They were already excelling in math and science in second grade. By the time they hit high school, their love of learning was paying off, paving the way for a very promising future.
On this episode of the Supercast, we sit down with three Herriman High School students. All three are Sterling Scholars in STEM and recently recognized for their incredible achievements in math and computer science.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They were already excelling in math and science early in elementary school. By the time they hit high school, their love of learning was paying off even more, paving the way for a very promising future. On this episode of the Supercast, we sit down with three Herriman High School students. All three are Sterling Scholars in STEM and all three were recently recognized statewide for their incredible achievements in math and computer science.
We're here at Herriman High School meeting our Sterling Scholars and we're now talking with Madelyn. Madelyn, introduce yourself.
Madelyn:
Hi, I'm Madelyn. I'm the Skilled and Technical Sciences Sterling Scholar at Herriman High.
Anthony Godfrey:
Skilled and Technical Science. Talk to me about what that entails.
Madelyn:
So for me, it's a mix of woodworking and computer science. I use mostly computer science, that's what I wanna go into in my career. But I also do woodworking and that also uses a lot of computer science. Like for example, on the CNC machine in the wood shop, which cuts wood pretty much, I use like code. You put the code into the computer and so the machine knows what to do. So stuff like that is my passion.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. So you just blew my mind very quickly. Woodworking and computer science are two things I don't necessarily put together and they're definitely not a part of my normal day. And what did you call the machine? A C+C Music Factory?
Madelyn:
A CNC machine.
Anthony Godfrey:
Oh, a CNC machine. And tell me what the CNC machine does again, and how that relates to computer science? You're programming the machine to cut the wood in a certain way?
Madelyn:
Yes, pretty much that's it. So yeah, you just type it into the computer and it does what it's supposed to do. It cuts the wood into the shapes you want it to be.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay. Time to set modesty aside. Why do you think you're the Sterling Scholar in this area?
Madelyn:
I feel like I'm a strong scholar just because I'm so well rounded. Like I do theater, I do FBLA, I do business, I do karate. Like I do just a lot of different things. And then the thing is that like, I'm really passionate about like, computer programming, wood shop, business and stuff. I feel like that kind of like, set me higher. And so yeah, I feel like that's why I got the Sterling Scholar.
Anthony Godfrey:
That is quite a combination of skills. Which of those do you think you want to pursue the most?
Madelyn:
I would say computer programming. That's definitely where my passion lies. I wanna go into data sciences, which is like database development and stuff like that at UVU. And so that's my plan.
Anthony Godfrey:
How does someone your age get turned on to database science with the passion that you just expressed?
Madelyn:
Well, I first got into like computer science and database, I think it was like sophomore orientation. We were like walking around the gym and all the different like tables and stuff and I saw some robots. I'm like, 'yo that's cool.' And so I went to talk to the teacher and he convinced me to take one of the classes. And so I just started taking coding classes throughout high school. And then just this semester I took a database development class and I was like, 'wow, I love this. This is so cool.' It's just like, has all the like elements that I really enjoy, like design and creativity. And then I also like still following like rules. So it's still like satisfying and stuff. So yeah, I dunno. I really like it.
Anthony Godfrey:
So creativity within a certain set of rules that'll make things work like they need to.
Madelyn:
Yeah, I would say so.
Anthony Godfrey:
So where are you headed after high school?
Madelyn:
I want to go to UVU, which is Utah Valley University and study computer science and data sciences. And then I hope to go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and then get married and have a family and maybe start my own business. We’ll see what happens.
Anthony Godfrey:
Great. What kind of business?
Madelyn:
Just like a database development or like database security or like ethical hacking would be so cool. So yeah, that would be like my dream.
Anthony Godfrey:
Ethical hacking. Meaning when companies hire you to show the weaknesses in their system.
Madelyn:
Yeah. So basically they'll hire you and you can go in and kind of see whatever you want to, try to get into their system and to make it stronger. So bad people can't do that.
Anthony Godfrey:
If someone had acted in all of these roles, I would be impressed, but you've actually done all of these things. That's very impressive. And I like your chances for having a successful business of your own.
Madelyn:
Thank you.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for talking with me and good luck with everything.
Madelyn:
Thanks for having me.
Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking with Addie. Addie, introduce yourself.
Addie:
I'm Addie. I've been going to Herriman for three years. Obviously I'm a senior. I won the Computer Science Sterling Scholar, which has been a crazy ride, but has taught me so much. I do a lot of things outside of school. I work and I dance and it's kind of crazy, but it is what it is.
