Noyce Scholar Profile

Stanley Rogers
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Mathematics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: Math, grades 9-12
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Noyce Scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
University of South Carolina
Current academic or teaching status:
Senior
School and school district:
Airport High School
Background:
I am a 23-year-old male from Spartanburg, South Carolina and am the second oldest of five children. I grew up in a house where academics were very important, and are still important to this day. I have two children who inspire me everyday to accomplish my life goals. I love football and basketball mainly because they are sports of precision, angles, and speed. I have a certificate from Spartanburg Technical College, but I didn’t want to stop there. I love to watch all different types of movies and listen to music.
Why do you want to teach:
I am intrigued by how math is universal throughout the entire world and how something very complex can be simplified to a common fraction. For these reasons and many more, I want to be able to teach math and show students how math is helpful in their lives. My desire to teach math stems from my first encounter with learning it. I had such fun learning the concept of addition that it made me want to quickly show my parents what I learned, sparking my passion to teach math.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
A memorable teaching experience for me when I was tutoring Algebra. I tutored students that had a vague understanding of the subject and were making less than average grades. After tutoring one girl for several weeks, the time came for her to take an exam, and she got an A. I felt that I was able to help her, and it made her happy.
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
The Noyce Scholarship will contribute greatly to my professional development because I would be able to give time to programs at schools in my area and to improve my weak areas of teaching. I would also be able to participate in the seminar program to build my teaching skills and the knowledge of my subject. With these skills and opportunities, I can become the teacher that I have always wanted to be for the children of America. This scholarship will help me strive for greatness for the benefit of my future students.