RCGC Math Honor Society Students Celebrate the Sum of Success

Rowan College at Gloucester County’s (RCGC) 23 top academic achievers celebrated the sum of their success during the Mu Alpha Theta two-year college mathematics honor society induction ceremony on Thursday, April 19, proving that when it comes to numbers it all adds up.

Founded in 1957 by Dr. and Mrs. Richard V. Andree at the University of Oklahoma, the Mu Alpha Theta National Honor Society is dedicated to promoting scholarship in mathematics and establishing math as an integral part of a college education. The name Mu Alpha Theta was constructed from the Greek lettering for the phonemes m, a, and th.

According to Mu Alpha Theta faculty advisor Greg Buthusiem, RCGC is one of the few community colleges in the area to be part of the mathematics honor society. “This gives our students a distinction over other community colleges,” he said of the society now in its seventh year at RCGC. Members of Mu Alpha Theta are required to maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA, have completed 24 credits and successfully passed Calculus I.

While the majority of students inducted into the math honor society pursue careers in engineering and the sciences, Alexander Koppel of Deptford is RCGC’s first history major. Excelling in his math courses allowed him to meet all of the honor society requirements.

“Part of history is understanding math,” said Koppel, who serves as vice president of RCGC’s Math Club. “If you want to better understand the works of individuals like Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist, and French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes, you need to actually study their theories and ideas. The same goes for inventors.” Koppel transfers to Rowan University in the fall with plans to eventually become a history professor.

“Congratulations. To become a member of the Math Honor Society requires extreme discipline, knowledge and motivation,” RCGC President Frederick Keating told inductees. “This accomplishment will move you forward, be an asset on your resume and assist in your future goals.”

Pictured (left to right): Mu Alpha Theta Faculty Advisor and Assistant Professor of Mathematics Greg Buthusiem, inductees Zachary Hammel, Alexander Koppel, Michael Lampasona, Shayla Lakey, Madison Buck, Travis Touchstone, Mary Kate Heard, Liliana Lemanowicz, Kiana Ramirez, Megan Bracken, Reese Holohan, Mathematics Instructors Jennifer Hoxworth and Chloe Benson, Vice President of Academic Services Dr. Linda Hurlburt and RCGC President Frederick Keating.

Members of Mu Alpha Theta not pictured: George Baals, Michael Roantree, Megan H. Zeigler, Victoria Falkenstein, Anna Kalogiratou, Kyle Wright, Nicholas J. Martino, Jessica McNamara, Spencer Williams, Cody Jelinek, Jacob Stewart and Jacques Gosbin.

Rowan College at Gloucester County’s 250-acre campus is located on Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.

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