Ursuline students explore real-world math at St. John's University

Twelve Ursuline students traveled to St. John's University on May 1, 2026, to participate in Sonia Kovalevsky Day, a national program designed to inspire young women in mathematics. Organized by math teachers Mrs. Caitlin Woods and Mrs. Lisaann Enright, the trip included sophomores and juniors from Accelerated Algebra 2 Trigonometry and Algebra 2 Trigonometry Honors.

The day began at the D'Angelo Center, where Ursuline students joined peers from other schools for an icebreaker activity before hearing from faculty speakers. Dr. David Rosenthal, professor and chair of the Department of Math and Computer Science, led an interactive algorithm game that challenged students to think strategically and collaboratively.

Dr. Teresa Delgado, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, spoke about her academic journey, highlighting the intersection of math and religion and encouraging students to see the broader applications of their studies.

"If nothing else, math helps you develop critical thinking skills. It’s everywhere!"
- Mrs. Caitlin Woods, math teacher

Following the presentations, students participated in two breakout sessions led by professors and current college students. One session focused on cryptography, introducing Caesar cipher coding. Students created their own coded messages and worked with peers to decode them using shifting techniques. A second session explored statistics through real-world applications in biomedical research and sports analytics.

The program concluded with a student panel, where participants asked questions about college life and pursuing studies in math-related fields.

The experience offered students a deeper understanding of how math extends beyond the classroom. Mrs. Woods emphasized that connection, noting, "If nothing else, math helps you develop critical thinking skills. It’s everywhere!" Dr. Teresa Delgado reinforced that message by reminding students that "math is everywhere, and math is everyone."