Sydney Smith Receives Prestigious TCTM Scholarship

Sydney Smith, a senior mathematics education major, was awarded the Cynthia L. Schneider Mathematics Preservice Teacher Scholarship at the 2024 Conference for the Advancement of Mathematics Teaching. The scholarship is given to students in their last year of undergraduate work who plan to student teach during the upcoming school year in order to pursue teacher certification at the elementary, middle, or secondary level with a specialization or teaching field in mathematics.

Of the award, Sydney said, “This scholarship means a lot to me, and I am incredibly grateful for it. It feels very rewarding that all the effort I put into my work and the application has paid off.”

Dr. Potter teaching

Dr. Andrew Potter, Professor of Mathematics and Head of the Department of Mathematics, shared, “Sydney Smith deserves the Shneider Scholarship from the Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics because she is an excellent student and will be a wonderful teacher. She has the two things that make a great mathematics teacher: She loves the kids, and she loves mathematics.”

In addition to her studies, Sydney has served as a student worker for the Math Department, which has given her opportunities to craft her skills. “I have had opportunities to teach several math classes, and I was given feedback from Dr. Potter on what I can work on to be a successful teacher in the future.”

Congratulations, Sydney!