As a four-time participant in the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, Caltech senior Brian Lawrence has been named a Putnam Fellow—an honor that goes to the top-five ranking individuals—for the fourth time, the maximum allowed by eligibility rules. Previously, this feat has only been accomplished seven times in the 73-year history of the competition, and not since 2006.

Senior Samuel Elder was also named a Putnam Fellow for his first time and freshman Zhaorong Jin earned an honorable mention. As a team, Caltech placed third.

This is the fourth straight year that Caltech has finished in the top five; Caltech won the competition outright last year. For third place, the team won $15,000, and each team member receives $600. Each Putnam Fellow receives $2,500.

This year’s competition, which took place in December, involved 4440 students from 572 colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. There were teams from 460 institutions. Harvard placed first, followed by Carnegie Mellon University. Stanford and MIT rounded out the rest of the top five.

Putnam Fellows from Caltech in recent years include Po-Ru Loh in 2006 and Jason Bland in 2007. Legendary Caltech physicist Richard Feynman was a fellow in 1939, as was Caltech’s IBM Professor of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics Barry Simon in 1965.

Taking place every year since 1938, the Putnam Competition is a two-part written test in which participants have a total of six hours to tackle 12 problems. Caltech has won the competition 10 times, second only to Harvard (28). Caltech has also finished in the top five 32 times, behind MIT (42) and Harvard (57).

Emerson succeeds Dr. Dan Greenwood, who has been appointed head of school of Harbor Day School in Corona Del Mar. Greenwood assumes that position in July.

“I’m thrilled to build upon Chandler’s reputation as the premier K-8 school in the San Gabriel Valley,” says Emerson. “Between our beautiful new south campus and our talented, innovative faulty, Chandler is more poised than ever to deliver on its mission: to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment.”

“Mrs. Emerson’s love for Chandler and her commitment to the well being and education of everyone at the school characterize her outlook,” says Head of School John Finch. “Her practical skills, proven ability to manage people, organize programs and innovate have prepared her to lead Chandler’s Middle School.”

Emerson earned her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and her master’s degree in educational technology from Cal State Northridge. She started at Chandler in 2001 as a physical education teacher. Since that time she has taught seventh grade history, chaired the History Department, run the Skills Enrichment Program and played an integral role in the implementation of Chandler’s one-to-one laptop program as the director of academic technology.

“Thanks to the substantial and varied opportunities for learning and growth I have had at Chandler, I am able to appreciate how various positions work together to create an effective learning environment,” says Emerson.

Since 2010, Emerson has been counseling Chandler eighth-grade students in the high school placement process.

“She has developed close ties with secondary school admissions directors and will seamlessly take on the lead role in this endeavor,” says Finch. “This is the most important task of the assistant head of school, and she is well suited for it.”

“I have a sincere affection for Chandler School. This generous and supportive community has been my second home, and is a place where I am deeply rooted and committed,” says Emerson.

Chandler School is an independent, coeducational day school in Pasadena enrolling 450 students in grades K-8. The mission of the Chandler School is to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment.

For more information on Chandler School please visit chandlerschool.org.

Over 200 active and retired military personnel from all service branches have been invited to enjoy the program as guests of Maranatha High School.

“This is one way the Arts Society at Maranatha can thank our troops for all that they do for our country,” said Caren Currier, President of the Maranatha High School Arts Society.

“The Sound of Music will also remind people that it was not that long ago when the von Trapp family had to make the decision to flee their homeland. Last summer several Maranatha students visited the site in Salzburg, Austria where the ‘music festival’ took place the evening the von Trapp family performed. What an experience that was,“ Currier said.

The production run starts on Thursday March 22 and continues through Saturday, March 24. All performances take place at Ambassador Auditorium at 131 S. Saint John Avenue in Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 817-4000.

Maranatha High School student Caroline Dirks will perform the role of Maria in the school’s March, 2012 production of “The Sound of Music.” [Photo: Caren Currier]
 

Zacha Campa will take the stage as Captain von Trapp in Maranatha High School’s March, 2012 production of “The Sound of Music.” [Photo: Caren Currier]