Meet IU's Noyce Scholars
Biographical Information
ALAN BOUCHER
Alan Boucher was awarded a one-year Noyce Stipend in the summer of 2009 when he began studies in the Secondary Transition to Teaching program at Indiana University, after a year tutoring IU student athletes. He had received his bachelor of science in mathematics from the University of Kentucky in 2006 and his master of arts in mathematics from the University of Kentucky in 2008. He realized that he was called to be a math teacher while teaching calculus and college algebra classes as a graduate student. His hobbies include playing his guitar, playing his mandolin, and fishing with his wife.
DAVID BRINDA
David Brinda was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2008 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. He had completed his bachelor's degree at Tulane University in September 2007 with a major in neuroscience and a minor in mathematics. He began working as math and science tutor during his freshman year. He quickly came to enjoy tutoring and continued it throughout his college career. After graduating he decided that he wanted to make a career of teaching math. He hopes to make math interesting and enjoyable for all of his students. David's hobbies include computer programming, web design, and reading about new technology. He plans to incorporate educational software including computer games into his math classes.
MARTIN BRUNER
Martin Bruner was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2008 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. Martin was born on a snowy winter day in Bloomington, Indiana. He spent his earliest years living in Spencer, Indiana. At the age of four, Martin moved to Indianapolis with his family, eventually graduating from the Hasten Hebrew Academy and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School.
Even as a child, Martin had a proclivity towards mathematics. This led to his majoring in Mathematics at Indiana University. In May of 2007, Martin graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Mathematics. Presently, he plans on putting this degree to good use by becoming a mathematics teacher. In addition, Martin would like to someday be a tennis coach, combining his two interests, mathematics and tennis.
Martin’s love of tennis began during his middle school years with his introduction to formal tennis lessons. In tennis, Martin discovered a means for having fun, staying in shape, and challenging himself. Martin has been a member of a tennis team every year from the age of twelve through the present. During his college years, Martin served as the manager of the I.U. Women’s Tennis Team. Martin believes that his background in both mathematics and tennis will be an asset as a secondary teacher.
ROBERT (BOBBY) BURNS
Bobby Burns was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2008 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. Bobby Burns completed the coursework required for the equivalency of a Bachelors of Arts degree with a concentration in Mathematics at Indiana University earlier that same summer. Previously, Mr. Burns worked in the civil construction industry for twenty nine years in the southeastern U.S. as a cost estimator and project manager. In addition to these responsibilities, he taught safety courses for a large bridge construction company. He began his career as a land surveyor in Florida. Mr. Burns has built up a long music career alongside his full-time job. He began by playing electric bass in a rock and roll band, and later focusing on the Blues. He is self-taught on many instruments including electric and upright bass, electric, acoustic, and resonator guitars. Residing in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife, he enjoys spending time with family and friends. He is looking forward to a new career in mathematics education.
CHRISTOPHER CHAPPELL
Christopher Chappell was awarded a Noyce scholarship in summer 2009 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. He is very determined to achieve his career goal as a secondary mathematics teacher . Previously, he attended North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC, where he earned a bachelors degree in industrial engineering in 2005 and a masters of science in computational science and engineering in 2007. After embarking on a promising career in engineering, Christopher realized that his true passion is to educate young people— empowering them with skills and values they will need to be successful.
Throughout his adult years, Christopher has consistently volunteered as a tutor and mentor in math and other subjects to support the education of children; his efforts have included reading programs, becoming a Big Brother mentor, and serving as site overseer at a community center for elementary and middle school grade level children. He also worked as a substitute teacher in his local school district of Columbus, Indiana, to gain more experience working with children of all ages and grade levels.
Christopher is very inquisitive by nature and enjoys doing research on things most intriguing to him. Hence he has acquired the name “snoop” for satisfying his thirst for knowledge of things in which he possesses a strong personal interest. He is looking forward to a new career in mathematics education.
MARK CONKLE
Mark Conkle, a native of Bloomington and 2003 graduate of Bloomington South High School, was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2007 when he began graduate studies at Indiana University in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program. He had completed his bachelor¹s degree in mathematics in May 2007 at the University of Chicago. During his time there, Mark decided he was interested in teaching mathematics at the high school level so he chose to come home to get certified at I.U. Mark has always possessed a love of mathematics and greatly enjoys explaining math concepts to others. He did his student teaching at Columbus North High School in the spring of 2008 and became eligible to apply for teacher certification in May 2008. Mark stayed at I.U. through the summer of 2008 to work on his Master¹s degree.
KIRA GARTELL
Kira Gartell was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2007 when she began graduate studies at Indiana University in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program. She had graduated in May 2004 with a bachelor¹s degree in mathematics and a minor in Spanish from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona where she was born and raised.Kira has always had a great love of math thanks in part to some wonderful high school teachers and college professors. She completed her student teaching in spring 2008 at Mooresville High School and became eligible to apply for teacher certification in May 2008. Kira spent the last three summers volunteering for Books for a Better World where she traveled throughout Central America delivering children¹s books to impoverished schools. Kira is also a member of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra where she plays the French horn.
