Class of 2024: Montara Clay

Montara Clay is a Mathematics major from Ellicott City, Maryland.

When I took my first step on the Hill, I was: In awe of how beautiful it was and the sense of home that I found on this campus.

The me who will ring the Old Main bell on Commencement Day is: The better version of who I was when I walked on this campus and has been changed by the experiences, relationships, and connections I have made through McDaniel.

Real-world experiences: The study abroad that I attended is Leadership Across Cultures where I went to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague. We got to see parliament, nonprofits, and other colleges in those countries to find new ways to improve our leadership. Some internships that I have experienced were teaching at West Middle School, Franklin Middle School, and Manchester Valley High School. While I was in these internships, I got to teach students about math and learn new ways to approach a lesson plan. I also got hands-on experience with how to manage a classroom and build connections with the students.

In the summer of 2023, I got to do research with Associate Professor Benjamin Steinhurst and fellow student James Opre. In this experience, I got to learn more about my identity in mathematics and was able to prove that the 2-nacci word fractal is a finitely ramified cell structure. In this opportunity, I was able to attend Mathematical Association of America’s MathFest in Tampa, Florida, where I presented my math research. Because of the MathFest, I got invited to the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics (NCUWM) in Lincoln, Nebraska. My favorite would have to be NCUWM, because I made connections with other women in mathematics while learning about their research. I also learned about different job opportunities, graduate school options, and tips.

My aha moment: Something that I learned about myself is God has walked with me through everything on this campus, which allowed me to place boundaries that allowed me to keep my peace of mind and joy on campus and in life.

Footprints I’m leaving on the Hill: President’s Advisory Council of Students, because I want to be remembered for creating voices for those who don’t feel heard.

Faculty or staff member who most influenced who I have become: Amanda Gelber, director of student engagement, because she showed me how valuable I am in this world and at McDaniel. She shaped me by giving advice, being a listener, and providing me with resources that would help me grow and heal as a person. She saw my potential and provided me with the confidence to take uncomfortable or risky steps.

Best class ever: Middle School Mathematics Methods, because I felt like I built bonds with people who looked out for me and empathized with situations I had no control over.

Tell us a little about your activities, including sports, during your years at McDaniel: I have been a part of several clubs over the years. Hairitage is a club that is about how to take care of your natural hair, and I have been on the e-board for three years. Kappa Mu Epsilon is the math honor society that I joined three years ago and have been on the e-board for two years. I have been a part of Voices of Praise for three years where we sing and perform gospel music once a semester. I am the founder and member of the President’s Advisory Council of Students where we discuss problems and events that are happening on campus. I was also a part of the Mindfulness Club during my sophomore year where we focused on self-care and being positive to others on campus. I am the head engagement peer, and I manage and help other engagement peers with events and assist the director of the Office of Student Engagement. I worked at AVI Catering for three years where I helped set up and serve people at formal events. I worked for the Student Alumni Council during my sophomore year where I helped plan, set, and run alumni events with the Alumni Office. Off campus, I worked as a substitute on occasion in Howard County and for the last year and a half I’ve been working with Black Student Achievement Program Math Academy as a mentor, where I work with a teacher to help teach sixth grade mathematics.

Took me totally by surprise: I am a mathematician and I fit in with mathematicians. Originally, I chose math because it was the only subject that I wanted to teach and that I found interest in and would get me a job right away. However, I never considered myself a mathematician and I thought I was an outsider. Instead, I find myself talking to a lot of mathematicians and able to help my fellow mathematicians. I am a nerd who can do math and knowing that math doesn’t mean that you can’t make a mistake, but is a place where mistakes are accepted as long as you get back up and try something different.

My favorite spot on campus: Lightner Room, because it was a space to converse with my peers and teachers about life and math no matter the time. It is also a place to be your true self without judgment.

The most mind-boggling idea I learned at McDaniel: Some of my best memories on campus are the spontaneous choices or impulse requests that I made.

My capstone title: “Cooking with Numbers.”

What it’s about in plain talk: In my capstone, I addressed what the heat equation is and how it works. Then I talked about two ways that you can teach the heat equation to high schoolers.

What’s next: I will be attending graduate school at McDaniel College in the five-year B.A. to M.S. accelerated program in Secondary Education.

How will you stay connected to McDaniel? I will stay connected to McDaniel by attending alumni events but also continuing my commitment to the McDaniel Gospel Choir with Shelley Ensor. I also hope to visit faculty and staff who have supported me through my journey on campus so that I can continue those relationships.

If you received financial aid, what did that mean for you and your family? Being eligible for financial aid has allowed me to experience so many things on this campus but also allowed me to attend college so that I may reach my goals as a mathematics teacher.