoing research on the subject over the summer as well as participation in a number of on-line classes during his fall 2005 sabbatical Professor Grover developed the new course and is in the process of delivering it as a class this term.  Going beyond a theoretical understanding of system security concerns, Professor Grover spent time developing laboratory exercises utilizing departmental network facilities.  These will help students develop a familiarity with the threats that exist in the real world as well as help them develop some facility in using countermeasures to address those threats.  Rest assured that these exercises live only on a local departmental network which has been disconnected from the main Thiel network. Professor Grover found the experience to be fascinating - but demanding. It seems to him that every week that goes by new exploits and vulnerabilities to computing systems appear on the horizon.  While the time researching this rapidly changing area was important to him, he is delighted to be back in the classroom sharing the fruits of his labors with his students. Relating Language and Math We commend Dr. Charles Kurtz for his presentation of a paper titled “Approximation and Relation” at the MidSouth Philosophy Conference on February 24-25, 2006.  The conference was held at the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. The paper addresses approximation and relation by showing how mathematical notions involving number and inequality are used in natural language, as well as how the looseness of natural language is in conflict with the rigorous definitions of mathematicians.  For example, when liquid in a beaker is measured as being 137 ml, then we often say that “there are 137 ml of liquid in the beaker” or that “there are at least 137 ml of liquid in the beaker” despite the fact that the measurement is inherently an approximation, and there could well be slightly less then 137 ml of liquid in the beaker. The paper also contrasts issues of exactness with speedy transmission of information.  When we speak more precisely, we transmit information more slowly.  Dr. Kurtz believes that in the end, sometimes precision is more valuable, but it comes at a cost. Top

May 2006 Congratulations Scholarship Winners! The George and Magdalene Skegas Scholarship for Mathematics was established by Karolyn Skegas Krial ('43) in memory of her parents. The winner of this award for 2006-2007 is junior Ron Anderson (pictured left). Ron is a double major in mathematics and computer science, with a minor in physics. He is the son of Elizabeth and Ronald Anderson of Conneaut, Ohio. Ron graduated from Conneaut High School, and would like to thank Mr. Gilmore, his high school pre-calculus/calculus teacher, for inspiring him to pursue mathematical studies in college. Ron would also like to thank all of the members of the Mathematics and Computer Science department for their help in his educational endeavors, and Dr. Henry Barton of the Environmental Science department for mentoring him in applying mathematics and computer programming to climatology in his honors project. He is also grateful to Dr. Patrick Hecking of the Physics department for giving him a greater appreciation for mathematics as it applies to the physical world. His most sincere thanks go to his parents. Ron states, "Their support, encouragement, and understanding have been instrumental to my achievements."  After his graduation in spring 2007, Ron plans to pursue a Ph.D. in either space science or meteorology. The Nathan Warren Harter and Besse Roseberry Harter Scholarship was established as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Harter to encourage Thiel students in the study of mathematics or Latin. The award for the 2006-2007 academic year goes to junior Alex Miller (pictured right). Alex is a double major in actuarial studies and accounting, with a minor in mathematics. Alex graduated from Hempfield Area High School. He is the son of Beth and Howard Miller of Jeannette, PA. Alex would like to thank Dr. Karl Oman for inspiring him in his studies through the introduction of the more theoretical side of mathematics. Top

June 2006 Congratulations Graduates! This month we salute the thirteen students who earned degrees from this department on May 7, 2006. Gregory Lee Allison graduated Summa Cum Laude with BA's in Accounting, Actuarial Studies, and Business Administration, and received a Dean's Key. Derek Paul Brown graduated with BA's in Business Administration and Management Information Systems. Timothy Keith Gessler, II graduated with BA's in Accounting, Business Administration, and Management Information Systems. Masanori Iwasaki graduated with a BA in Computer Science. Adam Moeller graduated with a BA in Computer Science. Henry Louis Passerrello graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Business Administration and an AA in Management Information Systems. Derek Jamaal Pugh graduated with a BA in Management Information Systems. Luke Richard Rose graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Computer Science. Lindsay Marie Sheridan graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Mathematics. She earned Departmental Honors in Mathematics and received a Dean's Key. John Michael Svirbly (not pictured) graduated with a BA in Mathematics, and is a candidate for Pennsylvania Department of Education Teacher Certification. Benjamin Matthew Wheeler graduated Magna Cum Laude with BA's in Mathematics and Computer Science. He earned Departmental Honors in both of his majors, graduated from the Honors Program, and received a Dean's Key. Damien Keith Williams graduated with a BA in Management Information Systems. Michael Scot Young graduated Summa Cum Laude with BA's in Actuarial Studies and Mathematics. He earned Departmental Honors in both of his majors and received a Dean's Key. We proudly congratulate all of these graduates and wish them well in their future endeavors. Top

