Federal Way Public Schools Graduates of Note
Scott Novotney
Mathematics Student, Johns Hopkins University
Thomas Jefferson High School Graduate
Class of 2003
Scott Novotney had two choices upon earning his high school diploma at Thomas Jefferson High School. On one hand, he had been offered a full ride scholarship to Washington State University, where his two older sisters and several classmates had chosen to attend. On the other, he’d been accepted to Johns Hopkins University – but there wasn’t a lick of financial aid attached to that offer.
Novotney chose JHU anyway, in part because he hoped to make connections with other students, staff and alumni who could help him fulfill his dreams for the future. He will graduate from Johns Hopkins this May with a B.A. in Mathematics, three years after first setting foot on the campus.
To say he’s fast-forwarding his education is not an exaggeration. He’s been accepted to the Computer Science masters program at JHU, which he intends to complete in a year. Following that, he’s aiming for Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, or Cornell for a PhD in Computer Science.
After attending the Seabury School through elementary school, Scott went to Kilo Junior High (now Middle School) and then Thomas Jefferson High School. During his junior and senior years, he participated in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, a two-year program that requires students challenge themselves at a high academic level, and where he was, ironically, not fond of math. (Scott first came to our attention after he emailed his TJ Math teacher, Tom Norris about his new-found enthusiasm for math.)
Novotney learned, as he notes in his questionnaire responses, “That it wasn’t the facts that mattered, it was the habits.” He learned to make an effort, and to persist. He learned it was more important to understand the concepts than to memorize facts and formula.
Scott’s planning on a career and a company of his own, preferably back here in the Northwest. He wants to specialize in artificial intelligence, the kind of technology that’s responsible for flying the military’s unmanned airplanes or providing book suggestions for customers on Amazon.
He was attracted to computers because, he says, “I liked the idea that computers could do ‘magic.’ That your computer could outplay you at chess, or predict what movies you would like.” “Because a computer is basically a calculator, the exact opposite of a human,” Scott says, “it is really interesting to try to simulate human intelligence by only adding numbers together (using the computer).”
Scott’s parents, Carol and Walt, are both teachers in the district. Carol recalls that Scott, while not an early reader, was always curious and very verbal, “with a lot questions.” The IB program at Thomas Jefferson suited him well, she said, especially given his affinity for history. She credits the program’s English teachers for helping him hone his writing skills, noting that he has a way with words, both written and spoken.
She was as surprised as Scott that he chose to pursue a degree in mathematics. Walt is a math teacher and they were well aware that Scott did not consider it his favorite subject. She believes that his choice is a good reflection on TJ math teacher Tom Norris. “The students may not believe they’re math stars, but Tom really creates winners,” she says.
Full name:
Scott E. Novotney
Date and location of birth:
May 29, 1985, Seattle
FW Schools Attended:
Kilo Jr. High
Thomas Jefferson High School
High School Graduation Date:
2003
College(s) attended:
Johns Hopkins University
Current area of study/College major and/or graduate degrees:
Mathematics and Computer Science
Please provide your thoughts (a short paragraph would be great) about the most memorable Federal Way Public Schools experience, teacher(s), and./or event(s)that contributed to your academic, personal, and/or professional success.
The most memorable and most constructive memories from high school rarely intersect. The hours I don’t care to remember from high school benefited me the most. They were spent learning about Britain’s Tea Act, the moles per liter of Argon, the formula for a triangle’s area and many other forgettable facts that I wish I knew today. It wasn’t the facts that mattered, it was the habits. I learned to summarize material correctly. I learned how to work through problems until I knew, not just memorized, how to do them. I learned how to write convincingly and clearly. My teachers demanded more from me than “good enough”. Federal Way Public Schools taught me to attempt everything in life with persistence and always aim for accomplishment.
Do you have any advice would you like to share with students, staff and/or parents based on your perspective gained after high school?