Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of profiles on area students who recently were awarded platinum or gold scholarships through the Los Alamos Employees' Scholarship Fund. Contributions to the scholarship fund can be made by going to the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation Web page online.
“I love the pure sciences, like theoretical math and physics, because they address interesting philosophical issues,” says Dylan Allegretti, one of this year’s Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund Gold scholarship recipients.
Allegretti was born and raised in Santa Fe where he attended Santa Fe Preparatory School. He benefited from his location in Northern New Mexico, “I had opportunities to participate in science at the Laboratory and the Santa Fe Institute,” he said. The Gold scholarship he received is worth a total of $10,000. He will receive $2,500 a year for four years.
“I am particularly interested in mathematical logic, a field that deals with truth-acquisition and the infinite,” he said. “In college, as I pursue ever higher regions of mathematics, I will continue to search for elegance and beauty.”
The scholarship will help Allegretti pursue his undergraduate degree at the University of Chicago. “The scholarship is wonderful. I am very grateful to the Los Alamos Foundation for helping me continue my education,” he said.
Elaborating on his future Allegretti said, “After college, I would like to pursue a [doctoral degree] and do research in mathematics. My teaching experiences in high school have convinced me that I would also enjoy working as a mathematics professor.”
Allegretti’s desire to teach stems from an inspirational sixth-grade teacher that mentored him throughout high school. “I am indebted to my sixth-grade teacher, Makoena Simon for her support and hard work as she mentored me throughout high school,” he said.