July 2006 Moving on to Graduate School This month we are highlighting two of our exceptional 2006 graduates who have chosen to continue their educational careers in graduate school programs. Lindsay Sheridan will be attending Penn State University's graduate program in Meteorology. Lindsay graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Mathematics major, earning both Departmental Honors and a Dean's Key. Lindsay plans to put her background in mathematics to good use in the study of meteorology. Her long-term goal is to become a research scientist at an institution such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) or the Department of Energy. When asked about her inspiration for attending graduate school, Lindsay replied, "I would especially like to thank Dr. Henry Barton for inspiring me and helping me to choose the best path (becoming a Mathematics major) to get into the grad school of my choice, Professor Judy Newton for teaching me to program (since I'll be doing it for the rest of my life), and the outstanding math professors I've had: Dr. Merv Newton, Dr. John Nichols, and Dr. Karl Oman." Lindsay is the daughter of Richard and Darina Sheridan of South Euclid, OH. Benjamin Wheeler will be attending a graduate program in Computer Science at the School of Engineering at North Carolina State University. In addition to acceptance to the program, Ben was awarded a teaching assistantship position and a supplemental fellowship. Ben graduated Magna Cum Laude with a double major of Mathematics and Computer Science, earning Departmental Honors in both. He also graduated from the Honors Program, and received a Dean's Key. Ben's long term career goals include earning a Ph.D. in Computer Science and working as an industrial or government researcher in the field. When asked about his inspiration for attending graduate school, Ben replied, "My experience with Dr. Karl Oman and Dr. Merv Newton in the Thiel Honors Program motivated me to attend graduate school." Ben is the son of Patti and Barry Wheeler of Greenville, PA. We proudly congratulate Lindsay and Ben and wish them well in their graduate studies! Top

August 2006 Landing a "Quality" Job This month we congratulate May 2006 graduate Luke Rose for his success in obtaining an excellent position with Eastern Software as a Quality Control Specialist. Eastern Software is a quickly growing software company based in Sharon, PA, that was recently acquired by Fidelity National Financial. Their signature product is Empower, a software suite used for loan origination. As a Quality Control Analyst, Luke is responsible for designing test scenarios with which he puts programming code for various software modules through a rigorous testing procedure. Some of the technologies that he uses on a daily basis include Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, Visual Studio, Microsoft Excel, and several "in-house" developed programs. Luke graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science. He credits his experiences at Thiel for helping him to achieve this position, stating, "Not only did Thiel give me the programming and database skills necessary to perform my job, but also taught me how to balance multiple simultaneous projects and how to work as a team." Luke is the son of Richard and Kathleen Rose of Cochranton, PA. We are very proud of what Luke has accomplished and wish him well in the future. Top

September 2006 Congratulations, Dr. Newton! This month we congratulate our own Dr. Mervin Newton, Professor of Mathematics, for his appointment to interim Dean of Faculty. In this new position, Dr. Newton will serve on the presidential cabinet and work closely with the college president and vice president for academic affairs. Dr. Newton's new duties will include all responsibilities associated with instruction, including development of the academic schedule and service on all instructionally-related committees, including Curriculum Study, Academic Standing, Promotion and Tenure, and Faculty Council. He will also serve as a leader in the recruitment, selection, and retention of full-time and adjunct faculty members.  Dr. Newton has been a member of the Thiel faculty for 36 years, and has spent about one third of that time serving as chairperson of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.  He has also served on over a dozen different college committees during his tenure at Thiel. We are especially proud of one of Dr. Newton's most widely recognized accomplishments - developing a calculator for the blind. In the late 1970s, he spent more than 300 hours programming a Hewlett-Packard 41C to perform statistical and scientific functions to enable blind students to have the same facilities in mathematics and statistics as their sighted classmates. The calculator worked via patterns of sounds (similar to Morse Code) which enabled blind students to “read” mathematical tables more easily than if they were in Braille.  Dr. Newton earned his bachelor's degree at Santa Clara University and his master’s and doctorate at University of New Mexico, all in the field of mathematics.  He is a member of the Mathematical Association of America, has published numerous articles, and is currently in the process of publishing a mathematics book. Dr. Newton is also the author of a number of math-related tutorials on the Web, including "Complex Numbers and Trigonometry," "HP 49G+ Calculator Tutorials," "An Introduction to Programming HP Graphing Calculators," "Minitab Tutorial," and "MS Word Equation Writer Tutorial." These tutorials have been widely used by Thiel College students as well as students at other colleges and universities. He and his wife, Sara, reside in Greenville. He has one daughter, Marguerite, of San Jose, California, and three step-children, Arleene of Coral Springs, Florida; Richard of Boston, Massachusetts; and Gary of Palm Coast, Florida. We will certainly miss having Dr. Newton in our department, but we wish him great success in his new endeavor, and look forward to working with him in his new role at the college. Top

