This fall, Malvern Prep will replace the mathematical extracurricular and enrichment activity “Mathletes” with a new activity called “Mathematical Connections.” The activity will be open to interested juniors and seniors who want to broaden and enrich their experience of mathematics and at the same time explore applications of and careers in mathematics and related disciplines, according to Rev. Dr. Joseph Oechsle, math teacher and advisor to Mathematical Connections.
The group will meet six times during the academic year in Tolentine 301 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the dates previously scheduled for Mathletes: Oct. 1, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, Jan. 7, Feb. 11, and March 11. On each occasion, a guest will do a presentation on his or her career in a mathematical application and then engage in discussion with the participants. Eventually, all the student participants will be required in teams to create and present their own mini-demonstrations on mathematics and its applications for one of Malvern’s feeder schools or service schools.
Presently, Dr. Oechsle is looking for parents or alums who are mathematicians, statisticians, researchers, economists, or practitioners of some mathematical application or discipline to share your expertise and experience with our students in this format. Dan Bogard ’99, who holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and an MBA from Harvard University, is already scheduled to speak about automotive engineering on Nov. 5. “I am working on a statistician from a major league baseball team and a cosmologist, but I really need your help to fill out this year’s schedule of seminar sessions,” said Dr. Oechsle. Interested alumni should contact Dr. Oechsle at
joechsle@malvernprep.org or jjoechsle@msn.com for more information and details.