picture of machinery and a laptop.
 
Hostos Community College celebrated the educational and cultural importance of mathematics with the College’s first, full-day math event on April 5.

“Mathematics Day @ Hostos: Living Mathematics” brought Hostos faculty and students together in the Hostos Café for several lectures and workshops, which illustrated the importance of mathematics in everyday life.

Assistant Professor Clara Nieto-Wire from the Department of Mathematics served as the chairperson and coordinator for the event. For her, math is much more than what is experienced inside the classroom.

“Mathematics is experienced in everyday life activities. However, most of us go through the day unaware of this fact,” Professor Nieto-Wire said.  “Students often ask if these principles will apply to their daily lives. It is our hope that through the Mathematics Day experience, students will gain insight, motivation and more meaning to their academic lives.”

Students filled the Hostos Café throughout the day and participated in various exercises, all aimed at getting them excited about the subject that is loved by some and somewhat feared by others.
 
group gathered listening to women speaker.
 
“I think this is a great way to show that mathematics is nothing to be afraid of, and that it actually can be fun,” said Hostos Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Dr. Nieves Angulo, who also serves as the College’s Coordinator of the Engineering Program.

In addition to Professor Nieto-Wire, opening remarks were provided by Christine Mangino, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; Felix Cardona, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs; and professor William Baker, who is also the Chair of Mathematics Department.

There was also an awards presentation where professors were recognized for their contributions to the Mathematics Department. Winners were: Thomas Joyce (Lifetime Achievement Award), Daniel Maysonet (Distinguished Service Award), Loreto Porte (Distinguished Service Award), and Terence Brenner (Distinguished Service Award).

Mariel Sanchez is studying civil engineering at Hostos. She said the event showed only how important mathematics is, but also how fun can it be.

“While I was sharing my experience with math, as student panelist, I remember how scared I was at the beginning of my career thinking about all the math involved on it and but also how easy it was to overcome those fears. This event reminded me how beautiful math is.”
 
For a complete list of programs and those who collaborated and sponsored this event, click here.

About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.

Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.