Honors Day
April 2020
John H. Barrett Prize
The tradition of the John H. Barrett Prize began in 1970.
It is an annual memorial award given to outstanding undergraduate seniors
who have a concentration in mathematics or are mathematics majors.
This year's winner is
Alan Gan.
Recognition of Putnam Competition Participants
The Putnam Competition is an annual contest among undergraduate students across the United States and Canada.
This year's participant was Jun Park.
J. P. and Gladys Maples Scholarship
J. P. and Gladys Maples set up their scholarship endowment fund to encourage scholastic excellence.
This year's winner is
Christal Martin.
Dorothea and Edgar D. Eaves Summer Fellowship
The Dorothea and Edgar D. Eaves Summer Fellowships were established in 1977 to encourage
high school mathematics teachers to return to the University of Tennessee
during the summer to further the study of mathematics.
This year's winners are
Curtis Dishner and Dani Waldrop.
Special Recognition Honors Program
The Math Honors Program is a nationally competitive program for highly motivated undergraduate students majoring in mathematics at the University of Tennessee.
Graduates of the Mathematics Honors Program are
Carl Edwards, Alan Gan, Daniel McBride, Spencer McDonald, and Niharika Sharda
James A. Cooley Scholarship
The James A. Cooley Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of
James A. Cooley and to help qualified and deserving mathematics students secure a
college education. Professor Cooley was Head of the Department of Mathematics from
1942 until he returned to full time teaching in 1961. Preference is given to students
interested in a teaching career.
This year's winners are
Harper Bryan, Adrian Calderon, Jun Park, and Wyatt Smith.
Spike Tickle STEM Endowed Fellowship
The Spike Tickle Fellowship was established Mr. John D. "Spike" Tickle to recognize
students who have an outstanding academic performance and desire to use their talents
and education in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The award is
given to a graduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences to focus on teaching
and/or research efforts in mathematics.
This year's winners are
Chris Oballe and Jeremy Siegert.
Recognition of Pi Mu Epsilon Tennessee Delta Chapter
Pi Mu Epsilon inductees are
Lucas Fiet and Jeffrey Utley.
Math GTA Teaching Excellence Fellowship
This award was established in 2019 to recognize excellence in teaching, as well as significant contribution to the undergraduate education mission of the Department of Mathematics. The award is designed to encourage Math GTAs to deepen their involvement in the educational mission of the department.
This year's winners are Kelly Buch, Leigh Pearcy, Tamara Riggs, Jeremy Siegert, and Hannah Thompson.
Lucille and Herbert Lee Memorial Scholarship
The Lucille and Herbert Lee Scholarship Awards were established in 1986 by a generous
endowment from the Lee estate, and are awarded to sophomore and upperclassmen 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.
This year's winners are
Spencer Catron, Harry Channing, Maria Dassow, Lucas Fiet, Shannon Hall, Kay Howell, Ethan Kessinger, Sam Kilgore, John Maddox, Owen Queen, Wyatt Smith, and Aaron Stapleton.
Cooper D. Schmitt Memorial Scholarship
The Cooper D. Schmitt Endowment was established in 1987.
The goal of this fund is to provide undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships and appropriate
awards to outstanding students in the Department of Mathematics at The University of Tennessee.
This year's winners are Spencer Catron, Harry Channing, Lucas Fiet, Shannon Hall, Victoria Howard, John Maddox, Jun Park, Owen Queen, Emma Schooley, Aaron Stapleton, Zachary Taylor, Jeffrey Utley, and Matthew Walker.
Polly Anna Harris Scholarship
This scholarship helps support a future mathematics teacher. Applicants must be
fourth-year undergraduate students pursuing a major in mathematics, with intent
to become a high school mathematics teacher. 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 Abby Avery, daughter, Paula Morrison, also a former UTK math major,
and her husband G. Grainger Morrison.
This year's winner is
Vinny Jodoin.
Dr. Glenn R. and Elise I. Young Scholarship
The Dr. Glenn R. and Elise I. Young Scholarship was established in 2010. Its purpose is to support
Physics or Mathematics majors who demonstrate successful academic performance. Preference is given to juniors.
Awards are given in the Mathematics and the Physics Departments.
This year's winner is
Ethan Kessinger.
Simms Foundation Scholarship
The Simms Foundation Scholarship was created through a generous gift from Carol Sue Simms in 2014.
The Simms Foundation Scholarship is a 4-year merit scholarship awarded to an incoming freshman
with an excellent high school record who will major in math and has an interest in teaching.
This year's winner is
Gesa Nestler.
Dr. Warren L. & Kyleen D. Franz Scholarship
The Dr. Warren L. & Kyleen D. Franz Endowed Mathematics Scholarship was established in
2015 to support mathematics majors who demonstrate successful academic performance.