October 2006 A Valuable Research Experience This month we would like to highlight senior Ron Anderson, a mathematics and computer science major, for his participation in Texas Tech University’s Research Experience for Undergraduates. During the summer of 2006, Ron spent two months as an Undergraduate Biomathematics Researcher in the program, which is funded jointly by the US Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.  The program gave Ron the opportunity to experience what research in applied mathematics entails. He attended many lectures about the various applications of mathematics in biology and other fields.  The presentations ranged from modeling disease spread in a population to using computer software and technology to analyze complex systems of differential equations. Ron’s research project involved working with the Keller-Segel aggregation model for slime mold.  He spent the eight weeks working with Dr. Akif Ibraguimov and Dr. Padmanabhan Seshaiyer on using separation of variables and other methods to solve the partial differential equations constituting the Keller-Segel aggregation model.  Once he derived the model from the assumptions and understood the methodology, he began independent analysis of parameter influence on the overall system instability. The experience culminated in a final presentation of his project and findings to the mathematics department faculty and other program participants. Ron found the REU program to be extremely valuable because it gave him research experience, something that few undergraduates receive prior to graduate school.  He stated, “The experience provided me the opportunity to apply the theory that I have studied in mathematics classes at Thiel to a real-world problem.  I am grateful to Thiel College for providing me a solid mathematics, computer science, and physics background.  I also thank TTU for choosing me as one of the participants in the REU program this summer.  The experience has put me on the path to graduate studies and increased my appreciation for mathematics in human endeavors.” Top

November 2006 Helping out the “Math Haters” This month, we commend Professor Jennifer J. Curry, who recently wrote an instructional guide that she called The Math Hater’s Handbook for Algebra.  The writing of this handbook stemmed from Professor Curry's recognition that there are many students out there who are intimidated by mathematics. They feel as though it is too difficult for them because of the way the material is presented in most textbooks, and this fear leads to a self-defeating attitude in their math classes.  She refers to students with this mentality as “Math Haters” and explains that she herself was once in this group as she struggled with mathematics in the eighth grade.  It took a few excellent math teachers at the college level to help her realize that algebra was not as hard as it may seem on the surface, and that it is not so intimidating when it is explained in common, easy to understand terms.  Professor Curry wants to help all students that suffer from fear of mathematics.  She explains, “I really hope that this handbook will help the ‘Math Haters’ – I have felt their frustration and anxiety.  I was brought to tears by math in high school and was overjoyed in college when I finally got some excellent instructors who showed me that math is in fact fun and not difficult.  I want to do the same for those who are now just like I was then.”  Her handbook presents some of the common areas studied in college algebra classes, including GCF, LCD, fractions, exponents, graphing with two variables, polynomials, factoring, and much more.  Her terms and formulas come with explanations that make these concepts clear and understandable.  Professor Curry presented her handbook on October 13, 2006 at the “1st Annual Beginning Algebra Conference” that was held at Youngstown State University.  It will also be published by Prentice Hall later this year.  The intent of the handbook is to supplement any college algebra textbook as an optional addendum. Professor Curry would like to thank the Mathematics and Computer Science department, and in particular, Dr. Mervin Newton, for their continued support.  She would also like to thank her mother, Betty A. Junk, and her husband Randy Curry.  The handbook itself will be dedicated to the memory of her father, James E. Junk.  Top

December 2006 Thiel Competes at the ACM Programming Contest This year, nine students from Thiel competed in the intercollegiate ACM East Central Regional Programming Contest.  The contest was held on November 11, 2006 at Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio. The students, accompanied by team coach Professor Andrew Grover, traveled to Ashland on November 10th to participate in a practice session, and then on the next day, they got down to business working on the solutions to eight programming problems presented as part of the 5 hour long contest. The students competed in three separate three-person teams, and faced competition from 124 other teams from colleges and universities in the East Central region. The region includes western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and eastern Ontario. The first team included seniors Kevin Peterson, Brian Zimmerman,and Ronald Anderson (pictured above from left to right).  The team, named Thiel Doofkabob, successfully solved one problem, putting them in 65th place overall.  With this placement, the team finished ahead of 62 teams from many area colleges, including Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve, YSU, Allegheny College, and Grove City College. Congratulations team on a job well done! The second team, named Thiel Obob, included juniors Fred Housel, Doug Lewis, and Jon Keller. They are pictured to the right (from left to right). The third team consisted of freshman Punit Upadhyaya, sophomore Laura Betz, and junior Scott Greis. Their team name was Thiel Foofinator. They are pictured to the left (from left to right). Teams Obob and Foofinator made a valiant effort at solving these challenging problems, but ended up tying with 36 other teams for 92nd place. It was the first experience at a programming contest for most of these students, and they look forward to the challenge of next year's competition.   We are extremely proud of all of our students that participated in this challenging event, and we look forward to next year's contest. Top