Anthony Godfrey:
You work, dance and do computer science.
Addie:
Yeah, it's a lot isn't it?
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what kind of dance do you do? I do more interpretive dance. A little bit of jazz, but when I was younger, how about you?
Addie:
So I do point ballet, which is what you go to see if you were to go and watch Ballet West. I dance on my toes and it's a lot of work, but I love it.
Anthony Godfrey:
How's your pas de duex?
Addie:
Oh, it's amazing.
Anthony Godfrey:
I thought it might be.
Addie:
My partnering. Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
Very good. So tell me what is it that drew you to computer science?
Addie:
Well, to be honest, I kind of stumbled on it by accident. I tell everyone taking a photography class was the best mistake I ever made. As a sophomore I signed up for a photography class. Didn't love it so much. And I went to my counselor and was like, 'you gotta get me outta here. I'll take anything.' And so she's like, 'well, the only class open is computer science.' And I said, 'all right, I guess I'll give it a shot.' I took it. I fell in love with it. I love the teacher. He's an amazing guy. And I just love the logic of it. Everything about it just seemed to click with my brain.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what you like about the teacher.
Addie:
He is the most supportive guy. So he has a doctorate degree from Stanford for computer science. So because of that, Herriman gets to have so many college computer science classes that no other high school in the district or even the state has, which is amazing. I feel so blessed for this opportunity to be on such an accelerated track. He tells us all about the experiences he's worked in the field. Like it's really inspiring to see how he's worked hard and how he's made a difference in people's lives.
Anthony Godfrey:
It really is amazing the impact that one teacher can have.
Addie:
Exactly. I think if I would've had any other teacher, I might not be on the same track I am now. But he really put that passion for computer science in me, and now I wanna take it just as far as he did.
Anthony Godfrey:
The experience you've described is exactly what I hope for, for every student. That by whatever means they stumble upon something that they're passionate about. That's why we provide this range of classes for everyone. I love how photography was the best mistake you ever made. Did you tell the teacher that was a great mistake to make?
Addie:
I don't think I've told the photography teacher.
Anthony Godfrey:
Probably a good policy. And the photography teacher is a great teacher I'm sure for those who are passionate about that.
Addie:
Exactly. It wasn't my thing, but someone could stumble upon photography and that would be their path.
Anthony Godfrey:
So where do you plan to go from here?
Addie:
I am heading up to Utah State in the fall to major in computer science. Hopefully the dream is to become a systems analyst for a company. I’ve set my bar high right now. Hopefully I'll make it there, but we'll see what the future holds.
Anthony Godfrey:
I would imagine that that is well within your reach. It's something that I know that we need a lot more of out there. What would you say to someone who's considering computer science, but it maybe sounds intimidating?
Addie:
I would say, just give it a shot. There's a lot of very basic level classes that you can take. And I think even if you don't pursue computer science, I think everyone should take at least one. It teaches so many skills that you can use outside in your life. It's problem solving, logic, how to work well with others. I use those skills in everything else that I do. It's not just computer science. So even if you take it, you try it, you don't love it, you're still gonna learn a whole bunch of skills that you can use and apply to whatever you are passionate about.
Anthony Godfrey:
Logic, working well with others. Those are the skills we're really trying to achieve.
Addie:
Exactly.
Anthony Godfrey:
So how does dance influence your computer science passion? Do the two ever intersect or overlap?
Addie:
They really do. I use computer science in my dance world because I am a teacher as well. So I use the skills I've learned in computer science to learn how to be a better teacher, and stay organized, and help people get better. But then I also think ballet, and that creativity side of it, really helps me in computer science because I can be more creative in how I solve a problem. It's not just only left sided brain, do X, Y, Z. I learn how to take this complex problem and use that creative side of my brain and try different solutions. And they really intermingle well. You wouldn't think that ballet and computer science kind of go together, but for me it has that creative side and then also the very structured logical side and they click together.
Anthony Godfrey:
Madelyn mentioned a similar thing with woods and computer science because there are certain rules you work within, but that allows for greater creativity.
Addie:
Exactly.
Anthony Godfrey:
And it sounds like that's true of dance and of computer science also.
Addie:
Yes.
Anthony Godfrey:
And I love how you talk about being a better teacher because of that. It probably allows you to think logically and how you lay out one step and then the next one in an order that will allow the student to really learn what to do. So you teach dance, is that correct?
Addie:
Yes, I do.
Anthony Godfrey:
And what age group do you teach?
Addie:
I teach 12 to 18 year olds.
Anthony Godfrey:
What do you like most about teaching?
