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College of Science and Engineering
Mathworks

Testimonals

Testimonials about the HSMC

  • "I really enjoyed the opportunity to take part in the HSMC as a camp counselor.  HSMC gave me the chance to help others learn the mathematics principles and logical thought processes.  However, I think more importantly I was given the chance to learn and practice the unique teaching techniques of my favorite professors.  These skills continue to come in handy during my graduate career.  HSMC helped me realize the degree to which I enjoyed teaching a gifted and interested group of young individuals, and influenced my decision to remain involved in education outreach." - Kellie, Texas State University alumna, class of 2008, math and physics major
  • "The HSMC has impacted me in a positive way because it has molded me into a better educator.  Having the opportunity to participate in the HSMC has allowed me to keep my math skills sharp and gather new ideas on how to engage students in the classroom.  It is important for Texas State to have this program for young students because it nurtures their math abilities and sets them up for future success in the math classes." - Nancy, Texas State University alumna, class of 2012, math major
  • "José [our son] has had an interest in math from a very young age. He and his grandfather would play math games in his younger years and he took great joy in those activities. At the end of his middle school years at a magnet program, he had a negative experience in an algebra class and quickly became discouraged despite having been successful in his earlier algebra classes. As he entered high school, he was drawn to his math classes again, but I didn't see the spark he previously had until his summer at the Honors Summer Math Camp (HSMC) program! Through conversations with him during camp, his father and I noticed how truly engaged he was in the program. He enjoyed the challenge and learning about the multiple opportunities math careers have to offer. Importantly, José felt that he belonged in a math culture, something with which he had struggled during those middle school years. He quickly connected to his peers and his peers to him (it was evident in the couple of on-campus office visits I received from him and his group). He continues to keep in touch with them both in person and through social media. As a parent, I am grateful for the truly caring instructors, the quality of work that is provided, and the entire structure of the program. As an adolescent researcher, I can attest to the great value this outreach program and programs like these bring to youths' healthy adjustment, across various developmental domains." - Dr. Melissa Delgado, Assistant Professor, Family and Child Development, Texas State University
  • "Camp has taught me that little things make a difference, and that by traveling in small steps, you can still reach great and amazing things." - Amy, 9th grader
  • "HSMC has taught me not only many new and interesting ways to solve a far greater variety of problems than I had ever seen before, but also to gain a new appreciation for mathematics." - Kevin, 9th grader
  • "HSMC has taught me to never give up.  Now I can sit for hours and think about different methods of solving the question." - Jessica, 9th grader
  • "Through the HSMC, I've gained a different and unique perspective about math, six weeks' worth of wonderful experiences, and of course, new friends!" - Savira, 10th grader
  • "From Study Group, I've grown to enjoy working in groups and realize that the simple act of bouncing ideas off other people can result in unexpected success." - Travis, 10th grader
  • "At school, we're encouraged to speed learn and see knowledge just as knowledge, nothing else.  Here at HSMC we learned that taking your time to solve a problem is a good thing, and that in the end, what's most important is how deeply you understand a concept." - Lilly, 10th grader
  • "HSMC helped me develop the ability to ask the person next to me no matter how intelligent they are.  It taught me that being the smartest person in the room didn't really matter as long as you put in as much effort as you possibly could." - Taylor, 10th grader
  • "Because of HSMC, I am much more excited about math than I was before.  This camp taught me perseverance in the face of difficult problems, a skill that is easily applicable to fields outside of math." - Andrew, 11th grader
  • "It was nice to see that there are people who really want to succeed just like me.  The expectations they have at camp are great and this has pushed me to succeed." - Madai, 10th grader
  • "After just a half day at HSMC, I knew that I would never look at a math problem the same way again." - Anna, 10th grader
  • "I now believe that for every problem there are multiple ways of looking at it, and multiple ways of solving it.  And finding a unique way of doing a problem is much better than a textbook solution." - Tyler, 10th grader
  • "My school focuses so much on helping students pass, it leaves little time for teachers to show students advancements in subjects.  Here at HSMC I got to meet kids who not only had a passion for math, but for other things as well.  This was different than any other camp activity I had ever done.  This challenged me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of." - Leah, 11th grader
  • "During these six weeks at HSMC I believe that I have developed my ability to do tough proofs and my perseverance has increased tenfold.  By working in groups, I learned how to deal with people who had different abilities and learning styles than me." - Alexandra, 10th grader
  • "HSMC has made me realize that it doesn't matter how much you get done, but how much you actually learn." - Ignacio, 10th grader
  • "HSMC has inspired a new curiosity in me to figure out not only how things work, but why." - Chloe, 11th grader
  • "Coming to the HSMC has been such an amazing experience.  Now I see how beautiful mathematics is.  There is order, and I have a greater appreciation for even the most simple and basic facts." - Raven, 11th grader
  • "As a Texas State graduate, I find myself often thinking back to the first day of my freshman year in Honors Number Theory and remembering how that day would affect the rest of my college career and my life after graduation.  Because of that class, I was given the opportunity to be a camp counselor in the HSMC.  I always wanted to be a teacher, which is why I chose to attend Texas State, but being a camp counselor at HSMC made me realize that I didn't want to be 'just' a teacher but a mentor and an inspiration to help young people fall in love with math.  It has been seven years since I graduated, but I will be forever grateful to the University and Mathworks for helping me become the teacher that I am today." - Sheri Remore, Texas State alumna, math major, class of 2006

