Past Departmental Award Recipients
Department of Mathematics Scholarships and Awards
Outstanding Graduating Senior Award
Two awards are made each year, one for December commencement (for students who graduated over the summer in the fall semester) and the other for May commencement (for students graduating in the spring semester). Each semester, the department's selection for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Mathematics is then forwarded to the College of Science for consideration for the College of Science Outstanding Graduating Senior Award.
- 2012 Spring: Howard Cheng
- 2011 Fall: Xinglei Chai
- 2011 Spring: Robert Muth
- 2010 Fall: Lauren Myers
- 2010 Spring: Alan Mackey
- 2009 Fall: Joseph Rose
- 2009 Spring: Amanda Schaeffer
- 2008 Fall: Brittanie Broersma
- 2008 Spring: Haokun "Sam" Xu
- 2007 Fall: Andrew Winslow
- 2007 Spring: Christopher Robert McMurdie
- 2006 Fall: Peter Poer
- 2003 Spring: Ed Carter
- 2002 Spring: Ivo Seitenzahl
Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
During the spring semester, the Undergraduate Committee (UGC) selects a mathematics major (who will be graduating during that academic year) for Excellence in Undergraduate Research in Mathematics. The department's selection for Excellence in Undergraduate Research in Mathematics is then forwarded to the College of Science for consideration for the College of Science Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award.
- 2012 Spring: Jason (Qian) Xu
- 2011 Spring: Andrew Binder
- 2010 Spring: Sean Howe
- 2009 Spring: Amanda Schaeffer
- 2008 Spring: Brendan Christopher Fry
- 2007 Spring: Christopher Robert McMurdie
- 2003 Spring: Justin W. "Dub"Gaberdiel
Toubassi Award
Selected by the UGC in honor of Emeritus Professor of Mathematics Elias Toubassi.
- 2011-2012 Howard Cheng
- 2010-2011 Robert Muth
- 2009-2010 Sean Howe
Marianne Cooke Johnsen Scholarship supporting women in mathematics
Late in 2009, the Department of Mathematics received notification of a new endowment for a scholarship in Mathematics. The Marianne Cooke Johnsen Endowment was created by Melissa Johnsen and Randy Johnsen in honor of their mother. Marianne earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 1948, but it was her love of mathematics and teaching that inspired many students over her 30 year career. After a move to the San Francisco Bay area with her family, Marianne began working as an elementary school teacher in the Palo Alto school district. She was chosen to develop, implement and manage a successful program for gifted students. Cooke Johnsen went on to become a mathematics consultant for the district of 17,000 students. During this time, she authored five mathematics text books used by the district, primarily for children from 3rd to 6th grades.
Students interested in applying for this scholarship must be entering their Junior year (submission of application should occur at the conclusion of the Sophomore year), a declared Mathematics or Mathematics Education Major, female, and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. In addition, applicants are asked to submit an essay along with their application. The essay, of 500 words or less, should address:
- Why I chose to be a Mathematics or Mathematics Education Major
- How I will use my degree upon graduation from the University of Arizona
The essay, which should focus on how the applicant wants to positively impact society, will be reviewed by the Undergraduate Committee or by a Scholarship Committee designated by the Department Head. They will also be included in the annual Johnsen Family newsletter and will be distributed to donors and friends of the Marianne Cooke Johnsen Endowment in Mathematics.
- 2012 Taylor Corcoran
- 2011 Ashley Anhalt
LUSK (Harry W. and Janet Sine) Scholarship Award
The Lusk Award was established by Dr. Duncan Buell in 1985 in honor of his grandparents. Harry and Janet Lusk graduated from The University of Arizona in 1912 and 1911, respectively. Their three children also graduated from the UA, making theirs the first family all of whose members were UA graduates. Dr. Buell, grandson of Harry and Janet, continued the tradition by receiving a B.S. in Mathematics from the UA in 1971. He subsequently received a M.A. (University of Michigan) and a Ph.D. (University of Illinois), both in mathematics.
- 2012 Spring: Taylor Corcoran
- 2012 Spring: Christian Gentry
- 2012 Spring: Aurya Javeed
- 2008 Spring: Matthew Hall
- 2008 Spring: Alex Henniges
- 2007 Spring: Sarae Beal (Hatch)
- 2007 Spring: Brendan Fry
- 2006 Spring: Matthew Moore
- 2005- 2006 Peter Gross
- 2004- 2005 Tyler Robinson
- 2002- 2003 Ed Carter
- 2002- 2003 Joshua Green
Richard Pierce Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding students majoring in Mathematics. This award was endowed by family and friends of our late Professor, Richard "Dick" Pierce, who was a member of the Mathematics Department from 1975-1990. Professor Pierce enriched the lives of his colleagues and graduate students, and especially of the undergraduates in the department. He was a valuable mentor to numerous young mathematicians.
- 2012 Spring: Aurya Javeed
- 2012 Spring: Cassandra Lejoly
- 2008- 2009 Ehsan Bokhari
- 2008- 2009 Harshil Seth
- 2007- 2008 Ehsan Bokhari
- 2007- 2008 Harshil Seth
- 2007- 2008 Brendan Fry
- 2006- 2007 Brendan Fry
- 2005- 2006 Tyler Robinson
- 2004- 2005 Andrew Lebovitz
- 2003- 2004 Jad Halimeh
- 2002- 2003 Althea Moorhead
- 2002- 2003 Shiho Takeda
Rick Peet Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding students majoring in Mathematics. The Peet Memorial Award was established in 1992 by friends and family of Rick Peet, who had been an undergraduate in the Mathematics program and, but for his unforeseen death in 1990, would have entered the department's graduate program. Rick was a typical mathematics major in that he was also a talented athlete and musician, and he believed deeply in the social value of advanced study in the sciences.
