TVMSC Newsletter - January 2025
Follow us on Instagram @tvmscboise
Important Dates & Information
- School Resumes - Jan 7. 🙂
- Parent Night - Jan 27 @ 5:00 PM
- See below for more details.
- Movie & Game Night @ TVMSC! - Jan 23 from 5 - 7:30pm.
- Use the QR Code below to vote for a movie to watch.
- Attendance must be reported to a student's Primary/Home school and TVMSC
- Attendance Line: 208-854-6802. For TVMSC Email Stacy.Rogers@Boiseschools.org
- TVMSC Weekly Announcements
Bowen Lim
How would you describe your experiences at TVMSC?
- Good.
What do you like most about the community at TVMSC?
- It’s small enough that your can make close friends, but not too small as to make enemies.
Who or what has helped you the most when it comes to overcoming academic and social challenges?
- My therapist and brute force from my parents.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
- Having a stable job with whatever career I end up with.
What advice do you wish you knew coming into TVMSC?
- NA
What advice would you give to a new student at TVMSC?
- NA
What song, book, and/or food describes your senior year thus far?
- A chocolate bar. Good, tasty, but also ending soon.
If you had a week off, what would you spend your time doing?
- Relaxing and hanging out with friends, while also maybe trying to travel if it’s planned and I have the money.
Is there anything else you would like to share or comment on?
- I LOVE MS EKHOFF WHOOOOOO!!!
James Wei
How would you describe your experiences at TVMSC?
- TVMSC is my favorite academic place to be. Everyone is friendly and extremely talented and passionate, even the occasional annoying ones (not excluding myself). Whenever I step into the building, even the Riverglen sections, I'm reminded of how much of my academic journey so far has been influenced by TVMSC, and all the classes and teachers and friends it has brought me. Every day is not just a school day, 3 hours not having to worry about fitting in or feel like I have to hold back my quirkiness. Anyways, TVMSC is really cool.
What do you like most about the community at TVMSC?
- The main aspect is that everyone wants to be there, and is driven to succeed. The same goes for the teachers and staff, who support all of us to become better people. In and out of class, the general aura is a passion to achieve, and I resonate with that.
Who or what has helped you the most when it comes to overcoming academic and social challenges?
- TVMSC is a safe space for me, and somewhere I can just be myself (ok I always do that but it just feels more natural at TVMSC). During academic challenges, which do happen, TVMSC is sometimes a coping mechanism, and through the classes I enjoy I can be reminded that I do in fact know how to go to school. Socially, I can talk to TVMSC students and staff about anything, but just being in the abstract presence is enough to distract me from social problems, which are few, and not (yet) too severe.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
- My goal is to become a math professor, so hopefully I can have my PhD by then and either be in my postdoc or on a tenure track at any university. Or, none of that happens and I'm somewhere I could never have expected today, tomorrow, or even 9 years from now.
What advice do you wish you knew coming into TVMSC?
- I'll frame the question similarly. If I could tell my 6th grade self one thing, it would be to not hit the griddy on the last day of school in 10th grade. Come on bro. It was funny the first time (9th grade), less the second time. It will not be happening this year (or will it). Overall, I think I've enjoyed TVMSC and its benefits to the fullest that I know how to, and I wouldn't want to put any pressure on my younger self to "have more fun" or "remember that there's gonna be a last day"
What advice would you give to a new student at TVMSC?
- Be friends with the teachers. They're real life people, especially TVMSC teachers. Being friendly with teachers isn't a bad thing, like some scared students at your home school might say. Personally, I'm basically homies with all my TVMSC teachers, so you can be too. As a bonus, they'll write you a good letter of recommendation if you talk to them a lot. Just don't be more weird than they are :)
What song, book, and/or food describes your senior year thus far?
- Rice takes the cake, the noodle, the pilaf, and the crispy too. I love rice, and I love my senior year so far. More deeply the connection comes down to the physical structure and the figurative symbolism, which are both aspects of the overall vitality that rice has, and how I see my senior year through that. At first glance, rice is just a collection of little white pellets, but it's much more than that. In the same way, every day in my senior year may just seem like another pellet. However, rice is composed of complex carbohydrates, and they are essential food source for billions of people around the world. Perhaps less people rely on my senior year thus far. Still, just as starches are chains of monomers that bond together for a greater purpose, each day in my senior year build upon the previous, helping be continue to improve and prepare for my future. In other words, the rest of my life depends on what happens in this year. After a glance, a wise decision would be to start eating the rice. Perhaps, one could notice a slight voidness of flavor. Perhaps the rice was undercooked. Maybe it was meant that way. Maybe not. Likewise, many unexpected things have happened in my senior year, specifically applying to college (I really don't know how I didn't see this coming). While going through the process, I've encountered good strategies, bad strategies, no strategies, good progress, bad progress, no progress, and even backwards progress. These events are not bad, but rather are signs of growth in mindset and strength. Struggles aren't mistakes, they're flavors. Some taste good, some taste bad. Some are good for you, some aren't. But you don't know until you try. From two different perspectives, rice and my senior year are essentially synonymous. Moving forward, I will keep eating rice, senior yearing, and trying new flavors.
