Published in The Park Record on August 10th, 2024:
The Park City Mathnasium recruiting efforts don't usually extend to South Korea, but that is where Assistant Center Director Liam Hanrahan first heard about Kouy Kolar and Dena Stewart’s location on Redstone Center Drive in the Newpark area in 2022. "I was studying abroad, and my family contacted me about it," recalls the Park City native and University of Utah Applied Mathematics grad. "I liked what I saw!'
The Park City Mathnasium recruiting efforts don't usually extend to South Korea, but that is where Assistant Center Director Liam Hanrahan first heard about Kouy Kolar and Dena Stewart’s location on Redstone Center Drive in the Newpark area in 2022. "I was studying abroad, and my family contacted me about it," recalls the Park City native and University of Utah Applied Mathematics grad. "I liked what I saw!'
Something of a polymath himself, Liam’s love of the Korean language predates his sojourn there, and he’s a proficient Korean speaker, reader and writer. He is also an aficionado of big band jazz, soul, and even movie soundtracks, often jamming on the piano or sax. "I love learning new songs," he enthuses.
He’s no slouch in the kitchen, either. A meticulous baker, Liam whips up new recipes for friends before heading out for ski and backpack trips, indulging a love of nature as deep as his Park City roots. "I grew up with moose, bears, deer, and elk," he remembers. “I loved searching for the elk herd in my neighborhood and listening to them bugle."
Today, no sound is sweeter to Liam than the “Aha!” exclamation of Mathnasium students finding their groove. Mathnasium has already helped hundreds of local learners gain a proficiency many students thought was unreachable. “I was always happy helping my friends with math,” Liam says. “But at Mathnasium, I know I am really making a difference.”
Visit the Park City Chamber of Commerce website for the full story.