General Scholarships
UT Math Honors || Departmental Scholarships
The Mathematics department, with the financial support of a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, has available merit scholarships of up to $5000 per year for incoming freshmen who intend to major in mathematics and for current UT students who have been accepted into the UT Math Honors program. Note that this scholarship generally may be added to other UT scholarships and financial aid up to the allowed university maximum, which is over $16,000 per year. Therefore the minimum package for an in-state incoming freshman who qualifies for the maximum Hope scholarship and Volunteer scholarship is $12,300 per year for 2006, which more than covers the cost of room, board, tuition and fees at UT. All US citizens or permanent residents who apply for scholarships at the University of Tennessee and list math as the intended major will be considered for UT Math Honors freshman scholarships. However, students who wish to improve their chances of receiving one of these highly competitive scholarships should contact Dr. Plaut, UT Math Honors Director (cplaut@math.utk.edu) and provide supplemental evidence of high ability in mathematics that may not be included in the general scholarship application. Such evidence includes strong showing in mathematics contests, especially the UT Pro2Serve FERMAT II exam. In addition, students may support their case for a UT Math Honors scholarship by audition. Students may prepare for a math audition by studying certain material in abstract mathematics and giving an audition before the honors faculty committee to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject. Contact Dr. Plaut (cplaut@math.utk.edu) for more information.
Current UT students who are accepted into the UT Math Honors program and are US citizens or permanent residents automatically receive UT Math Honors scholarships.
Students who have been admitted to the undergraduate program are welcome to apply for general scholarships at the Financial Aid Office. If you are a mathematics major (or a College Scholar whose curriculum includes a significant component of mathematics courses) who has completed at least one semester at UTK, you may wish to apply for one of the following scholarships available exclusively to mathematics majors at UTK.
John H. Barrett Prize
(1-4 awards per year)
This prize, established in 1970 by friends and colleagues of John H. Barrett, recognizes outstanding senior mathematics students.
John H. Barrett, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1951, was Head of the Mathematics Department at UTK from 1964 until his untimely death in 1969. A well-known, respected researcher in Ordinary Differential Equations, he produced 3 Ph.D. students here at UTK. The best known of these is Allan Peterson, who himself has had 14 Ph.D. students at the University of Nebraska.
James A. Cooley Scholarship
(1 award per year)
This award was established to help qualified and deserving mathematics students secure a college education, honoring junior and senior mathematics students who have an interest in teaching.
James A. Cooley, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 1935, was Head of the Mathematics Department at UTK from 1942 to 1961. A respected mathematics educator, he obtained one of the first NSF Summer Institute grants in the late 1950s which were funded to strengthen the skills and knowledge base of practicing teachers. His "Summer Schools of the South" were well thought of and ran for many years during the 1950s and 1960s.
The pdf-format nomination form is available at Lee_CooleyApplication.pdf
Polly Anna Harris Scholarship
(1-3 awards per year)
This scholarship helps support a future mathematics teacher during his or her professional year internship. Therefore, applicants must be senior mathematics students who plan to intern the following academic year.
Polly Anna Harris, a former UTK math major, taught at Bearden High School for many years before she retired. She was a recipient of the UT Alumna and Presidential Award for outstanding teaching. This scholarship is sponsored by her family, son, David Harris, MD, who is also a former UTK math major, and his wife Patricia, son, Frank Harris and wife T.R. Morgan, daughter, Paula Morrison, also a former UTK math major, and her husband G. Granger Morrison.
The pdf-format nomination form is available at HarrisApplication.pdf
Lucille and Herbert E. Lee Memorial Scholarship
(3-5 awards per year)
These awards, established in 1986 by a generous endowment from the Lee estate, honors sophomore and junior mathematics majors with outstanding records of academic achievement.
Herbert E. Lee, who received his Ph.D. from Duke University, taught mathematics at UTK for three decades until his retirement in 1969. He, and his wife Lucille, were cheerful, friendly, outgoing people who always kept students' welfare in mind.
The pdf-format nomination form is available at Lee_CooleyApplication.pdf
J.P. and Gladys Maples Scholarship
(1-4 awards per year)
J.P. and Gladys Maples set up their scholarship endowment fund to encourage scholastic excellence in junior or senior students displaying financial need.
The pdf-format nomination form is available at MaplesApplication.pdf
Cooper D. Schmitt Memorial Scholarship
(3-5 awards per year)
These scholarships, established in 1987 by the Schmitt family, provide funds to outstanding undergraduates in the Mathematics Department at UTK.
Cooper D. Schmitt, who received his MA from the University of Virginia in 1884, was Head of the Mathematics Department at UTK from 1889 to 1907, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (formerly Liberal Arts) from 1907 until his untimely death in 1910. His son, Bernedot E. Schmitt, was a Rhodes Scholar and Pulitzer Prize winning historian who was head of the History Department at UTK until 1969.
The pdf-format nomination form is available at SchmittApplication.pdf
Pi Mu Epsilon
A smaller award ($500 per year) is available to a student who is active in Pi Mu Epsilon.
Recipients of these awards and prizes are selected on a competitive basis by a committee of Mathematics Department faculty members who meet during Spring Semester each year. Applications, available online and from Ayres Hall 121, at the beginning of Spring Semester, should be handed in during the months of February and March for scholarships for the following academic year.
Winners are announced in April at the annual Mathematics Department Honors Reception.
updated: 3/2008