A familiar name to many in the North Sevier community has reached an impressive academic milestone. Nicholas Bastian, a 2015 graduate of North Sevier High School, has earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Pure Mathematics from Brigham Young University in 2026.
Bastian’s path to this achievement has been marked by consistent excellence. During his time at North Sevier, he graduated as salutatorian and earned first place in a Snow College Mathematics Contest. He credits much of his early success to the encouragement and guidance of his teachers, Mrs. Seegmiller and Ms. Larsen, whose support helped shape his academic journey.
He continued his education at Southern Utah University, where he graduated in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in pure mathematics. While at SUU, Bastian was named Valedictorian of the College of Science and Engineering and received the distinction of Scholar of the Year.
Bastian went on to complete his master’s degree in pure mathematics at BYU in 2021. During the 2021–2022 academic year, he returned to SUU as a mathematics intern, teaching algebra and calculus courses. It was during this time that he solidified his goal of teaching advanced mathematics at the university level, leading him to pursue a doctorate.
Throughout his doctoral studies, Bastian has contributed to the field through research, publishing four mathematical papers and currently working on two additional projects. He expressed appreciation for the mentorship of Dr. Stephen Humphries, whose guidance played an important role in his development at BYU.
As he looks ahead, Bastian plans to continue in academia and is pursuing a professorship at a university, with final placement to be determined.
He is the son of Richard and Rachael Bastian of Salina, who, along with the broader community, celebrate his dedication and accomplishments.
