JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 9, 2019 — Christian Brown, a senior math and physics double major from Selmer, Tennessee, received a perfect score on the Major Field Test in Mathematics taken Nov. 12. Brown is the eighth Union mathematics student to get a perfect score on this national assessment in the last nine years.
Additionally, the mathematics departmental average for this test was at the 97th percentile of all math departments nationwide 鈥� the fourth time in the past five years that Union鈥檚 department has scored above the 90th percentile.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very affirming for us. It shows that we are doing a good job in our teaching, but it also speaks to the fact that we get some really good students at Union,鈥� said George Moss, associate professor of mathematics and chair of the department. 鈥淲e continue to attract outstanding students and give them an excellent education.鈥�
Brown said he had set his sights on this goal when he was a sophomore and his friend, Amy Murdaugh (鈥�18), received a perfect score.
鈥淒r. Lunsford had mentioned that she was like the sixth or seventh person to get a perfect score on it, and of course, me being as competitive as I was, I immediately thought, 鈥極K, that鈥檚 going to be me next,鈥欌�� Brown said.
However, when the time came for the test, Brown said he did not feel so confident since he had been busy and not had time to study. When he found out he had received a perfect score, Brown was surprised.
鈥淥n top of that, just honored more than anything,鈥� he said.
Out of the five senior math majors, three (including Brown) have plans to earn a doctorate, Moss said, but none of them in mathematics. Instead, they plan to study economics, physics and sociology.
鈥淲e take pride in training students from all disciplines to think logically, critically and analytically,鈥� Moss said. 鈥淲e feel like their mathematical training is helpful even though they may not use all of the content that they鈥檙e learning. Just the ways of thinking are helpful in whatever field they鈥檙e going into.鈥�
Brown said that learning to think well has been one of the key ways Union has influenced him.
鈥淭he skills the math department has taught me as far as problem-solving and logical thinking, along with being able to just sit down and talk with professors about important topics and personally grow, it鈥檚 been incredible,鈥� he said.
Brown took this national test as part of the mathematics senior seminar class, where the students are also reading the book, 鈥淢athematics Through the Eyes of Faith,鈥� and thinking through tough questions and big ideas. The mathematics department takes seriously the integration of faith into all they do, Moss said.