This year's winners are
Harper Bryan, Adrian Calderon, Maria Dassow, and Kay Howell.
John M. Allen Prizes
The Allen Medal in mathematics was originated by John Mebane Allen in 1890
and has since been presented annually. It is noted to be one of the oldest
awards given by The University of Tennessee. The Allen Medal is given to recognize
freshman students who demonstrate, upon testing, the best knowledge of Algebra,
Plane Geometry, Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, Single Variable Calculus, and/or any
other areas of mathematics as may be determined by the department head and select faculty members.
This year's 1st place winner is
Alexander Krneta.
This year's 2nd place winner is
Ian MacDougall.
Randall E. Cline Award
This award was established by friends and colleagues in memory of Dr. Randall E. Cline.
It is to provide student aid for scholarly activities associated with graduate student work in The University of Tennessee
Department of Mathematics. Currently enrolled and prospective math graduate students are eligible for the award.
This year's winner is
Danielle Burton.
Yueh-er, Hong-hsu and Clarence Cheng Kuo Fellowship Endowment
The Yueh-er, Hong-hsu and Clarence Cheng Kuo Fellowship Endowment was established in 2003
by Dr. Yueh-er Kuo to promote Masters’ degree education in the Department of Mathematics.
Yueh-er Kuo was a professor in the Department of Mathematics since 1964. She was an expert
in educating Masters’ degree students in addition to her own research. She had 56 thesis and
project students and many of them are very successful in their careers. Hong-hsu Kuo was the
husband of Yueh-er Kuo and was a professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Drexel
University in Philadelphia. Clarence Cheng Kuo was the son of Yueh-er and Hong-hsu.
He was a brilliant model student of University Nursery School. This award is given to graduate
students with outstanding academic merit.
This year's winner is Cara Sulyok.
Graduate Student Achievement Award
The goal of these awards is to recognize outstanding academic achievement among graduate students.
It was established several years ago to parallel the award for outstanding teaching among graduate students.
This year's winners are
Tricia Phillips and Sathya Rengaswami.
Harry Row Scholarship
Harry Row was deeply committed to teaching and spent considerable time working
with teachers. One of his professional goals was to promote the appropriate use of
technology in the teaching of Mathematics. This scholarship funds a teacher who
wants to continue the study of Mathematics and preference is given to those who have
significantly used technology in their teaching.
This year's winner is
Justin Lee.
Dorothea and Edgar D. Eaves Teaching Awards
The Dorothea and Edgar D. Eaves Awards were established in 1977 in order to
recognize outstanding teaching among graduate teaching assistants.
Junior Level Award: David Elzinga and Andy Gilliam
Senior Level Award: Cameron Cook and Jeremy Siegert
UT Math Teacher of the Year Award
The Department of Mathematics Teacher of the Year Award is given to
a local high school mathematics teacher who best exemplifies the knowledge of
and enthusiasm for the discipline of mathematics inside the classroom and out.
This year's winner is
Emily Brandel.
2019-2020 Graduate Program Graduates
PH.D. GRADUATES
Danielle Burton
Joseph Daws
Gabriel Dusing
Steve Galloway
John Hicks
Delong Li
Cassie Micucci
Chris Oballe
Tricia Phillips
James Scott
Adam Spannaus
Margaret Wiecezorek
Michael Wise
Le Yin
M.S. Graduates
Liam Bitting
Kelly Buch
Samanatha Clapp
John Garland
Justin Groves
Morganne Igoe
Amanda Lake Heath
James MacPherson
Eddie Mitchell
Brents Ring
Anna Sisk
Mitchell Sutton
Wencel Velega
M.M. Graduates
Emily Brandel
Mariah Campen
Curtis Dishner
Matthew Ellis
Joshua Janik
Justin Lee
Rhett Lyle
Theresa Nelson
Megan Warren
Math Graduate Student Council Awards
MGSC Ann Keith Lea Faculty Teaching Award
This award goes to a professor who has done an exceptional job
teaching a course for graduate students this school year. Voted on by the
graduate students, this award is meant to recognize the work and dedication a professor has given
to help students understand the course material.
This year's winner is Dr. Henry Simpson.
MGSC Service Award
This award goes to a professor who has gone above and beyond to mentor, advise,
or in general help graduate students this year in a non-teaching capacity. Voted on
by the graduate students, this award is meant to recognize the extraordinary work
a professor has done to foster students' progress through the program and/or aid
students in their preparation for a career.
This year's winner is Mr. Kevin Sukanek
Honors Day 2019
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Honors Day 2008
last updated: April 2020