Addie:
As a dancer, I know that it can be very challenging sometimes both physically and mentally. And so as a teacher, I get to see the other side of it. Where you gotta push these girls, even when they're tired. But I see them progress. And when something clicks or they do something right, I see it light up on their face and it's so amazing for me to watch because I know that exact feeling. But then I love to see that I'm able to do that for other people as well.
Anthony Godfrey:
When you're able to push people to do things they didn't think they could do. That's very rewarding.
Addie:
Exactly. It is very rewarding. I love it. It takes up all my time, but I think it's worth it.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're using your time very well it sounds like, and I wish you the best in college in just a few months.
Addie:
Thank you so much.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back more from our amazing Sterling Scholars.
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Anthony Godfrey:
We're here with Simon, another Sterling scholar at Herriman High School. Simon, introduce yourself.
Simon:
I am Simon. I like math, like to code and I don't know, just trying to get ready for college I guess.
Anthony Godfrey:
You like math and you like to code?
Simon:
Absolutely.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what you like about math.
Simon:
It's always one answer. It's right or it's wrong and there's always kind of a procedure to get there. It's problem solving skills.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me what you want to do with math going forward.
Simon:
I'd love to be an engineer. Aerospace has always fascinated me. I'm like, ‘Hey, maybe I could actually work in rockets someday.’ But robots, really cool artificial intelligence. I love how technology is kind of improving the world we live in, giving people more options, helping us explore, improve science, understand medicine and I definitely plan to pursue all of this. I haven't decided fully yet exactly where I want to be because there are so many options and they're all really cool. I guess I'll see where I end up when I go to college.
Anthony Godfrey:
You are going to have a lot of options, I have no doubt of that. Tell me, do you remember when you first really latched onto math and you realized you were good at it?
Simon:
I think the first case I can think of was first grade. I was homeschooled that year, it was when my family moved and so me and my sister were homeschooled. She's a year older than me, and I remember I loved the math curriculum part of the homeschool enough that I finished my entire course in half the year. So my mom just gave me my sisters, and then I finished that as well that year. Which made second grade really easy because I've done all the math, cause I went back to the public school that year. But yeah, like I just loved it. Like, I looked forward to doing my math each day.
Anthony Godfrey:
And you've enjoyed mathematics ever since. Tell me about the Sterling Scholar process for those who may not have gone through it, what's involved.
Simon:
So it's funny. I didn't even realize until this year, even though I've been thinking about it for years. I didn't realize that it went farther than just school. So I was like, okay, I'll take the Sterling Scholar of Herriman High. That'd be cool. Then I realized you can compete against people all over the state. And so you kind of show off everything you've accomplished, everything you've done in mathematics. I was able to say that I've done competitive mathematics in sixth grade. I was able to say that I've been a math tutor. I have been a math coach for a junior high school team back in my freshman year. It all comes together. You show leadership, service. I was able to talk about choir and track and field. It's all about who you are as a person. The way you work hard to accomplish things to kind of prepare you for the future, all the skills you picked up, and just the ways that kind of puts you ahead in your category.
And then of course mathematics just comes down to what you know, what you don't know. The interviews, the two I went to, there's a problem on the white board and you walk in, they say solve it and talk out loud as you do it. So they can, even if you get it wrong because of nerves, which happens, they just analyze your problem solving process. They wanna see that you have those problem solving skills. Because that's what mathematics is. That's what mathematics teaches. And so the Sterling Scholar process is a bunch of different levels, but it's all just evaluating what you've done, what you know, and it's really cool because you get to meet other people who love the same things you do. You've also gotten really far ahead. And I thought that was really cool.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's very impressive. That part of the process is just walking up to the whiteboard and solving a problem. That's high pressure with some experts in the room watching how you do it and not just whether you get to the right answer, but how you get there, and what your process is.
Simon:
It does. It's very high pressure.
Anthony Godfrey:
That makes it all the more impressive that you got to where you are. I'm envious of your math skills and your passion for it. It's exciting that you've reached this level. What's next? You wanna be an engineer? Where are you gonna study?
Simon:
Brigham Young University currently. I was accepted and I plan to attend there and study math, computer science, maybe some engineering. They have a really cool engineering building I took a tour of and I'm very excited to go there. I'm going to decide as each year comes, what interests me the most, what I'm gonna pursue as I get to try hands on experiences and get to actually apply everything I've been learning for the past 12 years of my life.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well, I congratulate you again on everything you've accomplished and I know you have great things ahead of you.
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember education is the most important thing you'll do today. We'll see you out there.