Mathematics Learning Center (MLC) is a free resource for all WSU students
During every one of the 56 hours the WSU Math Learning Center is open each week, anywhere from three to eight tutors roam the large, tabled room dressed in distinctive white lab coats, ready to help anyone with a raised hand or a question.
The center opened quietly 18 months ago and attendance has been on the rise ever since. In fact, student visits more than tripled last semester, rising to a 1,729 weekly average and a grand total of nearly 26,000 student visits over the course of 15 weeks of instruction.
“I think this is one of the most important things WSU has done for undergraduate students in the 25 years I’ve been here,” said Sandy Cooper, associate professor of mathematics and associate chair of the Department of Mathematics.
Brianna Berg, a junior majoring in biochemistry and chemistry, is the first Washington State University student – and one of only 10 undergraduate students nationwide – to be selected by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) for the annual Thomas J. Bardos Science Education Award.
The two-year award promotes education and training of exceptional next-generation scientists and helps them develop their potentials as future cancer researchers.
From sewing a miniature book binding to seeing how to shape a stone tool, nearly 200 eighth-graders from Lincoln Middle School in Pullman took a whirlwind tour of library sciences and anthropological research at WSU to prepare for a special history project this spring.
The teens visited the WSU Libraries and the WSU Museum of Anthropology to glean ideas for their upcoming “Night of the Notables.” They are responsible for investigating an important historical figure, writing a paper, and answering questions while dressed as that figure in an event for parents and friends.
More than preparation for their big event, the field trip gave participants a chance to explore topics and places they might not normally see, said LMS history teachers.
Tyler Langerveld makes post-game announcements at a Cougars men’s basketball game in Beasley Coliseum in Pullman.
Many college students these days struggle to find their direction in life or a suitable career path.
But that’s never been a problem for WSU General Studies student Tyler Langerveld. In fact, Langerveld, 21, doesn’t have just one career interest—he has three: law enforcement, sports broadcasting, and coaching.
Now in his third year of college, Langerveld volunteers as a reserve deputy for the Whitman County Sheriff’s Department, does public address (PA) announcing for Cougar athletics, helps coach his middle school’s football team, and works one shift a week at the Cougar Country Drive In. While the busy schedule doesn’t leave him with a great deal of free time, Langerveld said he’s grateful he’s been able to get so much real-life experience with his prospective careers, especially sports broadcasting and law enforcement.
“I’ve just been incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to have these two career fields already going, experience them and really get my foot in the door,” he said.
Langerveld, a Pullman resident for 20 years, has been announcing for Cougar athletics since he was a junior in high school. He initially was hired by WSU to announce baseball, but his PA repertoire has expanded. He now announces baseball, swimming, and women’s basketball on a regular basis, while occasionally filling in for Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson, who announces men’s basketball.
“I grew up listening to him,” Langerveld said of Johnson. “He was the voice you heard at the football games and basketball games. I’d always go home and imitate him when we would play sports out in the backyard.”
In addition to PA announcing, Langerveld said he’s also interested in doing sports play-by-play announcing for radio and television. Growing up, he drew much of his inspiration from WSU sports broadcasters Bob Robertson, Jim Walden, and Bud Nameck.
He also showed an early passion for law enforcement, his father said, recalling that his son rode around on his bicycle, writing fake tickets and putting them on people’s windshields. He would also pretend to pull his father over.
“Tyler’s always been pretty considerate of the law. He’s pretty upright, respects the law. I think it makes sense that he wants to enforce it,” Todd Langerveld said.
Langerveld said he plans to pursue a career as a police officer as soon as he graduates from WSU. With his current gig as a reserve deputy for the Whitman County Sheriff’s Department, he patrols with a partner throughout Whitman County any time he can.
There’s “something about it … just being able to be hands-on with the community all the time,” he said. “I like being able to have a job that kind of throws everything at you.”
Langerveld’s other love, he said, is coaching. Before playing basketball and football in high school, he was quarterback for the Lincoln Middle School football team. He now serves as the current team’s offensive coordinator.
With so many jobs and activities revolving around school, sports, law enforcement, and friends, Langerveld said he’s learned a great deal about time management to continue doing what he loves. “As long as I can, I’ll just do them all, until I can’t anymore—until one of them makes me stop or the opportunity is not there.”
Clinical associate professor Samantha Swindell is one of two recipients of the annual President’s Distinguished Teaching Award for Non-tenure Track Faculty at Washington State University.
Swindell has taught in the Department of Psychology since 1998. She teaches lab, lecture, and online courses to classes of all sizes, and mentors undergraduate researchers and graduate instructors individually. She is a member of the WSU Academic Advising Association and has served on its certification committee since 2008.
As director of the psychology undergraduate program, she coordinates the annual undergraduate research symposium. Her own research focuses on teaching methods, outcomes, assessment, and implementing what is discovered in order to improve teaching and learning.
Swindell’s award will be among those presented at the Celebrating Excellence Recognition Banquet on March 28, part of the WSU Showcase annual celebration of faculty, staff, and student achievement.
