We are immensely proud to announce the recipients of the inaugural Jane Street College Scholarships, awarded to BEAM students in partnership with Jane Street Capital.
Jane Street College Scholarships will allow BEAM students to attend great-fit colleges with strong STEM course offerings even when those schools do not meet 100% of financial need.
Christian C. — University at Albany (SUNY)
My journey into STEM started in middle school. I was the typical “gifted child” who didn’t really need to try too hard to get good grades. I was introduced to BEAM through my 7th grade math teacher.
My love for learning came about through BEAM, as the classes themselves and the way they were taught helped me learn about math in a way that kept me interested in learning more.
Throughout high school, I attended BEAM Saturday classes to continue learning. One Saturday class I remember fondly is Game Theory, since it taught me that even something like a game of counting up to 12 by up to 3 at a time can have complex mathematical strategy behind it.
The most exciting thing about math to me is learning more about it. There will always be something I don’t know or don’t fully understand and the process of learning that thing makes me feel like I’ve done something to improve myself.
I will be going to the University at Albany (part of the State University of New York system), where I plan to major in mathematics. This scholarship will allow me to continue my education without debt.
Ezra C. — Bard College
I first discovered BEAM as a 6th grader excited about math, typing "math programs for middle schoolers" into my search bar. I found BEAM, which felt like a perfect fit, and sent an email to them. A couple months later, I found myself in a great environment, full of supportive people, and super fun math. Since then, BEAM has been a great support system for me, fueling my interest both in math and in other subjects. Even in times of uncertainty, I've experienced growth because of my support from BEAM.
What most stood out to me about my experience was the world of math that opened up to me. For the first time, I explored subjects outside of what was normally taught. I developed a fondness for subjects like Number Theory and was excited to study math at a higher level.
Since BEAM, I have also explored things outside of math. I have taken part in internships related to science research in subjects like Genetics and Thermophysiology. At Bard College, where I will start this fall, I hope to delve further into these topics, while having a double major in math and economics.
Storm R. — Rochester Institute of Technology
BEAM has been an amazing help in my STEM journey. In 6th grade, I was recommended for BEAM by my teachers. I’ll admit, as a 6th grader, going to a math camp over the summer didn’t exactly have me jumping for joy. While I thought math was fairly simple once you got the formula down, it wasn’t my favorite subject. In the end, I would attend BEAM’s Discovery program for the summer. I still had my doubts, but it turned out to be lots of fun! It wasn’t as strict as I’d imagined, and there was so much wiggle room for experimentation and mistakes. At BEAM, you could explore to your heart’s content, rather than be stuck with one math class you either GET, or you don’t. Couple that with traditional extracurriculars sprinkled throughout the day and you have a recipe for an amazing and fun math camp! This is where I’d wager my love for STEM, er, stems from.
After Discovery, I took many Saturday classes with BEAM, and it fostered my skills in math. The classes were varied, providing the chance to experiment with the topics you wanted to learn. It was also a good social tool, giving me the chance to make many wonderful friends who were interested in similar topics. And, they had their own ideas, so discussing problems was endlessly enjoyable.
STEM itself is pretty great, and I’ve grown to love it more and more. Take the last part of STEM, the ‘M’, which stands for mathematics. Math is something that a lot of people love or hate. Whether or not they like it, it’s no secret that it’s absolutely vital in day-to-day life. The best part for me is having an especially hard problem that I have all the tools to solve, and finally coming to a solution. Especially when you can deliberate with others about finding an answer, there’s no feeling like it.
In the future, I plan to go into the ‘T’ part of STEM, technology. I want to become a game developer first and foremost. (If that doesn’t work out (which it will!) I’d like to become a biochemist.) Computers are absolutely amazing, and they have so much potential. I’ve always liked computers, especially with my love of video games. Thinking about the inner workings of consoles fascinates me. I also love looking into the design of games, seeing what went into making a certain level structure, and how things are animated. These are all things that help me appreciate the tech industry even more. All in all, I vow to do amazing things with every opportunity I’m given. I’ll become the ultimate computer scientist and amaze the world with what I can do!
Jane Street is a global trading firm and market maker with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Amsterdam; trading a wide range of financial products. As a firm of collaborative problem solvers, Jane Street leverages quantitative analysis, technology, and expertise to provide consistent liquidity across market conditions.