This year’s Pythagorean Prize winners each came to the honor by doing things their own way and making choices that suited them at the time.

Dan Lambert, winner of the $1,000 prize, taught himself math in elementary school, taught himself the Java programming language, and created software that he plans to market and sell.

Scott Cox, winner of the $500 prize, started college at age 31 after owning and operating his own concrete repair company.

Both winners intend to continue their studies beyond Schoolcraft. Lambert’s goal is at least a master’s degree as a foundation for work in computer programming, perhaps owning his own company. Cox plans to transfer to a university where he will major in math or engineering.

A committee of five mathematics instructors chose the top two winners from a field of 12 applicants. The awards are made in April of each year.