2020 Award Winner: Hayley Robinette

Congratulations to this year's winner, Hayley Robinette!  We were bummed that our family couldn't present you with your award, but we pray that you and your family stay safe and healthy through this crazy pandemic period.  Best wishes to you as you pursue your future.

2019 Award Winner: Alex Eichhorn

Congratulations to Alex Eichhorn, this year's winner of the Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award!  Having gone to Beall High School with your dad, Lee Ann would have been particularly pleased to see you earn this!  Keep up the hard work as you continue in your studies.

2023 Award Winner: William "Hunter" Clise

William, a leader of Mountain Ridge’s football team, has always had a competitive drive.  Even though math did not always come easy to him, he worked very hard using that competitive spirit to keep his grades up.  During his senior year, he successfully tackled not only college Algebra but also college Probabilities and Statistics.  Hunter plans to major in sports medicine.  Congratulations, Hunter!  We wish you the very best.

2021 Award Winner: Jeffrey McKenzie

Congratulations to Jeffrey McKenzie, this year's recipient of the Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award.  Jeff was a math machine at Mountain Ridge, conquering algebra I, honors algebra II, honors geometry, honors trigonometry, college algebra, and college statistics.  He graduated with a 3.9 GPA and plans to study economics at Frostburg State University.  Way to go, Jeff!  We wish him the best of luck and know that Lee Ann is doing a happy math dance in heaven.

The Zlomek Perseverance

in Mathematics Award

Zlomek Mathematics Award Winners

2017 Award Winner: Lydia Maffley

Lydia's demonstration of persistence and hard work went beyond her math studies: she earned a place on the "A" honor roll every term of every year of her high school career.  She was a member of the Diamonds Dance/Drill Team, the National Honor Society, and the Drama Club.  Congratulations, Lydia!  We wish you the best as you pursue your goal of becoming a physical therapist and your dream of joining the peace corps!

2018 Award Winner: Kory Hunter

Congratulations to this year's winner, Kory Hunter!  Our family is honored to recognize you and your hard work in the subject Lee Ann loved.  Best wishes as you pursue a career in Engineering at Frostburg State University.

Inspired by One

     In February 2014, shortly after Lee Ann was hospitalized and diagnosed with breast cancer, Mountain Ridge High School senior Eric Stevens went to see Lee Ann for approval of an idea he had.  He wanted to have a fundraiser in her honor, with all proceeds going to help with her medical expenses.  She agreed to the idea of his project but with one stipulation: she didn't want any money.  Instead, she asked that any money raised be used to fund a math scholarship honoring the Mountain Ridge senior who tried the hardest in the subject she held dear: math.  Eric reluctantly agreed, and with the approval of Mountain Ridge's principal, Mr. Gene Morgan, The Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award was born. 

Supported by Many
     Under the direction of Lee Ann's fellow math teacher, Mr. Rob Duncan, and with the assistance of students Haley Lindsey and Ashley Clise, Eric's idea, officially called the #teamzlomek t-shirt project, became reality.  Together, Eric and his team created a t-shirt and a wristband promoting cancer awareness and the battle Lee Ann was waging.  They designed the shirts and wristbands in green (Lee Ann's favorite color) and pink (a symbol of breast cancer) with "Add the Fight, Subtract the Cancer: YOU DO THE MATH" on the front and "#teamzlomek" on the back. 

     Eric's heart was big but his expectations were small: to break even on costs and make enough profit to fund an award, Eric hoped to sell at least 100 t-shirts.  He sold 806 t-shirts and 500 wristbands.
 

     Our family is sincerely grateful to everyone who supported Lee Ann and Eric's project.  We are humbled every day that we see someone wearing a #teamzlomek t-shirt or wristband and every year that we get to present The Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award to a deserving Mountain Ridge graduate.  In doing so, we not only honor Lee Ann's memory and the career she loved, but we also recognize in these students the characteristics that she valued the most: a positive attitude. Determination.  Persistence.

     We are also grateful to the people who continue to support the award through donations.  If you would like to help keep the award and Lee Ann's memory alive, please consider contributing to the award fund.  Checks, made payable to Mountain Ridge High School with the Zlomek Math Award noted in the memo, can be mailed to the address below:

               Mountain Ridge High School

               The Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award

               100 Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick Lane

               Frostburg, Maryland 21532

2014 Award Winners: Eric Stevens and Haley Lindsey

The appointed Award Committee, with Lee Ann’s approval, determined that the first award should recognize the outstanding commitment of effort, time, and talent it took to create and implement the remarkable #teamzlomek t-shirt project that started The Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award.  As such our family gratefully presented the first award to Eric Stevens and Haley Lindsey.  Thank you, Eric and Haley!  We wish you much success.

2024 Award Winner: Camille Gomez

Camille has always challenged herself, especially in her math studies, and she was known for studiously taking notes and asking questions.  During her senior year, Camille took and conquered honors classes of college Algebra and Probabilities and Statistics.  Her teachers believe that the perseverance she showed in high school will benefit her greatly in the future.  Camille plans to attend the University of West Florida, majoring in Marine Biology.  Congratulations, Camille!

2022 Award Winner: Rebecca West

​Congratulations to Rebecca West, the 2022 recipient of the Zlomek Perseverance in Mathematics Award.  Rebecca not only rocked Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, and Algebra 2 on the high school level, but she also rose to the challenge of both college Algebra and Probability and Statistics her senior year.  Best wishes to you, Rebecca, as you pursue a career in education.  You know Lee Ann's loving it!

2015 Award Winner: Nick Mowery

Nick demonstrated the quality that Lee Ann most wanted to reward: hard work.  The first to receive the award following Lee Ann's death, Nick is also the first to truly embody the spirit of the award, and for that we are proud of him and of all he accomplished.  Congratulations, Nick, and best wishes in pursuing your career in radiology. We know Lee Ann is very proud of you!

2016 Award Winner: Nadia Poorbaugh

To say that Nadia is persistent is an understatement.  Nadia started her high school math experience in Lee Ann’s Algebra I class.  From there, she challenged herself with a series of Honors math classes: Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, and Honors Trigonometry.  Lee Ann believed in Nadia and would have been very proud of what she’s accomplished.  Congratulations, Nadia!