WAYNESFIELD — A senior at Waynesfield-Goshen High School has been named the best math student in his class, and now he wants to help others achieve the same distinction.
Stephen Hayes was nominated by administrators and teachers for the Honda-Ohio State University Math Medal Award, which recognizes the top senior mathematics student in 31 counties in Ohio. This year, 232 seniors in central and western Ohio were recognized during ceremonies in Cincinnati and Marysville.
Hayes attended the banquet in Marysville, where he received a pewter medal for his accomplishments.
“It made me feel pretty good because I’m planning to become a math teacher after I graduate,” Hayes said. “For me, it verified that I can do that, and if they think I’m good enough at that subject area to give me this award, I should be able to succeed in being a math teacher.”
Hayes said his own math teacher, Kathy Lament, has played a large role in inspiring him to pursue this career path.
“She really cares about her students,” he said. “She takes extra time out of her schedule to sit down and help someone if she knows they’re struggling. I really hope I can be like she is.”
Hayes said he believes a lot of people dislike math because they don’t understand it. He hopes to change this perspective.
“It’s not that it’s a bad subject, it’s just that it’s hard to understand if it’s not explained well,” he said.
He pointed out there are a plethora of job openings in industries such as engineering, so students who want to obtain high-paying jobs in these fields need to not only be good at math, but be interested in it as well.
“I want to help kids so they don’t hate math, and I want them to be willing to go into fields that have such high needs for math and science experience,” Hayes said. “It’s important for kids to like what they’re doing, and I think I can help them.”
Hayes plans to earn his education degree through Bowling Green State University or the University of Findlay. After graduation, he plans to return to high school. This time, as a teacher who just might nominate future math medal winners like himself.
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