Science Fair Star To Teach At MIT
by: Daniel Riehs
WORCESTER, Mass.—Lamar Jones, 18, announced Wednesday that he would accept an offer to teach organic chemistry at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The announcement was delivered not a moment too soon for the residents of Boston, a college town which is all to often presented with disappointing school years.
Jones, a senior at Basket County High School, gained national prominence during the 2001-'02 school year when a biology experiment of his own design earned him a second place finish in the Worcester Regional Science Fair. This year, Jones led members of his chemistry class to complete an impressive group project that won a certificate of honorable mention in the same competition.
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Above: I'm sensing that our illustrator needs some time off. |
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"I just hope I can bring a little joy to the people of Massachusetts," Jones told reporters at a recent press conference. "It's always been my dream to teach professionally, and I can hardly believe that I've been given a chance to do so in my home state."
The announcement comes just days after Jones signed a $72 endorsement deal with the duPont Chemical Company. MIT President Charles M. Vest, however, hopes that Jones will not be the only one to benefit financially from his great talent.
"We're always looking for new ways to get people to come to class," Vest told reporters yesterday. "I have every confidence that Lamar's presence will increase attendance, and ultimately bring about an increase in dining hall sales."
Dressed in a spandex suit emblazoned with duPont's ubiquitous logo, Jones stood with his mother and a few classmates and spoke confidently about his future in Boston.
"I'm not going to guarantee that anyone will pass my class," said Jones, who received a perfect attendance award in ninth grade. "But more and more people will understand my ramblings each year. Next year, I'll be a better teacher than I am this year."
Most experts agree that Jones will likely take a short sabbatical before starting his career at MIT. In the past, teachers who have gone straight from high school to professorships have taken short four-to-ten year sabbaticals during which time they take courses and become educated in one or more fields.
Despite criticisms, Jones is confident that he can succeed in the tough world of academia.
"Maybe some day," added Jones, "I'll even be able to buy one of those Volkswagen Jettas that I always see on TV."
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