A Penn State graduate was recently selected by the Newton Fellowship Program, a division of Math for America, to earn a full-paid scholarship toward a master's degree and the opportunity to teach high school math.

Beth Morgan, a 2004 graduate, was one of 13 applicants chosen from a pool of more than 60 to participate in the program. Morgan is currently studying for her master's degree in mathematics from Queens College in Flushing, N.Y.

She will be placed in a public high school there in the fall to begin her teaching career.

Irwin Kra, Math for America executive director, said the Newton Fellowship Program tries to attract able mathematicians to teach high school math through a "rigorous" recruitment process.

Kra said this is the first year the Newton Fellowship Program is in operation, and Morgan is among the first group of fellows.

Morgan said she did not know about the program until she received an e-mail message last spring from the head of Penn State's Undergraduate Mathematics Department, which was sent to all undergraduate math students, encouraging them to apply.

Morgan said she quickly responded to the e-mail, but said she had some reservations about applying at the time.

"I didn't know anything about it," she said. "I didn't even want to move to a city."

However, Morgan said what really appealed to her about the program was the opportunity to do something meaningful with her degree.

"Most of the jobs in my degree are desk jobs," she said. "I thought it sounded like something you could really make a difference in."

Morgan said she spent much of her time at Penn State participating in the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, and wanted to continue working with children.

"As cheesy as it sounds, whatever I did after Penn State, I wanted to do something I believed in," she said.

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said in an e-mail message that Penn State is pleased with Morgan's achievement.

"Anytime a Penn Stater earns an award, grant or fellowship at the national level, it's something we take pride in and believe represents the high quality of education provided by Penn State," he said. "Our alumni are not only exceptionally loyal to Penn State, but also have used their collegiate experience to become leaders and major contributors in their chosen fields."

Morgan will begin student teaching in the spring and work full-time next fall. In addition to paying for her education, the program will also provide her with a living stipend and extra monetary contributions for the next four years.

Being from Forty Fort, three miles outside of Wilkes-Barre, Morgan said she is experiencing a mixture of nervousness and excitement about teaching in a big city.

"It's a different atmosphere," she said. "But kids need a teacher willing to devote time to helping them, who believe they can accomplish something."

Kra said the program is expected to expand greatly, with 40 to 45 new appointments made in each of the next four years.