2014-Charles Vincent

Major: MATH

300 Word Statement

I am a mathematics major, bookish and smart. When conversing about classes or subject matter with those around me, I am often referred to as somewhat of a guru of mathematical knowledge and am solicited by friends for help on problem sets on a regular basis.

A first glance confirms the thought that my identity is determined by my studies. I began taking advanced mathematics courses my sophomore year. I have participated in nearly every mathematics-based competition held on this campus at least once. I’ve completed mathematics-based research on two consecutive summers, and I even studied abroad in a rigorous mathematics program.

However, I am known as being far more than a studious mathematician. I’m a musician. I play the tenor saxophone and enjoy singing bad pop songs terribly out-of-key. I’m an artist, too: I dabbled in drawing classes and writing classes and several related clubs. I’m also a traveler. I have stood atop the Alps, climbed up (and down) the Great Wall, flown over Mt. Fuji, and raced across the French countryside. Sometimes I’m an engineer or a soccer player. I’m a tutor, a horror film enthusiast, an usher, and board game master. I have been a researcher, a paleontologist, a chemist, and a programmer. My identity seems to shift and grow and evolve to encompass far more than can be gleaned from a surface glance of my life.

The Lafayette experience is a freeing four-year adventure that lets one experiment and try being whoever they wish to be. I have certainly taken advantage of that and involved myself as much as possible, pursing as many of my interests as I could manage. The experiences I have gained in the process are invaluable and have certainly shaped who I am today.

 

Academic Activities/Awards – Total Years Involved

Pi Mu Epsilon 3
Inducted into The National Honorary Mathematics Society at the end of my sophomore year for demonstrating excellence and aptitude in mathematics.

Phi Beta Kappa 1
Invited to join Phi Beta Kappa during my senior year for demonstrating both breadth and depth of liberal learning and for establishing an academic record of unquestioned excellence.

EXCEL Scholar 2
Conducted mathematical research on two consecutive summers. The first involved statistical analysis of drug and alcohol survey data in an attempt to pinpoint factors that contribute to student drinking. The second was in conjunction with the Lafayette College REU program.

Lafayette REU Participant 1
Selected to be a member of Lafayette’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program in mathematics, studying a particular generating function on particular classes of graphs.

JMM Presenter 1
Both lectured and presented a poster detailing the highlights from summer research at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Baltimore; the poster won the Outstanding Presentation Award in the 2014 MAA Undergaduate Poster Session.

MAA MathFest Presenter 1
Presented on the summer research conducted by the REU at the MathFest conference in Hartford, CT.

Barge Competition Participant 2
Competed in the Barge Competiton, a mathematical problem-solving contest, during both semesters of my freshman and sophomore years. Won the third place prize for my team’s performance during the spring semester of my sophomore year

Lafayette Alumni of the Lehigh Valley Award 1
Awarded to a Lafayette senior who either resides in the Lehigh Valley or has graduated from a greater Lehigh Valley High School and who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement.

Marquis Scholar 4
Awarded the highest merit-based scholarship offered at Lafayette College.

Dean’s List 4
Awarded a place on the Dean’s List every semester of my college career.

Campus Service/Activities and Awards – Total Years Involved

ATTIC Tutor 3
Began tutoring for various levels of calculus the first semester of my sophomore year and continued tutoring calculus through my junior year. Became a tutor for abstract algebra the first semester of my senior year.

Williams Center for the Arts Usher 2
Worked either handing out programs, checking tickets, or escorting patrons to their designated seats for events at the Williams Center during my junior and senior years.

Music Appreciation Floor 4
Participated in the general club all four years and lived on the floor since my sophomore year. Elected to the position of President for the fall semester of my junior year.

The Marquis Literary Magazine 2
Worked as an editor of Lafayette’s literary magazine during my sophomore and junior years.

Pi Mu Epsilon Chairperson 1
Earned the position of chairperson for the Lafayette chapter of Pi Mu Epsilon to aid in the design and execution of various campus events.

Anime Club 3
Member and active participant in Lafayette’s Anime Club during my freshman and sophomore years. Elected to position of Events Coordinator for my junior year.

Arts Society 4
Participated in the Arts Society during all four years.

Social Gaming Network 2
Active participation in this club which promotes the playing of various card, board, and video games during my freshman and sophomore years.

Cryptography Competition Participant 2
Participated in Lafayette College’s annual cryptography competition during the spring semesters of my freshman and sophomore years.

 

Community Service – Total Years Involved

Lafayette College Technology Clinic 1
The Technology Clinic brings together the minds of students of different majors to work together to solve various real-world problems. We are currently working with the College Hill Neighborhood Association on a project to revitalize underutilized parks within the City of Easton.

Sigal Museum Volunteer 1
Worked as a volunteer at the Sigal Museum in downtown Easton during the summer after my freshman year; generally worked front-desk duties though I also aided the museum staff with other various tasks.

America On Wheels Volunteer 1
Also worked as a volunteer at the America On Wheels museum in Allentown during the summer after my freshman year. I generally worked either at the front desk of the museum or as a cashier in the gift shop.

Summer Catholic School Aide 1
Helped set up, clean up, and watch children during a summer Catholic school program set up by a local church.

 

Athletics Activity/Award – Total Years Involved

Intramural Soccer 1
Competed on the Music Appreciation Floor team during my sophomore year.

Athletic Event Attendee 4
Frequently attended football and men’s and women’s basketball games during all four years.

Special Interest – Total Years Involved

Lafayette College Concert Band 4
Played the tenor saxophone in the College’s Concert Band.

Lafayette College Pep Band 4
Played the tenor saxophone during both football and basketball season for the pep band for all four years.

Marquis Players Pit Orchestra 1
Played the Reed 3 part on tenor saxophone during this year’s production of The Pajama Game.

Study Abroad: Japan 1
Participated in Lafayette’s interim abroad trip to Japan, where I spent close to three weeks in Osaka, Hiroshima, and Kyoto learning about Japanese history, culture, and government.

Study Abroad: China 1
Participated in Lafayette’s summer abroad trip to Xian and Beijing. There I spent three weeks learning about Chinese history and culture and brushed up on my (very limited) knowledge of Mandarin.

Study Abroad: Hungary 1
Participated in the Budapest Semesters in Mathematics program, a rigorous mathematics program based in Budapest, Hungary, during the spring semester of my junior year. I spent six months travelling around both Hungary and greater Europe, learning as much as I could about Hungarian culture, language, history, and politics while taking mathematics classes taught by renowned Hungarian mathematicians.

Dinner Guest of Israel Centeno 1
The exiled Venezuelan author and poet visited Lafayette College during the fall semester of my senior year, and I was selected to be one of several student guests at a dinner reception for him.