Outgoing President Cara Higgins Passes the Gavel To ... - SnapPages

The Steel Horse SaloonSuperbowl SpecialsThe Steel Horse Saloon andAudioVideo in Paradise have teamedup to give away 4 HDTVs during KeyWest’s Best Super Bowl Party. TheBud Light tailgate starts at 4 pm andeveryone entering the bar will receivea chance to win a brand new 32 inchTV. Every hour during the Party, thedance floor at 511 Greene St will beturned into an end zone, numberswill be drawn and that ticketholderwill get the opportunity to kick aIt doesn’t take an expert in enumerativecombinatorics* like FKCCMath instructor Dr. John Majewiczto see that at small institutions theinteractions between students andfaculty would statistically be morefrequent and personal than at largerinstitutions. That’s why in 2009 Majewiczacted on his love for Key Westand made the logical leap from the40,000-plus campus of the CommunityCollege of Philadelphia to find asense of true community at the smallsouthernmost college.“There were so many classes andso many instructors, you hardly eversaw the same student twice; it wasvery impersonal,” said Majewicz ofthe institution where he taught for 20years. “Here, it’s not uncommon forme to work with a student throughfour courses—from College Algebrato Calculus. I’ve developed some reallynice student-instructor relationships.We have conversations aboutthe subject matter and they don’thesitate to seek help.”Majewicz has a bachelor’s, a master’s,and a doctorate in Mathematics,the first from Pennsylvania StateUniversity and the latter two fromTemple University. Such credentialsand experience would certainly enablehim to teach at a university, butMajewicz enjoys being in the classroomover the pressures of researchrequirements at a big university.“It’s nice to be able to worksomewhere where I can focus on howstudents learn and what approacheswork best.”One tactic that seems to work islearning students’ names. Majewiczfinds that it builds rapport with thefringe benefit of instilling accountability.“I have a knack for learningnames really easily. I tell my studentspressure packed field goal to win!!The party will feature half priced appetizersoff the Steel Horse Saloons’snew menu and $2 -16 oz Bud Lightdrafts. There will be door prizes andfree shots during the game when yourteam scores. At half time a skilledpasser contest will raise money forthe Wounded Warrior Project. Formore information contact 305 849-2753.Dr. John Majewicz,Mathematics At FKCCthat they aren’t going to have thatexperience at a big university. Plus,because I know all their names, theyrealize that I notice with they missclass, so most limit their absences.”Majewicz, who also serves as thevice chair of the FKCC Faculty Council,cites passion as a key quality inbeing a good math instructor.“Most students in math coursesare satisfying a requirement and arenot really passionate—but if youmake it interesting and they see yourpassion, they become more engaged.It’s rewarding when you can seepeople turn on.”Of course Majewicz also dealswith challenges like the classic questionsfrom reluctant math studentsabout the practical need for or usefor math, which is required of everydegree.“I tell my students: ‘You mightnever use it, but it’s helping you learnhow to think logically and how toanalyze based on facts. Here are abunch of givens, what can you concludeor not conclude from it?’”Contrary to the math whiz stereotype,Majewicz is also very creativeand once thought he would becomean artist. These days, the art he lovesand hones is that of teaching.“There’s something about being inthe classroom and giving knowledge;it’s a great way to make a living.”When not in the classroom, Majewiczenjoys reading classic novels andtaking in the beautiful island weatheron his bicycle.*Enumerative combinatorics isconcerned with counting the numberelements of a finite set S. It will beclear that S has many elements, andthe main issue will be to count (or estimate)them all and not, for example,to find a particular element.THEPORTER-ALLENCOMPANYINSURANCESince 1891ELIZABETH M.FREEMANPresident513 SOUTHARD ST., KEYWEST, FL 33040PHONE305-294-2542FAX305-296-7985conch color the florida keys 35 photographic chronicle