(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Aug. 20, 2014) - - - Columbia State Community College's Office of Access and Diversity recently announced the winners of the 2014 "Math for Life" Summer Math Academy, where approximately 100 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students participated in four-day events that took place at four campuses.

"The Summer Math Academy is a long-term higher education awareness activity," said Dr. Christa Martin, assistant to the president for access and diversity. "The students left with enhanced skills that will help them work out math problems and assignments they'll encounter in school and everyday life."

The summer math academy provides an opportunity for middle school students to increase their knowledge of math through a series of fun, interactive workshops that help them improve their academic performance by identifying strengths as a way to overcome academic challenges. The academy included lectures, labs, group projects, guest speakers in math careers, and the use of computers for math project development.

Martin explained that there were two teachers at each academy who helped engage the middle school students from public and private school systems and home-school associations during their summer break.

"The goal was for the students to have fun, learn fundamentals, and imagine their future in math," Martin said.

The office of access and diversity develops and implements programs, activities and initiatives in an effort to heighten the awareness, presence and success of ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups. Columbia State works to establish a safe, nurturing and accessible environment that fosters the free and civil exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Lawrence County Campus

Photo Caption: First row: Jerren Gieski, Avonlea Benefield, Christyn Norwood, Alyssa Mathews, Eli Hartsfield, Savannah Gardner and Rachel Berry. Second row: James Smith (Columbia State associate professor of mathematics), Preston Sowell, Hagen Glover, Brian Moore, Hunter Glover, Taylor Borden, Julie Springer, and Libby Rogers (Minor Hill School instructor). Third row: Dr. Christa Martin (assistant to the president for access and diversity).

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Brian Moore, 1^st Place High Score

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Avonlea Benefield, 2^nd Place High Score

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Jerren Gieski, 1^st Place Most Improved

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Hagen Glover, 2^nd Place Most Improved

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Christyn Norwood, 1^st Place Participation (tie)

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Preston Sowell, 1^st Place Participation (tie)

Columbia Campus I

Photo Caption: First row: Ja'Kariyah McClain, Sam Cruz, Clark Hill, Bailey Honn, Noah Davis, Ryleigh Belew, Makayla Ogilvie and Joseph Collie. Second row: Rolanda Edwards, Tamiya Ellis, Eleni Ekimogloy, Katlyn Cooper, Dameon Searcy, Malachi Young, Zachery Brown and Grace Dodson. Third row: Anna Foster, Dakota Lang, Dessika Brown, Jacob Bybee, Madison Flick, Deep Patel, Courtney Williams and Kori Kelley. Fourth row: Cara Sutherland (Columbia State instructor of mathematics), Dr. Christa Martin (assistant to the president for access and diversity), and Mallory Hubbell (Culleoka Unit School instructor).

Photo Caption: Pictured left to right: Sam Cruz, 1^st Place Most Improved; Deep Patel, 1^st Place High Score; Katlyn Cooper, 1^st Place Participation; Dr. Christa Martin; Kori Kelley, 2^nd Place High Score; Anna Foster, 2^nd Place Participation; and Tamiya Ellis, 2^nd Place Most Improved.

Columbia Campus II

Photo Caption: First row: Rachel Raiford, Daisy Silva, Jordan Montgomery, Makyla Akins, Olivia Craft and Montavius Whitsey. Second row: Mackenzie Gwin, Wesley Roberts, Johnathan Mostiller, Makiyah Edwards, Nakya Akins and Jesus Silva. Third row: Isaiah Mallol, Dr. Christa Martin (assistant to the president for access and diversity), Kellie Tucker (Columbia State adjunct faculty) and Tammy Worley (Hickman County Middle School instructor).

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Isaiah Mallol, 1^st Place High Score

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Mackenzie Gwin, 1^st Place Most Improved

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Olivia Craft, 1^st Place Participation

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Jesus Silva, 2^nd Place High Score

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Johnathan Mostiller, 2^nd Place Most Improved

Photo Caption: Dr. Christa Martin and Makyla Akins, 2^nd Place Participation

Lewisburg Campus

Photo Caption: First row: Jillian Ethridge, Makayla Franklin and Kade Adcox. Second row: Allison Lynch, Macey Pickle, McKinley Richardson, Makenzie Closson, Luke Ledford, Hunter Wentzel, Kobe Birdsong and Kellie Tucker (Columbia State adjunct faculty). Third row: Tangela Polk (Spring Hill Middle School instructor), Paris Davis, Sami Chumley, Aaron Stephens, Amy Li, Michelle Li, McKenna Hunter and Dr. Christa Martin (assistant to the president for access and diversity).

Photo Caption: Pictured left to right: Michell Li, 1^st Place High Score (Tie); Sami Chumley, 1^st Place Participation (Tie); Luke Ledford, 1^st Place Most Improved; Hunter Wentzel, 2^nd Place Most Improved; Amy Li, 1^st Place High Score (Tie); and Jillian Ethridge, 1^st Place Participation (Tie).

Williamson Campus

Photo Caption: First row: Elias Greer, Alyssa Grinder, Macalyn Gencauski, Jessica Rush and Nathan Wiley. Second row: Marilee Murray (Columbia State instructor of mathematics), Jenna Hensley, Ameer Gray, Asa Greer, Kylie Williams, Shaylan Sawyer, Michael Tucker (Spring Hill Middle School instructor) and Dr. Christa Martin (assistant to the president for access and diversity).

Photo Caption: Pictured left to right: Asa Greer, 2^nd Place Most Improved; Katlyn Williams, 1st Place High Score; Nathan Wiley, 2^nd Place High Score; Jessica Rush, 1^st Place Participation; Ameer Gray, 2^nd Place Participation; and Macalyn Gencauski, 1^st Place Most Improved.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.