Noyce Scholar Profile

Ashley Nunnally
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: High School Math
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of South Carolina
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Ridge View High School District Two
Background:
I was born in Statesboro, Georgia, but moved to Columbia, SC when I was very young and was raised there. I am a senior at the University of South Carolina. I am involved in many activities on campus such as being a math and chemistry tutor, undergraduate research, and a community service program called Alternative Breaks.
Why do you want to teach:
I have been tutoring and teaching since high school and it is a career path I am passionate about. I had great teachers in high school who helped me when I felt like I had no one else to ask for help. I want to make a difference in as many student’s lives as possible, just how my teachers did for me.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
I was a student mentor at an after school program at a local high school, which focused on “at risk” kids. I was particularly used to working with one girl who I got really close to. At the end of the semester, she told me she only kept going to the after school program because I was there and that because she did that, it helped her grades significantly. I can’t even fathom how great a feeling it is when someone tells you how you’ve helped change their life.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce program is very important to me as it offers many opportunities especially for assistance and networking. I feel like I am getting more than just funding for Noyce, it prepares you for the career you will start after you graduate.