Editor's Note: This is the fourth in a series of profiles about area students who recently were awarded platinum or gold scholarships through the Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund. Information for this profile was provided by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation.
Taos High senior shares math prowess with other students
“Math has been the cornerstone of my education and will definitely influence my career choice. There is satisfaction in discovering relationships, using logic and intuition, knowing with certainty what is true once it is proven,” said Benjamin Mitchell of Taos High School.
Mitchell recently received a Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund Gold Scholarship, which will provide him with $3,000 per year for four years and a University of California non-resident fee scholarship.
The scholarship fund drive deadline has been extended to June 30.
Mitchell, who earned perfect scores on the ACT and the SAT, is a giving person. After he completed the highest level science and math courses at Taos High School, he asked a teacher what more the school had to offer. She told him he should ask what more he had to offer Taos. That’s when Mitchell began tutoring students in all subjects. Originally, Mitchell charged for his services, but quickly realized financial gain was not his motivation.
“There were just so many students that didn’t have the money to pay for tutoring,” he said. “It wasn’t fair, so I quit charging. If I can help someone understand something better, I do it.”
Mitchell enjoys learning about many things. “I’ll probably study something with math because that’s what I’ve dug into,” says Mitchell. He adds, “Who knows what I’ll fall in love with? I haven’t seen much… yet.”
With the support of the Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund, Mitchell plans to attend the University of California, Berkeley.
More than $322,000 has been raised in this year's campaign, including a matching contribution from Los Alamos National Security, LLC. This year, the campaign goal is $600,000.
To make a contribution to the fund, go to www.lanlfoundation.org.
