National Board:

Sheri Gervais, B.S.I.E., M.Ed.
Susan Hare, B.B.A.

Contact: MES@MathHonorSociety.com

2011 Mu Eta Sigma
National Math Honor Society

Senior Scholarship Winner

Name: Jonathan David Hanson

Age: 17 years old

Grade: 12th grade

Hometown, State: Houston, Texas

Year you became member in Mu Eta Sigma: 2009

Describe why you enjoy math: I enjoy problem solving, deducing answers & exploring the concepts of change, quantity & structure. I especially enjoy applying math to everyday problems like knots. I completed a study of knots using the Jones Polynomial
The Jones Polynomial is a mathematical way of recognizing and catagorizing knots using the coefficents to encode the properties of any given knot.

Describe how you anticipate using math in your future (job, hobbies, community service work, mentoring, research): I plan to be an Electrical Engineer and develop a commercial space craft. To do this I will be using Calculus based Physics and even some Auto-CAD design.

I have been involved in my community through the following service projects: Running the sound system for church services; playing guitar and drums for the Youth Worship team; collecting toiletries and making toiletry kits for local homeless shelters; giving talks about child safety and child lures; and cards for servicemen.

My favorite project was: Judgement House, for the following reason: Judgement House took the audience on a journey following the lives of 3 teenagers and what happened to them after they were killed in a car crash – based on whether they had accepted Christ as their Savior. I was one of the killed teens and I got to witness to people about the love of Christ. People were saved because of Judgement House.

I have set the following goals for myself for the next

• 1 year: To graduate from San Jacinto College with an A.A. in Math and transfer to a tier 1 college.

• 5 years: To complete a Master’s Degree from a Tier 1 school in Electrical Engineering and work in the Space Program developing commercial space craft and space colonies.

My parents have inspired me to consider: Always do my best and not compare myself to others. If I don’t do my best then I am cheating myself. But, if I did my best and someone else did better, then it doesn’t matter –I would have done my best.

My favorite subject in school is, or has been: Math, Math, Math – did I mention Math?

My favorite extra-curricular activity is, or has been: Boy Scouts. Through Scouting I have been able to back pack in New Mexico, canoe along the U.S. Canadian Border & scuba dive in the Florida Keys.

The most challenging thing I have ever experienced is: Setting a goal of earning all the Boy Scout Merits and pushing myself to complete my goal.

My greatest accomplishment to date has been: Earning the Rank of Eagle Scout and all 129 Boy Scout Merits.