Welcome to the next phase in our three-decade journey dedicated to unleashing the power of math education. We’re bringing together the entire actuarial community to ignite that spark of passion in every student and nurture a new wave of problem solvers, innovators, and leaders.
Over the years, our impact has rippled through countless lives, including the students higlighted on the following pages.
Now, we’re launching something bigger: a united front with the entire actuarial community to lay the groundwork for a future where every student has the tools to thrive.
We invite you to join us on this transformative adventure, All for Math!
Meet our Spokes-Numbers, Zero and One!
At The Actuarial Foundation, we know numbers change lives. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to introduce you to two special characters—One and Zero—who are joining us in our charge to inspire math proficiency across the country.
Zero is struggling. He feels small and unimportant and wonders if he can really make a difference. But One sees things differently. One is an eternal optimist—passionate about the power of numbers to shape brighter futures. With every problem solved and every equation mastered, One knows that math transforms lives, especially for students who need it most.
The dynamic between One and Zero represents something we all understand: sometimes, we can feel like Zero—uncertain of how much we can contribute. But we all have the potential to be the One who steps up, makes a difference, and shares their love of math to unlock opportunities.
These characters are more than just symbols—they’re reminders that there’s power in numbers and in us. As part of the All for Math campaign, we’re asking you to Be the One to help young people achieve their full potential. Whether by donating, volunteering, or spreading the word, together we can build a future where every student has the tools to succeed.
Will you be the One?
Paying it Forward Student
Chereece Burrell’s story reflects resilience, hard work, and generosity. After her family moved from Jamaica to Hartford in 2007, she faced challenges at an underresourced school. Despite these obstacles, she was determined to create a better future through education.
In her sophomore year, Chereece focused on the SAT to strengthen her scholarship chances, but her practice scores weren’t where they needed to be. “My SAT scores were concerning to me,” she recalls. “I was worried they weren’t competitive enough.” Without resources for proper preparation or private tutoring, she sought help.
That help came from The Actuarial Foundation’s Math Motivators program. “Having a program like Math Motivators was very helpful,” Chereece says. Weekly tutoring sessions made a huge difference, and her scores improved. “I got the opportunity to meet with a tutor one-on-one or in a small group, which was so much more effective than sitting in a class with 25 other students.”
With her improved scores, Chereece secured financial aid and was admitted to the University of Connecticut, where she graduated in just two years. “Math Motivators wanted students serious about wanting to do better. They were volunteers, taking time out of their day to help us because they wanted to. That made me want to be part of that community.”
Today, Chereece works for a nonprofit in Hartford, helping students realize college is within reach. “I had that support given to me, and I wanted to continue that cycle. I can only hope Math Motivators continues for many more years because, especially in Hartford, our students need it.”
Her story is a testament to how volunteers and donors create a ripple effect, lifting communities. Now, she is passing that generosity forward.
The Power of Mentorship
Isaiah Choy, a Penn State University sophomore and STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program participant, has a story of tenacity, growth, and ambition. As a firstgeneration college student, Isaiah faces unique challenges pursuing a career in actuarial science. Isaiah is excelling thanks to his determination, family support, and opportunities from the STEM Stars program.
Growing up, Isaiah watched his parents work hard, instilling in him a strong work ethic. “My parents have been my biggest motivators,” he shares. “Their work ethic is what drives me to push forward.” Navigating the college application process alone, without the guidance many take for granted, Isaiah’s financial need grew with tuition, exam fees, and materials. The STEM Stars Actuarial Scholars Program helped reduce costs and provided resources to pass two actuarial exams.
“Finding The Actuarial Foundation and the STEM Stars program was such a blessing. This is an organization that wants to see you progress; that’s it. They just want to help you achieve your goals.” Isaiah also credits his mentor, Florian Richards, for his personal and professional growth. “He helped me a lot to get ready for my internship. I had no idea what professional office culture was like, and I was really nervous about that. Florian helped me understand and get ready.” For Isaiah, Florian has been more than just a mentor; “he’s been an anchor.”
Looking back, Isaiah fondly remembers the second-year STEM Stars summer orientation as one of his most rewarding moments. “The cohort bonding and professional development workshops were amazing. I enjoyed getting to know my peers and seeing how much we had grown together over the past year.”
Isaiah’s journey is a testament to the power of mentorship, hard work, and the opportunities our donors and volunteers make possible.
Chereece Burrell
Isaiah Choy
Spotlights
Rising to the Challenge
Alex Alvarado’s passion for math has always set him apart. As a high school sophomore, he began to feel complacent in his classes. “I got a bit bored with the math I was doing in class,” Alex admits. His math teacher, recognizing his talent, encouraged him to seek more rigorous challenges through competitions. That search led him to The Actuarial Foundation’s Modeling the Future Challenge.
The challenge offered the intellectual stimulation Alex craved. His team chose to examine the practical effects of an effective HIV vaccine, requiring them to analyze data, make projections, and propose solutions to a complex global issue.
“Modeling resonated with me. And, seeing what we did with code clicked in me that there are a lot of problems we can use this tool to solve,” he shares. “It definitely pushed me down a computer science path.”
Winning the challenge was a major accomplishment, but for Alex, it went beyond the prize. It introduced him to math as a powerful tool for real-world problems. “Until the competition, I hadn’t been critiqued in a real-world setting; it was all academic,” he reflects.
“Presenting your work outside of school to be evaluated felt a lot riskier, but having that opportunity pushed us to create competency.”
Now a senior at Stanford University pursuing a computer science degree, Alex uses the skills he honed and real-world perspectives he gained at Modeling the Future Challenge to develop solutions for the future and pave the way for future success.
Confidence Builds Success
At Ho-Ho-Kus Public School (HHK) in New Jersey, two middle-school students, Julian and Yuna, shined a light on how confidence builds success outside the classroom. Their teacher Kaitlin Reilly shared with us how much the contest benefited them.
“Yesterday we had your pizza party in celebration of Julian and Yuna for our 8th and 6th graders,” Ms. Reilly writes. “It was such a fun event! Julian doesn’t normally eat in the cafeteria because he doesn’t necessarily feel comfortable with his peers. Yesterday, he ate in the cafeteria and was smiling ear-to-ear. A great group of boys invited him to sit with them, and Julian was enjoying every minute of it! This has been such a wonderful opportunity for all our students, but especially Julian he sometimes struggles with fitting in. This was a huge confidence booster for him!”
Ms. Reilly is already looking to the future of how the Foundation’s middle and high school competition programs can enhance her students’ education and lives. “We are so excited here at HHK, and our community is looking forward to next year and even greater participation this is not the last you will hear of our small town.”
Students enjoy a Hardest Math Problem winners pizza party
Alex Alvarado
As an actuary, you understand the positive impact math proficiency has on individuals, families, communities, and the world. Now, we invite you to share your love of math with students across the US and help us build a future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.
This is our moment to join together, harnessing your enthusiasm to equip more students with the tools and resources to build a better future.
With the support of hundreds of actuaries, we are already empowering 12,000 students each year. With each additional actuary who invests in our mission, we can reach even more students and expand the impact of our programs.
With your help, thousands of students will gain valuable knowledge and practical skills that will change their lives!
