Mathematics Department Hosts Middle School Contest

On January 22, 2000, the A&M-Commerce Mathematics Department hosted a middle school mathematics contest in conjunction with the Texas Math & Science Coaches Association (TMSCA). Number sense, calculator, math and science tests were administered to 5ththrough 8th grade students from six schools. Franklin Middle School of Dallas took first place in the 7th and 8th grade team competition while Kramer Elementary of Dallas took first place in the 5th and 6th grade team competition. Several trophies were distributed and a wonderful time was had by all who participated.      Many thanks are due to Janet Scott, a teacher at Franklin Middle School, for coordinating the event. In addition, many thanks are due to her father "Bill" McAfee, an alumnus of the A&M-Commerce mathematics department. Proceeds from the competition totaled approximately $600 and went toward the William C. McAfee Mathematics Fund. This-fund is earmarked for faculty and student development in support of mathematics teacher preparation at A&M-Commerce. The mathematics department wishes to make this contest an annual tradition. Watch for future information about one duringthe 2000-2001 academic year!

Dr. Stuart Anderson, Heidi Staebler, Bill McAffee, and Janet Scott during the Middle School Mat ematics Contest.

Endowments and Scholarship Winners

We are grateful to the many alumni and former faculty who have improved our department by the support of scholarship endowments. At present, we have the following endowments in the department of mathematics: -Rachel Lafferty -Cecil B. Wright -Dennis Grantham -W. W. “Bub” Taylor -John and Elaine Yznaga -Dale and Betty Bedgood -Northeast Texas Transfer You can make contributions to any of these by contacting the Mathematics Department (903)886-5157, or the A&M-Commerce Development Office (903) 886-5712.

The following students were awarded mathematics scholarships during 2000. Rachel Lafferty Scholarship – Lucaci Vaczlavic John and Elaine Yznaga Scholarship – Jacquelin Hunton Northeast Texas Transfer Scholarship – Thomas Dollins Bub Taylor Scholarship – Casey Huff Cecil B. Wright Scholarship – Wendy Stephens, Jeremy Yancey Taylor Excellence Award – Amber Benson

Departmental Updates

Eric Aurand received his doctorate from University of North Texas last Spring. His dissertation was entitled Infinite Planar Graphs. He and his wife, Wendi, make their home in Wylie.
Italo Simonelli, Brenda, and Lucia visited his hometown, Perugia, Italy, for a month this summer. A highlight of the trip was a day spent in Pompeii, in the shadows of Mt. Vesuvius.
Howard Lambert is totally retired from teaching and took a trip to visit his son, Kirby, in Montana. He and Frieda stayed until the wildfires forced them to leave.
Archie Brock is also fully retired from teaching and visited Colorado for a couple of months along with Lela.

Dale and Betty Bedgood took a trip to Greece last sprIng.
Rick Kreminski was asked to serve as Acting Head of the Chemistry Department, starting in May, as well as his other duties as Assistant Dean and Associate Professor of Mathematics. He attended a week long class on computer security and cryptography at MIT in June.

Heidi Staebler has been promoted to Assistant Professor. In August, she motored to Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana to visit friends and relatives.
Pam Webster is now an Instructor and continues to work on her Ed.D in Supervision, Curriculum, and Instruction. She has also been jumping horses at up to three feet and received two second places, two third places, and a fourth place ribbon in a local
competition.
Sandra K. Johnson has rejoined us as an Adjunct Instructor, and is teaching 141 and 175.
Anne Casey and Claire Reynolds of Commerce and Hoyle Julian of Klondike are helping us out by teaching some 131 and 141 courses.
     Graduate students who help with teaching, paper-grading, labs, or tutoring sessions are Stuart Hughes of Lone Star, Joseph Moore of Pledger, Mike Coutts of Toronto, Canada, Dale Henderson of Dallas, Mallie Hood of Paris, and Susumu Tajima of Toyko, Japan.
     Students who work in the Math Skills Center or Office are Laura Patton, Socorro Green, and Heather Burkham of Commerce, David Gregg and Jeremy Yancey of Greenville, Brandon Barrier and John Denney of Pittsburg, Jodi LaRoe of Wills Point, Wahib Hariri of Beirut, Lebanon, Casey Huff of Houston, Lucas Vaczlavik of Romania, Brandon Combs of Mineolo, Lara Miles of Mt. Pleasant, Aparna K.C. of Katmandu, Nepal, Amber Vasek of Sherman, and Megan Besozzi of Rowlett.
Kay Hatfield, the department secretary will celebrate her 2nd year anniversary this month in the Mathematics department. Kay completed 12 semester hours last academic year. She is enjoying life in Commerce, and recently entered the salsa contest at the Bois d' Arc Bash. She won a 2nd place ribbon.

Math Club News

     Members of the Mathematics Clubs returning from last year atre Brandon Barrier, Derek Baker, Barbara Shaw, Mike Coutts, Jeremy Yancey, Mark Stellpflug, and Laura Patton. New members so far this year are Joseph Moore, Jodi LaRoe from Wills Point, and Olubume Adegoke and Casey Huff from Houston. Last Spring, the clubs were able to donate $175 to the Bub Taylor Scholarship Fund and the same amount to the Dennis Grantham Scholarship Fund through fund-raising projects. We are also planning a picnic this month, a Christmas Party in December, and a Spring Banquet, as well as other meetings.

Alumni News

Patrice Kapur IS now teachmg at Kockwall HIgh I)chool Charlotte Simmons is teaching at the University of
Central Oklahoma in Edmond
Jen- Te Tseng is a teaching assistant at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.
Dinh Truong is working for Compaq in Austin, TX, as a computer software consultant. His address is 1215 Gazania Drive, Pflugervil1e, TX 78660.