If you had a week off, what would you spend your time doing?
- See what happens, day by day Chess, Rubik's cubes, Basketball, many things to play Occasionally, Possibly, Rarely? common appy Overall, as always, just try to be happy
Is there anything else you would like to share or comment on?
- Never let me cook with such a high word limit again.
Grayson Jones
How would you describe your experiences at TVMSC?
- whacky, bizarre, full of advanced math topics that tired to get taught to me but I don't understand advanced differential equations, enlightening, and full of more bread than i thought it would be.
What do you like most about the community at TVMSC?
- Nobody is afraid to be themselves, which leads to some very funny and interesting interactions.
Who or what has helped you the most when it comes to overcoming academic and social challenges?
- My friends.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
- Ideally on earth, but if I'm not on this planet I will see that as an absolute win.
What advice do you wish you knew coming into TVMSC?
- Join the clubs, they have the potential to change your life.
What advice would you give to a new student at TVMSC?
- Do not overload yourself, it may seem tempting to take all of the super hard classes but make sure you allocate time for yourself and your family. Also remember that Robotics is a fourth place activity. 1. Personal health (mental and physical) 2. Relationships (family, friends, and partners) 3. Responsibilities (academics, home obligations, the fact that you said you would go to dinner with you parents ) 4. Robotics If you overload yourself, it can wreck havoc on your mental health.
What song, book, and/or food describes your senior year thus far?
- Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. It has felt like a new season of a show; new characters, new routine, new favorite coffee. But in the end I can tell that this is all seasonal, and all good things must come to an end.
If you had a week off, what would you spend your time doing?
- Probably Robotics, or thinking about robotics (i don't have a problem you do).
Is there anything else you would like to share or comment on?
- Juniors, plan your senior year accordingly. Don't take too many AP classes, don't take a full schedule, take some classes you kind of have wanted to try but never had the chance to. Finally my favorite quote, which is also my email signature “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball 90 million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.” Also Make sure you stop and smell the pine trees along the way, you will be glad you did
Interview conducted by TVMSC reporter Anna Lim
Born on a U.S. Air Force base in Spain, Mr. Erwin moved to Boise at the age of two, following his father’s Air Force career. Growing up, he attended several Boise schools, including Washington, Longfellow, Pierce Park, Hillside, and North Junior High. After three years as a student at Purdue University, he returned to Boise to finish his degree at Boise State. Today, Mr. Erwin is teaching courses such as College Math 3, AP calculus AB/BC, and calculus 3.
Mr. Erwin’s career began in healthcare as a data analyst, where he worked for over 20 years. However, he realized he wanted to pursue a different career path- teaching. “I had a sense of time that my children were growing up and I wanted to do something where I could spend more time with them. I feel like teaching is also a better fit for my personal values.” He said. He began teaching in 2013 as a substitute and soon took a long-term assignment at South Junior High, teaching multiple math courses. By 2014, he was part-time at TVMSC and transitioned to a full-time role within a year, eventually dedicating himself fully to TVMSC.
From his many years of being at TVMSC, Mr. Erwin has noted that the community at TVMSC is truly unique. “The other teachers are so supportive, and I think it’s really rare to have a faculty that gets along and respects each other as much as we do. Within the students, the community is pretty amazing. There is no other place where we bring students from all the schools together,” he noted.
The most rewarding part about his job is supporting students to go to college. Having come from a disadvantaged background, he likes to help students pursue opportunities and has helped six students get full-ride scholarships from a program over the last four years. In his free time, Mr. Erwin likes to design and build remote controlled airplanes as well as a mature astronomy, having shared the interests with his dad in high school. He also likes to read and watch soccer, especially his favorite team, Arsenal.
In the future, Mr. Erwin hopes to develop an open multi variable calculus course to provide a pathway for high schools to provide dual credit. He also plans to write or adapt an algebra textbook that blends traditional and integrated teaching methods.
Idaho State Department of Education Holiday Card Contest
Congratulations to TVMSC / Riverglen student Akshara Nataraj for taking 1st place for the 9th grade category.
Check out this LINK or the file below to see the full list of contest winners.
Quiz Bowl Club
- Quiz Bowl is a competition that covers all subjects (science, literature, current events, etc.)
- Quiz Bowl Club is open to all grades and abilities.
- Practice is every Tuesday & Wednesday from 3:30-5 pm
- Contact Ms. Ekhoff for more questions and details julie.ekhoff@boiseschools.org
- Quiz Bowl Club Flyer
Math Counts Club
Mathcounts club meets every Monday 3:30 to 5:00 in room 215.
