Logan Heishman ‘25 majored in applied mathematics with a minor in actuarial science. Seeing connections across the program has equipped Logan to make a difference after graduation and taught her what is truly important in a college experience. Her time at Geneva College has reinforced the value of community and brought clarity to her career goals.
Logan originally came to Geneva simply because it checked all her boxes: it was a Christian school, less than five hours from home, and had an actuarial science major. For a time, though, Logan felt that she wasn’t entirely at home here. The process of adjusting to college life was difficult. She ended up transferring to another school for a semester. In her time away, Logan realized the things she loved about Geneva that she hadn’t been able to see while she was here.
“I didn’t understand how amazing the community was here until I left for a little bit. One day, I just sat and scrolled through pictures of all the memories [I had made with Geneva roommates] and everything we had done. I was like, Oh my gosh, I really miss this. I feel like you can always talk to anyone here, because everyone is just so friendly.”
Logan decided to return to Geneva for the valuable connections she had made that supported her academic endeavors and personal growth.
“I realized I could see myself succeeding and graduating at Geneva. My advisor [Mark Tronzo, PhD, associate professor of engineering and math], I think he’s the best person because he always made time to talk about my life and what I want to do. All the professors here are available and they really do care.”
Logan sees now that no college will ever have everything that would make it perfect — but Geneva has what matters most to her. As a committed student who enjoys academics, Logan also appreciates that learning at Geneva centers on more than simply getting a degree.
“College is also about learning how to interact with different groups of people and how to explore even outside the classroom. If you can’t actually take those skills [that you learn in school] and continue with them elsewhere, it’s a little useless.”
Logan found that her major and core classes helped her to draw new connections between ideas and to think more about philosophical questions concerning her future work.
“The core courses definitely help you think more critically in technical situations. A lot of people go into math thinking there’s always one correct answer. But in reality, once you get past the lower-level math, everything is just theory … I love working with numbers, but you have to make meaning out of them. You should see how they affect people and what they mean in the world, not just on paper. We have to think about what things mean in practice; ethically, spiritually, and to the business we’re working at.”
It was this kind of answer to an interview question that helped to land Logan a summer internship with CAPTRUST, a financial advisory group in North Carolina. She currently works with their vendor analysis team.
Logan has had other opportunities come her way through Geneva as well. In the spring she attended a Mathematical Association of America conference with several of her friends.
“There were all kinds of talks about interesting things, from the physics behind how long particles take to fall when you use a spray bottle to decision-making in baseball. You get to think about different connections in the world, and maybe that there’s some tangible reason behind them. You think that would be more philosophical, but it’s been a big part of my major.”
Being a part of the local engagement team has also added to Logan’s extracurricular experience. She has enjoyed meeting Beaver Falls residents, exploring the community, and giving back to others. One project sponsored by this team was Angel Tree, a program that allows individuals and groups to support children of incarcerated parents through personalized Christmas gifts.
“I loved doing Angel Tree. We got to go shopping and buy everything on those kids’ wish lists. We went to Walmart and filled three shopping carts, then wrapped all the gifts. It was such a good memory.”
Logan graduated from Geneva with a degree in actuarial mathematics, as well as connections and memories that will last for a lifetime and shape her career.
By Reagan Shields ‘26
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