Scholars

Cohort I Scholars

Kayla Allen
Hometown: West Point, MS
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Why I want to be a teacher? Ever since I was a small child, I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. Nothing brought me more joy than to lock myself in my room everyday and teach my stuffed animals the lessons that I had learned the same day. I use to sit in class and examine my teachers and their every move. I always thought that I wanted to be just like them in the future. Everything about teaching intrigued me, from the red writing on graded papers, to the smell of crisp white chalk. I always knew I wanted to help people, and I knew I wanted to do this through education. Although I always knew that I wanted to be a teacher, it was not until later that I realized that I wanted my focus to be mathematics. I am devoted to join the field of education and I truly believe that I can use this opportunity to not only better myself, but to also contribute to society.

Jennifer M. McCoy
Hometown: Pelham, AL
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Why I want to be a teacher? I have known I wanted to be a teacher since I was in the fourth grade. In high school, the teachers I remember most are the ones who made learning fun. They were the ones who were passionate about more than just their subject; they were passionate about life. They were the teachers who remembered what it was like to be in our shoes, and they encouraged us and did not look down on us because of our age. They prepared us not only for college academic, but for a life outside the safety net of high school. It is because of these teachers that I also want to become an educator for young people. I learned from them that being a teacher is more than just conveying subject material; there is an entirely different aspect in which a mind is shaped.

Jennie E. Mason
Hometown: Macon, MS
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Why I want to be a teacher? Just like any other child as they were growing up, I had many different career goals, such as being a pediatrician, lawyer, policeman, teacher, and many others, but teaching seemed to be the profession that I would always pervert back to. As I got older, I tried to choose a profession that would enrich my wealth, but I soon found out that those high paid professions were not my calling. My passion lies with children and education, so what would be more suitable than becoming an Educator. Mathematics has always been a very strong subject for me and I enjoy teaching it to others.

Tishana S. Smith
Hometown: Cedar Bluff, MS
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Why I want to be a teacher? When my elementary school teachers asked what is it I wanted to be when I grew up, I immediately responded that I wanted to be a teacher. However, at that age I was not quite sure exactly what kind of teacher I wanted to be, and it was not until I was in fourth grade that I discovered my true passion to become a math teacher. I remember being on the playground counting the amount of blue shirts vs. red shirts worn by my classmates, and quickly becoming fascinated with numbers and proportions. I chose the field of teaching simply because I love to help and inspire others.

Simeon T. Weatherby
Hometown: Starkville, MS
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education
Why I want to be a teacher? A teacher is a person who helps students to learn. Do I want to enter into a profession that helps students to learn? Yes, I want to become a teacher. I want to teach because it is in my heart and my mind to help others learn. Three years ago I decided to make teaching a reality for me. I went against the naysayers that said I had thrown my life away by not graduating from the University of Alabama. I gained admission into MSU through the Fresh Start program and I am now a junior who is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Cohort I STEM Professionals

Michael L. Newsome
Hometown: Winona, MS
Degree Seeking: Master of Arts in Teaching (Mathematics Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
My interest in mathematics education began during my senior year of high school at Winona High School, a co-worker of my father, a secondary school instructor in mathematics, asked me to spend a few evenings tutoring her son in Algebra I. I ended up spending several weeks working with her son and found it to be a very rewarding experience because of the ability to connect with students in a constructive way. My parents, who are both secondary school instructors in mathematics, also fomented a deep respect for the educational profession.

Cohort II Scholars

Sumer A. Barakat
Hometown: Madison, MS
Major: Chemistry, Biology (minor) and Secondary Education

Why I want to be a teacher?
I want to be a Noyce Scholar so I can impact future students in the field of chemistry. I want to use my education to help increase test scores in Mississippi Schools, which happen to be some of the lowest test scores in the country. I feel that being a Noyce Scholar will increase my knowledge in the teaching field so I can use my lab experience directly in my classroom which will in turn make children interested and grow up wanting to major in the sciences. My future plans are to teach high school chemistry in Mississippi and further my education acquiring my Ph.D.

Lauren A. Stutts
Hometown: Sheffield, AL
Major: Chemistry and Secondary Education

Why I want to be a teacher?
I hope to teach chemistry in a Mississippi public school for several years, go back to school to get a master's degree in education, then go to a college and teach others how to properly teach science.