TVMSC hosts the AMC Math competition each year.
The AMC 8 is for students up to 8th grade.
Students sign up at https://forms.gle/ZWcbVVuVxyFavFcP9
AMC 8 is January 18-24, 2024 (we will pick one day)
The AMC 10 is for students up to 10th grade.
Students sign up at https://forms.gle/ZWcbVVuVxyFavFcP9
The AMC10A will be Nov 6th and AMC10B Nov 12th at 7:40 and 11:40
Click HERE for general information on the AMC competition. Students who signed up for either competition will receive an email with more questions as we get closer to the competition.
For questions email: rachel.spanneut@boiseschools.org
Science Bowl Club
- The practices will be every Tuesday from 3:15-4:15
- Email Mrs. Poppenga for questions: janice.poppenga@boiseschools.org
Board Game Club
- Thursdays 2:30 - 4 in room 113
- First meeting is September 5th, 2024
- Bring a school-appropriate game of your own or come play what someone else brings. There's always stuff to play!
- We play board and card games of all kinds for any level of experience. Everyone is welcome!
- Contact Mr. Johanson for details at - adam.johanson@boiseschools.org
Spacepoint Presentations @ JUMP in Downtown Boise
Spacepoint’s mission is to bring awareness to students of all ages about the opportunities in the Space Industry, whether your interest is in coding, biology, sociology or whatever it may be. Their Mission Statement is: "Engaging aspiring explorers of all ages ensuring they seize the limitless opportunities in the space expiration industry".
This year, they are organizing three exciting presentations at JUMP! Boise. These opportunities are for all ages, 5 - 95! See flyer below for mere details and ticket information.
- Feb. 7 at JUMP! Boise - Perseverance with Dr. Ben Weiss, MIT
- There is a special opportunity after this discussion for K-12 students to win amazing prizes like opportunities for Space Camp, Rocket Launches and so much more.
- May 10 at JUMP! Boise - Neutron Stars & Black Holes with Dr. Michael Landry, Caltech, LIGO Observatory Head
- October 18 at JUMP! Boise - Interplanetary Life with key experts from Industry, National Labs and Higher Education.
Micron Engineering & Science Festival
The College of Engineering's Micron Student Success Center is excited to announce that we will be hosting the 18th Annual Engineering & Science Festival again on February 22, 2025.
We will be partnering with Boise State staff and faculty and community partners to provide interactive presentations, hands-on activities, and fun demonstrations all over campus. Please share this with your network!
Please register for the event using the QR code on the attached flyer. Here's a link as well: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/b46202be87ce478ab9ff37ad1fb9c1a1
Mark your calendar for the Engineering and Science Festival on February 22, 2025 at Boise State University from 10 am - 3 pm.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
We hope to see you there!
Thank you,
MORNIDA CHUM (she/her/hers)
Outreach and Transfer Student Coordinator
Micron Student Success Center | College of Engineering
Boise State University
Phone: (208) 426-1148
Email: mornidachum@boisestate.edu
Mail: 1910 W University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1030 Location: RUCH 101 | 1375 W University Dr. Boise, ID 83706 Web: boisestate.edu/coen-mssc/
Idaho Power Company Scholarship Opportunities
The online application process for the 2025–2026 academic year opens January 1st. Applications can be accessed beginning January 1, 2025, using the links provided in this letter or from Idaho Power’s website (scroll down to the Scholarships section). Students must complete the online application, and upload transcripts and reference letters online. Hard-copy applications received in the mail will not be accepted.
Idaho Power Academic Excellence Scholarship
Fourteen $2,500 scholarships are available for graduating high school seniors who live in Idaho Power's service area and plan to enroll full-time in a science, technology, engineering, mathematics, business, or communications program at an accredited Idaho or Oregon two- or four-year college or university. Applicants must have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.75.
Idaho Power’s Douglas E. Sprenger, Kevin M. Whittier and Larry R. Wimer Memorial Scholarship Fund
Two $1,000 scholarships are available to Idaho residents who are graduating high school and plan to enroll in an engineering program at an accredited Idaho college, or college students of any level enrolling in a natural resources program at an accredited Idaho college.
Idaho Power Technical Scholarship
Two $2,500 scholarships are available to support students who live in Idaho Power's service area and plan to enroll in an accredited Idaho technical school program to learn a skilled trade (e.g., linework, electric power, mechanical, welding, applied technology, etc.). Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 GPA or a GED certificate.
All applications are due March 1. All scholarship awards are granted on a one-time basis for the school year directly following the award, are not renewable, and may not be deferred or held for later use.
The selection process will be completed in April 2025. All applicants will be notified by mail of the selection committee’s decision.
