Students

     Kevin Weis '00, mathematics, spent the fall 1999 semester as one of twelve participants in the Mathematics Advanced Study Semester (MASS) program at Penn State University. Begun in 1996, the MASS program offers an intense semester-long graduate-level study of mathematics to undergraduate students from around the country interested in pursuing a career in mathematical research. Students are required to complete three core courses in the areas of geometry, number theory, and analysis, as well as a research project in each.
        One of Weis' three projects, titled "Pseudo-Primes, Carmichael, and Sigma-Phi Numbers," won an award for best overall project. His research for the paper continued work he began on his own while at The College. In collaboration with famous mathematician Carl Pomerance, whom Weis contacted about his problem, he was able to prove that the density of Sigma-Phi numbers is zero. Weis hopes to publish his results. n While attending the national conference for student members of college and university Boards of Trustees last year, student trustee Samantha Rozycki '01, elementary education/English, got the idea to have a state conference for all New Jersey student members of Boards of Trustees. Rozycki, and alternate student trustee Albert W. Ribeiro '02, political science, organized the first New Jersey student trustee conference, held in February. The conference was held as a prelude to the national conference in March to give the New Jersey student trustees an opportunity to get to know one another and begin to discuss issues before the national conference. n Rob Bacher '01, computer science, and Anthony Emma '01, computer science, represented TCNJ in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals of the ACM International Programming contest, held at Drexel University in November.
      The duo placed twenty-ninth in a field of 143, earning them a finish in the top twenty percent. Both placed higher than teams from many schools, including Bucknell University, Lehigh University, Rowan University, and Villanova University. All teams were given a set of eight problems to be solved by programming in C, C++, or Java within a time limit of five hours. Lisa Sparaco '00, communication studies, presented a paper at the National Communication Association conference in November. The paper, titled "The Language of Community: City Characteristics and Nationwide Coverage of Bilingual Education," was co-authored with Andre Sebastian Guerrero '99 and Don Scuorzo '00, both communication studies majors.  
      Forty-four students from The College have been selected as national outstanding leaders and are included in the 2000 edition of Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. Students who receive the honor of appearing in the distinguished Who's Who must be upper-class students who have been nominated by campus committees of peers, faculty, and staff as well as the editors of the annual directory on the basis of their "academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success." The students named this year to Who's Who are: Esther Ahn, Nick Beykirch, Divya Bhoj, Michael Boutros, Kristen Carr, Tracy Christiano, Bill Connolly, Kathleen Curran, Nancy DiGiovanni, Lisa Dornbach, Tracey Duncan, Brendan Dunne, Christina Foglio, David Frost, Lisa Fusick, Jessica Galandak, Shawn Gerum, Lacey Gibbon, Kelly Hands, Stacey Hargraves, Erin Harrigan, Cathleen Hayden, Lakia Haywood, Linette Henry, Gary Javadi, Kerry Kennedy, Andrea Mazzula, Sean McMillan, Jill Medaska, Kellie Miller, Dawn Newman, Onaney Ortiz, Jessy Palamattam, Kevin Popadines, Jennifer Praschil, Jayson Punwani, Dara Richardson, Dominic Santillo, Jenny Son, Catrina Sparacio, Christine Stracey, Nathaniel Torres, Nicole Vitulli, and Heidi Wenderoth.
Twenty-two students from The College have been inducted into the Blue Key Honor Society for 1999. Students inducted into Blue Key are recognized for their involvement and leadership in campus activities, their scholarship, and their potential as citizens and leaders. To be accepted into Blue Key, a student must be of junior or senior standing with at least a 3.5 grade point average.
       This year's inductees are: Michael Boutros, Michael De Ieso, Heather Ann Diaforli, Andrew Feldman, Kristin Jacobson, Danielle Kerns, Julia Kerns, Akiko Matsumoto, Paulette Matuszewski, Linda Mercurio, Kendra Papson, Eva Patel, Jennifer Praschil, Jennifer Schick, Karen Schultz, Allyson Siliato, Jamie Sneeringer, Celeste Steinberg, Lori Vales, Nicole Vitulli, Kevin Weis, and Beth Wolk.