Global Understanding celebrates Pi Day
By Michelle Rideau
Students of Delaware Technical Community College honor Pi Day and the special ancient greek letter’s contribution to the world, as an international themed event near the Math Center on March 12.
The event held at the Owens Campus included a table display that incorporated two activities. The first display required students to find the derivative of Pi by dividing the diameter and circumference of a can. If their answer came to Pi, they would receive a voucher that awarded them one slice of pie from a variety of different flavors offered by the Global Understanding coordinators.
The second display was a trivia quiz about the history of pi. The student with the most correct answers, would be entered into a drawing for a free apron or t-shirt designed with pi.
International Education Coordinator Amy Russell said Pi Day was a perfect way to engage a global event around math and science. As coordinator, Russell aims to offer as many subjects that can relate to all students’ interests or majors. She said Global Understanding isn’t just for popular themes such as food, dancing, and culture, but it should expand into other regions as well.
“I wanted to make sure if you’re a math and science person there is a global understanding event where you can learn more about the global part of it,” Russell said.
Russell said Global Understanding isn’t just about sharing culture but it also provides opportunities for students to win a free Study Abroad Program trip. Any Global Understanding event a student attends, his or her name will be entered into a drawing. The drawing occurs at the end of November and students are able to chose any trip available in the subsequent spring and fall semester.
“The past two years we had students really enjoy their free study abroad experiences,” she said. “It’s been really rewarding for them.”
The best part of the event was seeing students eagerness to teach other students, Russell said. Events aren’t always about faculty members hosting events for students benefits, but “students sharing with other students,” she said.
Medical Laboratory Technician student Sarah Russo assisted participants for the Pi Day history quiz. Russo attended the event to receive community service hours to fulfill her requirements as a Study Abroad scholarship recipient. Russo, who is normally in the lab, said she was excited to meet new students.
“It was neat to see a lot of people that I never seen before come to the event,” Russo said.
She said the event was a great way to publicize Global Understanding and those responsible for the events. The coolest part is to see students not only from Delaware Tech, but all over the world interacting about both the number pi and pie she said.
“Pi is international,” Russo said. “It’s not just specifically for America, everybody uses it.”
Elementary and Early Care Education student Sarah Bell attended the event to earn extra credit in her Math for Teachers 2 course. Bell participated at one of the display tables helping participants find the circumference of a can. Bell said she enjoyed the event, and hoped other students gained something too.
“I hope they realize we use pi a lot in our lives,” Bell said.
For more information about visit Del Tech’s Global Understanding Series Page at dtcc.edu.
