Edyth May Sliffe Award, Sema Duzyol, 2022

A two-time recipient of this national honor from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) for distinguished mathematics teaching, Mrs. Duzyol received this award in recognition of her exceptional ability to prepare students for the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC). The Edyth May Sliffe Award is presented annually to teachers whose students demonstrate outstanding performance on the AMC 10 and AMC 12 examinations, reflecting not only individual student achievement but also the teacher’s sustained commitment to mathematical excellence. Mrs. Duzyol’s students consistently rank among the top performers nationally, a testament to her rigorous curriculum design, innovative problem-solving methodologies, and dedication to fostering a culture of mathematical inquiry.

Sunshine STEAM Academy has been more than just an education provider for our family, it’s a guiding, informative partner that continually keeps us updated on our children’s progress and provides thoughtful ideas on how we can support them. Mrs. Duzyol and Mr. Duzyol are both highly experienced mentors who genuinely care about every student’s development. Our oldest daughter’s academic progress benefited greatly from their guidance after attending the summer camp with Mrs. Duzyol as an 8th grader, her SAT score rose from 950 to 1200. She also improved by roughly 150 points in Math and English, with overall gains around 200–300 points, and Math and English showed especially strong gains. In addition, the one on one sessions have been incredibly beneficial for her with Mrs. Duzyol. She teaches in a very clear way, she makes the hardest topics feel easy for students. She knows many subjects beyond her main field and is always ready to help. Our younger daughter, who started with encouragement but needed motivation, has grown into a student who loves learning and has made academic progress. Her individual sessions, along with the FLL activities led by Mr. Duzyol, have shown outstanding results, and she has participated in competitions. Group projects benefit from encouragement, creative thinking, and speaking opportunities in group presentations, all facilitated by Mr. Duzyol. The environment is inspiring, supportive, and genuinely joyful learning is exciting, and the outcomes are exceptional.

T.E.