Samantha Tyner
Graduation year: 2012
Majors: Mathematics, French, economics
Activities: Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø Symphonic Band, Sigma Alpha Iota, Alpha Phi Omega
Post-grad plans: Attend Iowa State University for the statistics Ph.D. program
Why did you choose Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø?
I chose Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø because of the liberal arts curriculum, its small overall size and small class sizes. Also, the campus is beautiful, and there is a lot to do in the Quad Cities!
Are you where you thought you¡¯d be four years ago?
Not at all, but in a really excellent way! I didn't know what I was going to do, or even what I was going to major in when I first got here, but now I know exactly what I¡¯m doing next year, and what I want for my life after Augie. I am so excited for the future!
Who helped you get to where you are now?
My advisor, Dr. Bengtson, helped me a lot by encouraging me to take the classes that I was interested in, but also by nudging me into the upper-level math classes early on. I was a little scared of them, but he was always very encouraging and knew that I would succeed. He also encouraged me to apply for an REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates), which I am extremely grateful for, because my REU experience at Valparaiso University helped me decide to go to graduate school.
A peak experience?
Touring Italy with the Symphonic Band in my junior year was one of the greatest experiences of my life! The Symphonic Band is truly a family, and traveling and playing with them in one of the most beautiful countries in the world was amazing. It was beautiful to see a completely different kind of audience be moved by the music we played, even though they didn't know a thing about us, nor us about them.
What did you learn about yourself in these past four years that surprised you?
I learned that I can balance lots of schoolwork with lots of activities and time with friends and not be extremely stressed out. My experience at Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø definitely helped with my time-management skills, which I will benefit from in the future, especially in graduate school.
What will you miss the most about Å·ÖÞ±ÍøͶ_Å·ÖÞ±ÍâΧapp-Ͷע¹ÙÍø?
I will miss the people and the sense of community the most. I got a great education here, but the friends I made made the experience truly wonderful!
¡°Samantha was a great student and so much fun to work with! She has a great attitude about mathematics and its connections to other disciplines. She gave several talks about her work, and they were always professionally done and well received. I¡¯m proud to know her.¡±