Honors Day
April 11, 2019
Click on the photos to see larger versions.
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.
Presented by Professor Christopher Strickland
Maitraya Ghatak and Ryan Unger
Recognition of Putnam Competition Participants
The Putnam Competition is an annual contest among undergraduate students across the United States and Canada.
Presented by Professor Jochen Denzler
Christopher Dean, Shannon Hall, Jia Liang, Jun Park, Viktor Zenkov
Christopher Dean, Shannon Hall, Jia Liang, Jun Park, Viktor Zenkov
J. P. and Gladys Maples Scholarship
J. P. and Gladys Maples set up their scholarship endowment fund to encourage scholastic excellence.
Presented by Professor Tadele Mengesha and Ron Maples
Vincent Jodoin
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.
Presented by Professor Nikolay Brodskiy
Valerie Capps and Matthew Ellis (not pictured)
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.
Presented by Professor Remus Nicoara
Maitraya Ghatak, Melissa Karman, Jia Liang, Ryan Unger
Not pictured: Brandon Bell, Shay Phagan, Jacob Steepleton
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.
Presented by Professor Luis Finotti
Maria Dassow and Shannon Hall
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.
Presented by Professor Mathew Langford
Tricia Phillips, Cara Sulyok, Michael Morgan Wise (not pictured)
Recognition of Pi Mu Epsilon Tennessee Delta Chapter
Presented by Professor Jochen Denzler
Undergraduate Students
Carl Edwards, Daniel McBride
Carl Edwards, Daniel McBride
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.
Presented by Professor Joan LindCameron Cook, Tricia Phillips, Jack Ryan, Cara Sulyok
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.
Presented by Professor Christopher Strickland
Harry Channing, Lucas Fiet, Kay Howell, Ethan Kessinger, Aaron Stapleton, Milla Tran
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.
Presented by Professor Judy Day
Harper Bryan, Harry Channing, Carl Edwards, Lucas Fiet, Alan Gan, Daniel McBride, Billy Reynolds, Niharika Sharda, Aaron Stapleton
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.
Presented by Professor Marie Jameson and Paula Morrison
Cody Sartorius
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.
Presented by Professor Marie Jameson
Jun Park
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.
Presented by Professor Remus Nicoara and April Conner
Spencer Catron and John Maddox (not pictured)
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.
Presented by Professor Dustin Cartwright and Kyleen D. Franz
Alan Gan and Billy Reynolds
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.
Presented by Professor Theodora Bourni
1st Place: Konnor Porter
2nd Place: Harry Channing
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.
Presented by Professor Joan Lind
Jeahyun Park and Timothy Robertson
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.
Presented by Professor Mathew Langford
Jasmine Kreig
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.
Presented by Professor Conrad Plaut
James Scott and Thomas Weighill
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.
Presented by Professor Jurek Dydak and Jane Row
Theresa Nelson
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.
Presented by Professor Judy Day
Junior Level Award: Amanda Lake Heath, Alexanderia Lacy, and Mitchell Sutton
Senior Level Award: Pawel Grzegrzolka and Cara Sulyok
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.
Presented by Professor Luis Finotti
Curtis Dishner
2018-2019 Graduate Program Graduates
Presented by Professor Alex FreirePH.D. GRADUATES
Ibrahim AslanKileen Berry
Mahir Demir
Khoa Dinh
Lindsey Fox
Bo Gao
Pawel Grzegrzolka
Vincent Heningburg
Vy Nguyen
Logan Perry
Hamza Ruzayqat
James Scott
Montgomery Taylor
Thomas Weighill
M.S. Graduates
Alan CherneShuler Hopkins
Jasmine Kreig
Tamara Riggs
Timothy Robertson
Jack Ryan
Jesse Sautel
Athma Senthilnathan
Hannah Thompson
M.M. Graduates
Christopher GarnerMath Graduate Student Council Awards
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.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.
Presented by Maggie Wieczorek, MGSC President
Dr. Anne Ho (Service Award)
Professor Remus Nicoara (Teaching Award)
Board of Visitors Announcements
Tom Chappell, Board of Visitors President
Mathematics Department Board of Visitors
Conrad Plaut, Kyleen Franz, Tom Chappell, Robert Daverman
Honors Day 2018
Honors Day 2017
Honors Day 2016
Honors Day 2015
Honors Day 2014
Honors Day 2013
Honors Day 2012
Honors Day 2011
Honors Day 2010
Honors Day 2009
Honors Day 2008