IUSB's senior takes top 'USA TODAY' honor

Perhaps nobody bridges the rigid realm of mathematics and the principles of philosophy better than Indiana University South Bend senior Amanda Schermer (photo at left). A mathematics and computer science major with a double minor in physics and philosophy, Schermer has been selected as one of 20 college students nationwide to USA TODAY's 1999 All-USA College Academic Team. She received a $2,500 cash award as part of being named to the "first team."

This is the tenth year USA TODAY has honored students exhibiting outstanding intellectual achievement and leadership. She is the first IU student to be named to the academic team, and it doesn't surprise her advisers and instructors.

"Math isn't really about numbers," Schermer said matter-of-factly. "It's really about discovering patterns."

Her future plans include going on to graduate school and earning a doctorate in mathematics. Schermer hopes one day to be a professor.

"In the mathematical analysis class that I taught in the fall of 1997, I knew I had a few good students," said Michael Kinyon, associate professor of mathematics, in his letter of recommendation for the academic team. "The quality of Amanda's work was so far beyond the expectations of my assignments that I gave her an A+.

Kinyon

"To put that in perspective," he added, "one must understand that I decided several years ago to give the A+ grade only in exceptional circumstances. She was the first, and so far only, exceptional circumstance I have encountered since I made that decision."

Earlier, Schermer spent two years traveling across the United States. She bicycled to San Antonio and worked as a Brownie troop leader and counselor at a Girl Scout camp. Along the way, she stayed with people she met on the road--even renting the back room of an antique shop because "it was the cheapest thing I could find."

Schermer spent time at the Seneca Nation in New York. She also took a survival course in New Jersey and lived for awhile with her grandfather in Washington, D.C.

Traveling gave Schermer's return to college a fresh outlook on life and learning. She has been an active promoter of "fractal workshops" for the campus community and area schoolchildren, has organized math fairs for Michiana children, and served as an elementary school Spanish enrichment teacher.

Read more about Schermer, Kinyon and fractals at this Home Pages archival story:

SMART opportunities at IUSB (Jan. 24, 1997)

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