Kathryn Yurechko: Where is She Now?
Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation
Who was Dr. William J. Sacco?
Dr. Sacco was both a pioneer in trauma registry research and a prominent math teacher at HCPS, impacting the lives of countless students.
Critical Thinking Foundation
The William J. Sacco Critical Thinking Foundation was established by Dr. John Kutcher in 2011 to honor and continue Dr. Sacco's life work.
About the Excellence in Applied Mathematics Award
The Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics recognizes students with a high aptitude in the mathematics and critical thinking fields.
Kathryn Yurechko Through the Years
Early Education: A Mathematician in the Making
Katie Yurechko was presented with the William J. Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics for the John Carroll School in 2020, but her love for mathematics started years before then. Shelly Yurechko, Katie’s mother, recalls how even as a toddler, Katie had a knack for organization and structure, explaining how Katie would “line her toys up in order of color or size or whatever she wanted and show everybody”.
As Katie got older, it was this talent for organization that led her to pursue subjects like geometry, trigonometry, and statistics in high school. Even though subjects like algebra and calculus were prioritized in the mathematical curriculum of her high school, Katie was determined to pave her own way, focusing on the subjects that were impactful to her. When Katie received that Sacco Award, she explains how “it was just cool to see that taking those classes was valued equally to classes like AP Calc BC”.
Not only did Katie excel academically, graduating at the top of her class as the valedictorian of the Class of 2020, but she participated in a variety of extracurriculars, including the Maryland Math League and the Speech and Debate Team. Katie emphasizes how, to her, Speech and Debate and mathematics go hand in hand because one of the most important aspects of mathematics is having the ability to verbalize complex or abstract concepts to others.
As a graduating senior, Katie already knew that she wanted to follow a path which would allow her to combine her love for mathematics with her talents for public speaking leading her to study both computer science and philosophy at Washington and Lee University.
Taking a Look Back
More on Meaningful Extracurriclars
A Pioneer for Excellence in Math
2020 Sacco Mathematics Award Recipient
Established in 2004, the William J. Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics recognizes graduating seniors from Harford County who demonstrate a high aptitude in the fields of mathematics and critical thinking. As the award’s 2020 recipient, Katie exemplified the dedication, aptitude, and academic excellence it was created to honor.
Looking back on the 2020 Sacco Award Banquet, Shelly Yurechko remarks on how strange the event felt as one of the last public outings she and her family were able to attend before the national quarantine in 2020. Shelly describes how “it was actually the last time we were out at a restaurant for a very long time. And everybody was wondering, should we be washing our hands every five minutes? Should we be hugging anybody? It was like that in between time.” Despite the impending quarantine, receiving the Sacco Mathematics Award both recognized and affirmed Katie’s decision to pursue mathematics going forward.
Since its founding, the Sacco Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to students and more than $14,000 to educators.
Setting the Scene
Wiliam J. Sacco Award Banquet
Hosted by Liberatore’s Ristorante in Bel Air, over 130 people attended the annual William J. Sacco Foundation Award Banquet, enjoying crudités, pastas, and refreshments while celebrating award recipients.
March 8, 2020
Liberatore's Ristorante
Life After High School
Higher Education and Academic Accolades
After receiving the William J. Sacco Foundation Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics for her school, Katie went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in both Computer Science and Philosophy from Washington and Lee University as a Johnson Scholar, graduating summa cum laude as the Valedictorian of the Class of 2024 and receiving the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. During her time at Washington and Lee, Katie worked as both a Computer Science Teaching Assistant and an AP/IB Computer Science Tutor while also conducting qualitative research as Carnegie Mellon University focusing on “algospeak” and the pitfalls of AI-driven content moderation.
After graduating from Washington and Lee, Katie went on to pursue her Master of Science in the Social Science of the Internet from the University of Oxford, completing her dissertation on personal content moderation of internet users. During this time, Katie also worked as an Education Leadership Team Member for the Oxford Artificial Intelligence Society and a Social Futures Lab Researcher for the University of Washington.
Most recently, Katie received her Master of Science in Social Research Methods with Data Science from University College London. Going forward, Katie hopes to work in public policy as a computer science expert, dissecting the nuances and complexities of technology in a modern world to help better inform policy makers and the public.
What the Future Holds
A Word to High School Students
Advice from a Pro
Although receiving the Sacco Award for Excellence in Applied Mathematics was one of the highlights of Katie’s high school career, since receiving this recognition Katie has only continued to grow and better herself, exemplifying the qualities of a William J. Sacco Award recipient. The countless awards, scholarships, and internships that punctuate Katie’s career serve as a testament to all the things a person can accomplish when they make the decision to unapologetically pursue their passions
For graduating high school students, Katie offers this advice: “No matter how things change, there’s no replacement for human critical thinking. If we can't think critically, if you can’t get from the question you were given down to an answer and explain that in the form of a proof or whatever it is, we are doomed.” Katie’s journey shows just how relevant critical thinking still is, even in an age of artificial intelligence. By focusing on individuality, creativity, and the ability to think for oneself, students will pave the way to new solutions and answers tailored to a changing world.
The Lasting Impact of Dr. Sacco
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