  • "This program gives us a mini college experience.  Not only are we becoming more familiar in studying in places away from home, but we are also learning to be independent.  The HSMC has also influenced my career choice.  Although I do not have a specific choice in mind, I have decided that it would be a STEM career.”  - Kassy, 10th grader from the Rio Grande Valley

  • “Not only does the HSMC program teach a high level of mathematics; it combines math with business in an extremely unique way.  Teaching young students the art of the elevator pitch is an invaluable lesson.  To communicate an idea in a quick and concise manner is a quality very few adults in the business world possess; to teach that concept at this level combined with a high level of mathematics truly sets Texas State University apart.“ 

    - Monica McNabb, Texas State alumna, CEO of McNabb & Co realty.

  • “The Honors Summer Math Camp at Texas State University is a learning environment that surpasses any precollege program that I have ever seen. As an engineer and business executive, I am extremely impressed with the level of creativity and attention to detail included in the entrepreneurship projects, and look forward to seeing these students perform at an extremely high level in their future academic and business careers. Mathworks is a true win-win for young students and Texas State University.” - Earl Ingram, Ph.D., P.E., President, Ingram Readymix, Inc.

  • “Young students that choose to spend their summers furthering their education clearly display a level of self-motivation that will serve them well throughout their lives. The Honors Summer Math Camp, and its entrepreneurship projects, challenge students to comprehend advanced concepts and convert ideas into marketable and operational business strategies. Mathworks is obviously attracting some of our brightest youth to Texas State University prior to completing their high school education.” - Bruce Ingram, Founder, Ingram Readymix, Inc.

  • “Our daughter was engaged academically and socially, something which she had not experienced before. For the first time she [our daughter] had friends with similar interests and academic goals.  We have never seen her more engaged and animated than this past summer.  She has always been a good student and ambitious, but her experience this summer was in many respects transforming.  Mathworks has truly expanded her horizons.“ - Cecilia Castillo, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Texas State

  • “Mathworks is one of the most amazing programs in education today.  It benefits graduates because they have an opportunity to give back by teaching to a new group. It benefits San Marcos by bringing in 60 of the brightest math minds to spend 6 weeks in San Marcos.  It benefits Texas State because Texas State has the opportunity to recruit internationally the best math minds available.  It benefits the business community because the program cultivates potential employees for those businesses who are desperate to employ math minded graduates. And, lastly it benefits the attendees.  They come from the rich and the poor, they cover all nationalities, and they come with amazing adult brains but with the problems of today’s children.  In Mathworks camp they have the opportunity and the support system to solve personal challenges of growing up in today’s world as well as solving the complicated math problems so needed in today’s universities and businesses. Mathworks is totally worth the money, time, and effort required for such a successful program.”  - Lisa Spencer, former President of the Friends of Fine Arts & Communication and Advisory Council member of Communication Studies at Texas State

  • "The Honors Summer Math Camp at Texas State University has been a key link in the pathway for alumni of the Summer Program in Mathematical Problem Solving.  Our mission is to prepare underserved students for advanced study and to help them continue the pathway towards becoming scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and programmers.  HSMC provides a supportive environment for our students to do advanced work in mathematics and scholarships for students to attend who otherwise might not be able to go.  With HSMC's individualized attention and self-paced problems, our alumni have found it a breakthrough next step as they continue their studies in mathematics." - Dan Zaharopol, Summer Program in Mathematical Problem Solving