Guy W. Wimberly
Hometown: Natchez, MS
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education

Why I want to be a teacher?
My teachers' passion for their respective subjects is a big part of why I want to be a teacher. I have had the opportunity to tutor friends of mine in Calculus and Algebra in the past few months, and I have fortunately found it to be just as fun and fulfilling as working out a math problem. I have also become involved in volunteering for youth groups and the Boys and Girls Clubs over the years, and I have found that I love working with youth. I also love feeling like I have an impact on their lives, however big or small. This is the biggest reason I want to go into teaching – the chance to make a difference.

Cohort II STEM Professionals

Edwin C. Douglas (Chase)
Hometown: Vicksburg, MS
Major: Master of Arts in Teaching (Physics and Mathematics Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
I have a desire and what I believe the abilities to provide students the motivation and the skills needed to reach higher goals in life. Reaching students to pursue larger things in life may not be a quantitative or tangible achievement, but I do not know of any other achievement more meaningful in life. It's like the analogy of why do basketball players heave a desperation shot to win a game in the last few seconds? They know it most likely will not go in, but if only one out of a thousand of those shots go in, it will have been worth it. Teaching for me will be taking those shots.

Derick M. Reid
Hometown: Enterprise, MS
Major: Master of Arts in Teaching (Biology Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
Lack of college preparation in high school is an ongoing problem. Students who attend extremely rural or inner city high-need schools face situations that are even more disheartening than those of US schools collectively. As a result of my own high school and college experiences, my one desire is to make science a study in concepts and theory as well as including inquiry-based instructional strategies that are practical and hands-on for all students, especially those who are economically disadvantaged. Being a biological sciences major, a biological researcher, a high-needs school volunteer and a candidate for alternative teacher certification, I feel that my unique experiences allow me to offer high school students exceptional learning experiences.

Kendrick L. Savage
Hometown: Oxford, MS
Major: Master of Arts in Teaching (Mathematics Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
I am a mathematics teacher at Columbus High School in Columbus, MS. I teach Algebra II, Advanced Algebra, and Trigonometry. I am a firm believer that if one is to succeed then they must take advantage of their opportunities. The Noyce Scholars program is an environment that is put in place to help nurture, encourage, and grow teachers to reach their full potential. One of my greatest passions is to mentor and teach students that I am fortunate to meet. It is a great joy to me to be able to help shape and change someone's life for the better.

Cohort III Scholars

Alexander E. Thompson
Hometown: Tuscumbia, AL
Major: Mathematics and Secondary Education

Why I want to be a teacher?
I have known for most of my life that I would spend my life working with kids. However, I wasn't sure how I would go about doing it. I went through different options such as pediatrician and physical therapist, but I didn't feel like either of these fields were right for me. I then considered teaching. Once I thought about it, I knew teaching was what I was called to do. The biggest impacts on my life outside of my family have come from teachers and coaches. I want to have the same impact on the students I come in contact with. That is what drove me to becoming a teacher.

Cohort III STEM Professionals

Amanda A. Coleman
Hometown: Butler, AL
Major: Master of Arts in Teaching (Biology Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
Growing up I wasn’t quite sure what career I wanted to go into but I was sure I wanted to make a difference in the world. From high school to college, I felt compelled to help someone whether it was tutoring or just listening to their problems. Some students need that special teacher to talk to them about their concerns in class as well as future endeavors. I want to be the teacher who not only knows how to teach the subject, but who has a contagious passion for it. I love school and I want to instill that passion for school in students. My success will be determined by two things: a positive relationship with students and faculty and the numbers of students prepared to meet the demands of college and their jobs. Having a positive relationship with students and faculty will promotes healthy learning environment for the students and will allow me to focus more on the subject material. My job will make a difference in students if they are able to keep up with the rigors of college classes and perform excellent in their careers. I could be the most knowledgeable teacher, but unless I reach out to my students to ensure they leave with a better understanding I will fail them.

Renee N. Masterson
Hometown: Beech Grove, IN
Major: Master of Arts in Teaching (Biology Licensure)

Why I want to be a teacher?
Renee Masterson, a native of Beech Grove, Indiana, is currently a graduate student at Mississippi State University where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. She received her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2012 at the same institution. Renee aspires to actively engage high school students in the learning process of various science disciplines. She attributes much of her teaching desire to the standout science educators she had during her adolescent years. Her zest for biology was instilled at an early age and now she wants to share her passion with high school students so they can richly apply those lessons to their real world experiences.