Mu Eta Sigma National Math Honor Society
National Board
Sheri Gervais, B.S.I.E., M.Ed.
Susan Hare, B.B.A.
Contact: MHS@MathHonorSociety.com
History of the Name: Mu Eta Sigma
Mu was chosen to stand for the M in Math. Mu is the 12th letter of the Greek alphabet. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Mem.Eta was chosen to stand for the H in Honor. Eta is the seventh letter of the Greek alphabet. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Heth.Sigma was chosen to stand for the S in Society and in Service. Sigma is the 18th letter of the Greek alphabet. The letter is ultimately derived from the Phoenician alphabet Šin letter.
History:
Mu Eta Sigma is the first math honor society established specifically for homeschooled students. It was founded by Sheri Gervais and Susan Hare in 2009. Mrs. Gervais worked formerly as an engineer, and then as a public school secondary math educator and Mrs. Hare worked formerly as an internal auditor for a large bank, prior to coming home to educate their children. As their children reached high school years, and their families began researching college requirements, Mrs. Gervais and Mrs. Hare realized how important it was that their student's transcripts contain community service, accomplishments, memberships and activities.
It was during this time that Mrs. Hare discovered that opportunities for homeschooled students to join the most prominent national math honor society available to high school students was limited to only those students that were associated with a high school or a 2 year college. Mrs. Gervais and Mrs. Hare realized that most homeschooled students would be unable to meet this criteria, and therefore would not be accepted into this organization. Consequently, Mrs. Gervais and Mrs. Hare decided to establish Mu Eta Sigma, a national math honor society exclusively for homeschooled students.