- 2012 Spring: Rachel Baumann
- 2008- 2009 Jarl Haggerty
- 2008- 2009 Andrew Pyzdek
- 2008- 2009 Liz Uribe
- 2007- 2008 Jarl Haggerty
- 2007- 2008 Sean Howe
- 2007- 2008 Andrew Pyzdek
- 2006- 2007 Jennifer Anderson
- 2005- 2006 Brendan Fry
- 2004- 2005 Ryan Hatch
- 2003- 2004 Gabriel Marcus
- 2002- 2003 Michelle Cobeaga
Roy Graesser Foundation Scholarship
Awarded to outstanding students majoring in Mathematics. Must be AZ resident. The longest standing award, named for Roy F. Graesser, who was Head of the Mathematics Department in the 1940s and 50s. Emeritus Professor Art Steinbrenner recalled Graesser as a gentle and considerate individual who lived simply, despite having the means to endow a substantial foundation after his death.
- 2012 Spring: Ashley Anhalt
- 2012 Spring: Adam DeBolt
- 2012 Spring: Sean Rice
- 2008- 2009 Andrew K. Somers
- 2008- 2009 Amanda Schaeffer
- 2008- 2009 Daniel Rachin
- 2008- 2009 Derek Hollman
- 2008- 2009 Jessica Bernier
- 2008- 2009 Livia Zarnescu
- 2008- 2009 Sarah Williamson
- 2007- 2008 Derek Hollman
- 2007- 2008 Daniel Rachin
- 2007- 2008 Amanda Schaeffer
- 2007- 2008 Andrew K. Somers
- 2007- 2008 Sarah Williamson
- 2007- 2008 Livia Zarnescu
- 2007- 2008 Jessica Bernier
- 2007- 2008 Sarae Beal (Hatch)
- 2007- 2008 Stacia Davis
- 2007- 2008 Leann Thyng
- 2007- 2008 Liz Uribe
- 2007- 2008 Mitch Wilson
- 2006- 2007 Ivan Barrientos
- 2006- 2007 Peter Gross
- 2006- 2007 Peter Manning
- 2006- 2007 Christopher McMurdie
- 2006- 2007 John Pate
- 2005- 2006 Samuel Alexander
- 2005- 2006 Aaron Bennett
- 2005- 2006 Ajit Divakaruni
- 2005- 2006 Alan C. Wang
- 2004- 2005 Matthew Green
- 2004- 2005 Megan Wilson
- 2003- 2004 Christopher Elofson
- 2002- 2003 Laura Baker
- 2002- 2003 David Brown
- 2002- 2003 Ed Carter
- 2002- 2003 Michael Henry
- 2002- 2003 Becket Hui
- 2002- 2003 Robert Jenkins
- 2002- 2003 Noah Snavely
- 2002- 2003 Michael Stepp
- 2002- 2003 Anne White
- 2002- 2003 David Woods
- 1997- 1998 Melissa Bjelland
Goodwin (Elaine and Glenn) Scholarship Award
Selected by the UGC. For students majoring in Mathematics. Must be Arizona resident: Generous contributions were made to establish this scholarship by family and friends of the Goodwins. Elaine was a children's librarian in Tucson and Glen was a former NASA scientist and innovator in heat transfer research. They both shared a love of mathematics, a love of life, and a true love for each other.
- 2008- 2009 Monica Kapp
- 2008- 2009 Jasmin Uribe
- 2007- 2008 Monica Kapp
- 2007- 2008 Lizette Ortega
- 2007- 2008 Jasmin Uribe
Jackson (Durward P. and Alice) Award
Selected by the UGC. For students majoring in Mathematics. Must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be Pell Grant eligible: Dr. Durward Jackson received his BS in Aerospace Engineering in 1964 from The University of Arizona, and subsequently earned a Master of Engineering Administration from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. in Executive Management from the Claremont Graduate University.
- 2005- 2006 Pavla Senkyrikova
- 2005- 2006 Dorian Smith
- 2003- 2004 Pavla Senkyrikova
- 2002- 2003 Doug Owen
- 2002- 2003 Jennifer Talley
- 2002- 2003 Mike Urbancic
Math Ed Scholarship Award
The Mathematics Educations Scholarships were awarded to support and encourage mathematics majors to become secondary education mathematics teachers. This award is no longer being offered. The following students are former award recipients.
- 2006- 2007 Kimberly Gray
- 2006- 2007 Sarae Beal (Hatch)
- 2006- 2007 Stacia Davis
- 2006- 2007 Leann Thyng
- 2005- 2006 Wahid Belfadil
- 2005- 2006 David Berry
- 2005- 2006 Stacia Davis
- 2005- 2006 Sarae Beal (Hatch)
- 2005- 2006 Nicolai Boysen
- 2005- 2006 Beverly Cooper
- 2005- 2006 Rebecca Frost
- 2005- 2006 Kimberly Gray
- 2005- 2006 Samuel Olderbak
- 2005- 2006 John Pate
- 2004- 2005 Lydia Larochelle
- 2004- 2005 Sara Blight
- 2004- 2005 Allison Gibbons
- 2004- 2005 Andrew K. Kleinman
- 2004- 2005 Steven Martinez
- 2004- 2005 Heather Skinner
- 2004- 2005 Therron Todacheenie
- 2004- 2005 Robert Brummett
- 2004- 2005 Malisa Carino
- 2004- 2005 Caren Childers
- 2004- 2005 Sara Hales
- 2004- 2005 John Pate
- 2004- 2005 Esther Wong