(COLUMBIA, Tenn. - Sept. 6, 2013) - - - Columbia State Community College's access and diversity office recently announced the winners of the 2013 "Math for Life" summer math academy.

"Math is one discipline that is a part of every career that any of our current and future students may choose," said Christa S. Martin, Ed.D., assistant to the president for access and diversity. "Columbia State takes great pride in offering the "Math for Life" summer math academy."

The summer math academy provides an opportunity for middle school students to increase their knowledge of math through a series of fun, interactive workshops that help them improve their academic performance by identifying strengths as a way to overcome academic challenges. The goal is for them to have fun, learn fundamentals, and imagine their future in math.

"We update the academy each year with the help of middle school and college math teachers," Martin said. "The academy staff works hard to ensure that the experience is meaningful for the participants."

Martin commented that the students expressed it best when they shared the following on their evaluations with such comments as "I like that the teachers listened to my questions," "The thing I liked most about the academy was the group math projects," and "I would like for the academy to last 10 days rather than four."

The office of access and diversity develops and implements programs, activities and initiatives in an effort to heighten the awareness, presence and success of ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups. Columbia State works to establish a safe, nurturing and accessible environment that fosters the free and civil exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Photo Caption (Lawrence Co. Winners): Left to right: Hunter Kimbrough (1^st Place Highest Score), Jordan James (2^nd Place Most Improved), Alene Taylor (1^st Place Most Improved), Gracie Mashburn (1^st Place Participation), Kathleen Vickers (2^nd Place Highest Score), and John Coleman (2^nd Place Participation).

Photo Caption (Williamson Co. Winners): Left to right: Miles Wright (2^nd Place Highest Score), Abrahim Marquez-Burns (1^st Place Highest Score), Sidney Ritenour (1^st Place Most Improved), Deanna Riley (1^st Place Participation), Kaycie Farner (2^nd Place Most Improved), and Sierra Davis (2^nd Place Participation).

Photo Caption (2^nd Columbia Winners): Left to right: Arcavius Goodman (2^nd Place Participation, tie), Kylee Taylor (1^st Place Participation), Caitlin Lane (2^nd Place Participation, tie), Kayne Hassell (1^st Place Most Improved), Grace Zhang (2^nd Place Highest Score), and Sara Bytewerk (1^st Place Highest Score).

Photo Caption (Columbia Winners): Left to right: Nolan Morris (2^nd Place Participation), Taylor Springer (2^nd Place Most Improved), DeMarcus White (1^st Place Participation), Lauren Duke (1^st Place Most Improved), Savannah Smith (2^nd Place Highest Score), and Deianera Smith (1^st Place Highest Score).

Photo Caption (Autumn Hargrove Lewisburg): Autumn Hargrove (1^st Place Most Improved)

Photo Caption (Autumn Defoe Lewisburg): Autumn DeFoe (2^nd Place Most Improved)

Photo Caption (Alexis Hargrove Lewisburg): Alexis Hargrove (1^st Place Participation)

Photo Caption (Samantha Hawkins Lewisburg): Samantha Hawkins (1^st Place Highest Score)

Photo Caption (Natalie Cook Lewisburg): Natalie Cook (2^nd Place Highest Score)

Photo Caption (Jordyn Kilmer Lewisburg): Jordyn Kilmer (2^nd Place Participation)