Tag Archive : Tucker Joyce

/ Tucker Joyce

What began as an independent research project for a student at WKU’s Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky recently led to a presentation at the largest annual mathematics meeting in the world.

Tennesse “Tucker” Joyce, a second-year Gatton Academy student from Harrodsburg, delivered an oral presentation titledUsing a Mathematical Model to Analyze the Treatment of a Wound Infection with Oxygen Therapy at the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society’s 2012 Joint Mathematics Meeting on Jan. 6. The conference brought nearly 7,200 mathematicians from around the world together for four-days in Boston.

While Joyce has previously presented his research findings at student conferences, the Joint Mathematics Meeting put him on-stage in front of a different kind of audience.

Second-year Gatton Academy student Tennesse “Tucker” Joyce of Harrodsburg presented his mathematical modeling research at the 2012 Joint Mathematics Meeting in Boston on Jan. 6.

“It was a different experience than previous conferences I’ve been to,” Joyce said. “Though the audience was not much larger, the people watching were experts in my field.  I received some great questions and input after the talk, and I got to focus more on the results and significance than I usually do because I did not have to explain the technical mathematics as much.”

Joyce’s research is directed by Dr. Richard Schugart, assistant professor inWKU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. “Tucker is the most gifted student that I have worked with. A professor at another university described his work at the level of a master’s project.  I believe Tucker has the potential to be a research mathematician should he choose that as a career path,” Schugart said.

The project uses mathematics to investigate what is an estimated $5 billion to $10 billion problem a year in the medical treatment community. “My research involves analyzing a mathematical model, developed by Dr. Schugart, to describe the interaction of different cell types in a chronic wound.  I presented analytic and qualitative results as well as several numerically generated diagrams,” Joyce said.

Schugart added: “Ideally, we would like to use the model and the mathematics behind the model to identify the amount of supplemental oxygen needed to eliminate a bacterial infection from a chronic wound.”

WKU faculty such as Dr. Schugart mentor Gatton Academy students in independent, extra-curricular research projects each semester; 85 percent of Gatton Academy students participate in independent research before their graduation from the Academy.

For Joyce, his research experience is helping develop his plans. “Research sounded cool to apply my knowledge to a problem with direct real-world significance,” he said.  “My work on this project has shown me that I am interested in applied math, and I have recently been looking into that as a possible major in college and possibly a career.”

About the Gatton Academy: The Gatton Academy offers a residential program for bright, highly motivated Kentucky high school students who have demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Sixty students each year are admitted to the program through a competitive process. Instead of spending their junior and senior years in traditional high schools, students enroll in the Gatton Academy and live in a uniquely dedicated residence hall. The goals of the Gatton Academy are to enable Kentucky’s exceptional young scientists and mathematicians to learn in an environment that offers advanced educational opportunities and to prepare them for leadership roles in Kentucky. At the end of two years, Gatton Academy students will have earned at least 60 college credit hours in addition to completing high school. In 2011, Newsweek magazine ranked the Gatton Academy fifth nationally among all public high schools as part of their annual “America’s Best High Schools” listing.

Contact: Corey Alderdice, (270) 745-2971.

Incoming student Gabby Canant is greeted by Community Developer Tina Stottman upon arrivial for Adventure Week. (photo by Suzanne Van Arsdall)
Incoming student Gabby Canant is greeted by Community Developer Tina Stottman upon arrivial for Adventure Week. (photo by Suzanne Van Arsdall)

by Sydney Combs, Academy Avatar

Early Sunday morning, a small army of Community Leaders stood–clad in bright green Gatton Academy attire–ready to swarm the first Class of 2012 student to arrive.  When that lucky junior pulled into the parking lot at 8:15 in the morning, swarm the upperclassmen did.

Like kids to free candy, the Community Leaders flocked to each incoming junior and their family, transporting their belongings from the car to their room before they could even turn around.  After a day of trucks and trunks filled with bins and duffel bags, all first-year students were moved in around two o’clock, ready to begin Adventure Week.

This first step into real life evoked mixed emotions from the students, parents, siblings, and staff members alike.

While Tucker Joyce (Mercer, ’12) moved into his room on the second floor, his grandfather and siblings sat patiently, confident in Tucker’s abilities to succeed at the Academy.  Bryan Joyce, Tucker’s grandfather, seemed at ease, commenting on how his only concern was for his grandchildren and how they would fair missing their brother.  “It’ll be tough,” he stated, “They are all three very close.”

Tucker’s brother Bailey, on the other hand, was more optimistic, focusing instead on how often Tucker will get to come home throughout the year.  When asked how his parents felt about Tucker leaving, Bailey answered, “Well, right now they are pretty protective but I think that will change.  It’s like they are sad to leave, but happy to let him go.”

It seemed like these conflicting feelings ran rampant throughout the parental community, striking victims such as Jay Porter, father of Jaymi Porter (Carter, ’12), “My feelings about Jaymi moving in are mixed; I’m a little sad but mostly excited.  I know Jaymi can handle it.”  However, when asked about moving in, Jaymi stated that she was only a little nervous, but mostly ready to start classes.  She said, “I have been waiting all summer for this and now that I’m here, I’m just ready to jump right in and get started.”

Courageous and anxious for work, Jaymi’s confidence in herself was parallel to that of her parents.  This also appeared to be the case for others such as Nikolaus Dilger, father of Daniel Dilger (Boone, ’12), who exhibited little worry for his son, “No, nope.  Daniel has lived on campus twice and already has friends coming into the program.  The atmosphere here is comfortable and with such unique people, he will undoubtedly feel at home.”  For such a monumental step in the students’ and parents’ lives, the grace of the transition by all members was admirable.

As Academy Director Tim Gott mentioned early Sunday morning, “I am more excited about this year’s move-in than in years past.  The program is getting better every year, and it started out pretty well to begin with.  With the collective wisdom of our Residential Counselors and staff downstairs, I believe our years of experience will come together in a powerful way.”

With the apparent poise of the Junior class, supportive shoes provided by families, guidance from the Academy staff, and a cheering crowd of Seniors, there is no doubt that the recent additions to the Academy will provide a stunning performance.