GIVING
The Power of Math They graduated nearly 50 years apart, but Zach Carpenter ’12 and Bob Wilems ’63 see eye to eye on how science and math can change the world for the good.
Construction on the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South began this spring, but there’s still work to be done. To help inspire students like Carpenter who want to make a difference with math or science, consider a gift to support scholarships for students in the School of Natural Sciences. Visit www.stedwards.edu/giving to find out more.
ABI JUSTICE ’04
Zach Carpenter ’12 is trying to make life a little easier for attorneys. The Math Education major has spent the past year working on a procedure that could be used to divide assets in divorces or deaths. When two people part ways, for instance, Carpenter envisions a formula that would allocate the car, house and other material goods in such a way that neither person is envious of what the other receives. “Each person would place the same quantitative value on the items that they received, so it would be envy-free and equitable,” he says. And if the divorce or estate is hotly contested, Carpenter has a solution: The formula would render it impossible for the parties to deceive each other. The fair division procedure Carpenter is using is technical — it relies on mathematical formulas, graphical representations and statistics to divide assets — but it’s also highly practical, which is exactly why Carpenter loves math. “When math is applied, you start to see how useful it is, and that’s really exciting,” he says. Carpenter is quick to rattle off countless examples of how math can be applied — selecting teams for the Bowl Championship Series in college football, determining the best place for a fence in your yard, even attempting to get politicians to agree on the federal budget. He sees math everywhere and wants to share it with everyone, which is perfect for an aspiring math teacher. Bob Wilems ’63 thinks students like Carpenter are critical to the next generation of St. Edward’s University alumni — people who will go out and change the world. Wilems and his wife, Nela, recently made the largest bequest from an alumnus in the university’s history in support of the natural sciences. Wilems completed a prestigious summer fellowship in computer science after his junior year and, after graduation, went on to earn a PhD in Physics. They understand just how critical it is to find students like Carpenter to major in mathematics or science. And although they’ve never met, Bob and Carpenter agree that math and science are necessary for everyone, not just those majoring in the sciences. While Carpenter plans to spend his career making math exciting for middle- and highschool students, Bob and Nela are helping ensure that all St. Edward’s University students graduate with an understanding of science and math. The new John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center–South will not only provide additional opportunities for graduate-level research like Carpenter’s, but it will also provide new ways for non-science majors to engage with the field. “St. Edward’s has an opportunity with this new building to educate students from all disciplines in the sciences and to develop alumni who have a better understanding of what it takes to succeed in an increasingly technological environment,” Bob says. “We believe educating people in science and math can help improve our world.” Many of Zach Carpenter’s (left) great ideas come during conversations with his mentor, Jason Callahan (right), assistant professor of Mathematics. Whether these conversations take place in the hallway or in Callahan’s office, Carpenter says the resulting ideas fuel him for months at a time — or until another idea is discovered.
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