Eli Devine is a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate who holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Iowa State University. He is currently working on his master’s degree in Education from ISU and wants to be a math teacher.

MHS graduate hopes to inspire next generation

Eli Devine had inspirational math teachers during his time at Marshalltown High School. In fact he was inspired so much that he hopes to become one of them himself.

Devine is a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate who received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Iowa State University in December 2017. He is currently working toward a master’s degree in Education at ISU with a teaching focus on mathematics.

“I enjoyed my time and the people there, and I want to be able to give back to the community and be a part to help it grow more and create more opportunities of learning to all students,” Devine said.

Devine said MHS math teachers such as Scott Smith and Nancy Sills helped build his love of math.

“They were both very encouraging to me as teachers and answered any questions I had with enthusiasm,” Devine said. “They were both very welcoming and worked towards that teacher-student relationship and tried to understand their students. For me, they really made the classes fun, challenging, and engaging for myself.”

Scott Smith remembers Eli being a well-rounded student at MHS.

“Eli was a model student in that he was both gifted academically as well as involved in many extracurricular activities,” Smith said. “He led by example and serving others and represented the best MHS had to offer.”

Some of Eli’s favorite memories from MHS are participating in athletics and singing in retirement homes as a member of the Holiday Singers. Eli too acknowledged he was able to take advantage of opportunities and the Science Bound graduate appreciated the world that was open to him at MHS.

“I was able to be involved in a variety of extracurricular activities that helped shape who I am today and add to my experience,” Devine said.

When Eli wraps up his master’s program work he hopes return to Marshalltown to teach and inspire students who are seated in the same place he was several years ago.

“It is important to me to return to Marshalltown because Marshalltown has done a lot for me when I was a student there, I enjoyed my time and the people there, and I want to be able to give back to the community and be a part to help it grow more and create more opportunities of learning to all students,” Devine said.