Please join with the MCTM Board in congratulating our
2011 Miriam Schaefer Scholarship Recipients

ARIEL LOSSING

After graduating from Light and Life Christian School in 2007, Ariel Lossing began attending the University of Michigan at Dearborn. Her major is elementary education with a mathematics emphasis. One of her professors had this to say about her, ” Ariel has the knowledge, skill, personal commitment and intellectual insight to act in the best interest of the children she will educate. She has done an exceptional work of fulfilling all of the course requirements.” Another professor continues,” Ariel embraces a philosophy of learning with deep understanding for herself, the students she tutors, and her future students.”

Ariel has also been active in Student Michigan Education Association, Pi Lambda Theta, Golden Key International Honor Society, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Student Government and Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir

Upon graduation, Ariel’s plans include seeking a teaching position that would allow her to embrace her vision to work for the enhancement of each student’s mathematical ability, sense of competence, and ideally, enjoyment.

LEAH WISCHMEYER

Leah Wischmeyer graduated from Byron Center High School in 2007. As a senior at Grand Valley State University, Leah is a mathematics major with a double minor in Spanish and Elementary Education.  While at Grand Valley, Leah has been an active member in clubs, such as PALS (People Assisting Little Siblings) as a mentor and Math & Stats Club as treasurer. She has had the opportunity to work with children as a tutor, site leader for the City of Wyoming’s Play and Learn program, and nanny. During her fourth year at Grand Valley, Leah had the opportunity to work with professors and other students on MCTM’s Adventures with Mathematics summer books, primarily Climbing from Grades 2-3.  After graduating from GVSU in April 2012, Leah hopes to teach lower elementary where she will be able to share her passion for and knowledge of mathematics with eager, young students.

ASHLEY TAGLAUER

Ashley Taglauer, a 2009 alumni from Midland High School, is currently a junior at Michigan State University. In 2013, she will graduate with an Elementary Education Major, a Teaching Major in Mathematics, as well as an Early Childhood Endorsement. During her time at Michigan State University, Ashley has had the wonderful opportunity to become a part of the STEM (Strengthening Tomorrow’s Education in Measurement) team. With STEM, Ashley has learned and researched issues which are present in elementary mathematics today. With this knowledge, she will be able to address these issues on the front line in the classroom and enhance student’s understanding of mathematics.

As one professor says of Ashley, “understanding how the mathematics is working and explaining it to someone else, whether another classmate or a child, is a strength that I can clearly see that she has.” Not only does Ashley have strengths in mathematics but she has also had many opportunities to work with children, giving her much needed experience to one day become a great teacher. As a day camp counselor at her local community center, Ashley has worked for four summers with children of preschool age up to middle school age. This has given her irreplaceable experience that she will carry with her for the rest of her career. As William Arthur Ward once said, “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” One day, Ashley will become a great teacher.