Ye Dam Lee

Lee

“Summer math camps allowed me to immerse myself in mathematics. At Ross (Ohio State’s summer math program) is where I decided, once and for all, that mathematics was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I loved talking about math to people who also loved math.”

  • Program: 2011 College Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: Windsor, CT
  • Hometown: Placentia, CA
  • Age: 19

Biography

 

Highlights of Young Scholar Experience: Through the Foundation, Ye Dam Lee was “lucky enough to go to a private boarding school.” It was there that she developed “a passion for mathematics.”  During summers the Foundation helped her attend two of the top math programs in the world – PROMYS at Boston University and the Ross Mathematics Program at Ohio State. 

Profile: Ye Dam was born in Seoul, South Korea, came to Southern California when she was seven and attended boarding school at the exclusive Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut.  With near perfect grades in all her classes and a ton of extracurricular activities, as well as being a Prefect/Resident Assistant in her dormitory, what did she do with all her “free time”?  That “free time” was spent doing what Ye Dam loves best: tutoring and helping the less fortunate.  Her community service work includes math tutoring on campus, at a local elementary school and at the Hartford Boys and Girls Club, delivering bread from bakeries through the “Share the Dough” program to local homeless shelters, and volunteering at a day-care center for the elderly. 

Inspiration: Although each and every teacher Ye Dam had at Loomis Chaffee made a positive impression, the young math whiz recalls that her middle school math teacher (who will remain anonymous) had the greatest impact on her.  “She made me think that math was more than just a bunch of formulas to solve.” 

Aspiration: She hopes to someday do for a living what she does now for fun – teach mathematics. 

Making a Difference: “I’m most proud of every day when I’ve finished tutoring someone, and she walks out of my room with a smile,” said Ye Dam.  “I’m proud that I’ve been able to explain to her something that she often believes she’s not meant to understand, and I’m proud that I’ve succeeded in two ways: helping her solve the problem and making her believe in herself again.” 

Accolades: Just scratching the surface here because of space limitations.  Ye Dam was an AP Scholar, won the Junior Mathematics, English, Foreign Language and Science Awards at Loomis Chaffee and topped it all off by laying claim to the school’s Founders Prize, given to her for excellence both in and out of the classroom. 

Interesting Fact: Ye Dam is an opera lover and discovered its beauty at a very early age. “I’ve watched operas and musicals with my mom since I was very little, and my favorite aria of all time is “Der Holle Rache” by the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.  When Diana Damrau sings, it’s angry and violent and evil and absolutely breathtaking.”

 

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