JENNA GOEN
Jenna Goen was awarded a Noyce scholarship in summer 2007 when she was a junior at Indiana University. A 2005 graduate of Columbus North High School in Columbus, Indiana, she will begin student teaching in the spring of 2009 and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in May 2009. Jenna had a wonderful high school math teacher whose passion for the subject persuaded her to pursue a degree in mathematics. After doing some substitute teaching, Jenna realized that she loved working with students and decided she would like to become a math teacher. In addition, her mother who is one of her role models is also a teacher. Jenna hopes to influence her future students to explore mathematics as well.
JOHN KEELE
John Keele was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2009 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. He had just completed his law degree but had already decided that making a big pile of money working behind a desk at a law firm wasn't what he wanted to do with his life. Then he remembered his days as an associate instructor and tutor in the math department at IU and how much he loved teaching math, hence deciding to become a high school math teacher.
After growing up in Indianapolis and spending a one-year stint at Rose-Hulman, John proceeded to spend the next nine years in Bloomington, involved in four different programs of study at IU, and earning both a bachelors and a masters degree in mathematics. Needless to say, he loves it here. Other than teaching, John also enjoys playing sports and tennis in particular, and is undoubtedly a better tennis player than all previous Noyce Scholars, including recently graduated Martin Bruner. John hopes to put his tennis skills to good work as a tennis coach in addition to teaching secondary school math.
KRISTEN LECLERE
Kristen LeClere was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2009 when she began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. She completed her undergraduate career at Indiana University in May 2009, receiving a Bachelors Degree in both Mathematics and Economics. While attending IU, Kristen became involved with the Indiana University Student Foundation and was a member of Steering Committee during her senior year. She also tutored and volunteered at a local elementary school. Throughout her time at Indiana University her future plans changed repeatedly as she tried to determine the right career path. Despite several changes in her major, Kristen’s love for math stayed constant, leading her to pursue a career in math education. She hopes that her math background as well as her love for the subject will benefit her future students.
ANGELA SAGE
Angela Sage was awarded a Noyce scholarship in summer 2007 when she was a senior mathematics major at Indiana University. A 2004 graduate of Avon High School in Avon, Indiana, she completed her student teaching at Bloomington North High School in the spring of 2008 and graduated with her bachelor¹s degree in mathematics and her eligibility to apply for teacher certification in summer 2008. Since high school, Angela knew she wanted to further explore the field of mathematics and her goal was to become a teacher. (This aspiration, along with her love of mathematics, led her to the Noyce Scholarship program.) While at I.U., Angela worked as a math tutor at the Math Learning Center at Swain Hall and the Academic Center at Assembly Hall. She became a Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society member in the fall of 2007. Angela also belonged to the student-led group Youth Advocating Leadership and Learning that traveled to New Orleans to aid in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
KRISTEN SARGENT
Kristen Sargent was awarded a Noyce scholarship in summer 2007 when she was a junior at Indiana University. A 2004 graduate of Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Indiana, she will begin student teaching in the spring of 2009 and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in May 2009. Growing up, Kristen could always be found teaching to an imaginary classroom. While in high school, the subjects she was most interested in were math and science. After changing majors and universities, Kristen applied to the Noyce Scholarship program. She hopes to be a positive role model for her future students. Kristen is actively involved in her church, the Loogootee United Methodist Church and has served as a Sunday school teacher there.
MATTHEW SPENCE
Matthew Spence was awarded a Noyce scholarship in summer 2008 when he was a junior mathematics major at Indiana University. He had graduated from Martinsville High School in 2006 and enrolled at Indiana University the following fall. Matthew was inspired by his math teachers at Martinsville and came to IUB hoping to become an inspiration for someone else. He aspires to become an AP Calculus teacher at a Central Indiana area high school, but would also like to teach Trigonometry. He also plans to obtain a Master’s degree in either Mathematics Education or School Administration. Matt is also a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, a fraternity that aids the community in philanthropic efforts every year. He enjoys golfing and spending time with his family on Lake Monroe. He enjoys golfing so much that he also plans to coach the golf team at whichever high school he teaches at if the position is available. Matt appreciates receiving the Robert Noyce scholarship greatly, saying, “I didn’t know how I was going to make it through college without it.”
GUNNSON TREY
Gunnson Trey was awarded a one-year Noyce stipend in summer 2008 when he began graduate studies in the Secondary Transition-to-Teaching program at Indiana University. Gunnson had completed his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in May 2008 at Indiana University. His decision to pursue secondary math education was largely based on the very special relationship he had with math during his high school years at South Montgomery (Crawfordsville, Indiana). Math was not just a subject to him. It was his pastime, his confidence builder, and above all else, it was the very thing that introduced him to the power of logical thinking, which not only helped him achieve great success in college but also greatly enhanced the quality of his life. Gunnson knows that it will be a tremendously rewarding experience to help other young students understand this important and beautiful aspect of mathematics that is often overlooked at the high school level. He is excited about his student teaching in the spring of 2009 and plans on teaching in the Chicago area after earning his license.