May 23, 2003

Contact: Pam Ricley, Department of Mathematics, (785) 864-7300.

KU Department of Mathematics honors 9 top students, 3 professors

LAWRENCE -- Nine University of Kansas mathematics students and three professors recently received awards for outstanding academic and teaching achievements in the department.

The KU Department of Mathematics offered awards and scholarships totaling more than $48,000 during its 46th annual spring banquet in April. Award winners are announced in the spring. Scholarship recipients will be announced in the fall semester. Funds for the awards and scholarships are administered through the KU Endowment Association.

Ryan Kinser, Pedro Lei and Xiaobong Yue received cash awards of $100 from the mathematics department for their performance in the national William Lowell Putnam Competition exam, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. This mathematics competition is open to all regularly enrolled undergraduates in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Chris Kurth, Andrew Womack and Bo Wang also received $100 for their outstanding achievements on the exam.

Three winners in KU's 21st annual mathematics prize competition also received cash awards: Xiaobong Yue, first place junior level,$100; Keith Preston, second place junior level, $50; and Nickolas Hein, first place senior level, $150.

Three students received certificates from the Kansas Algebra Program for their outstanding contributions to teaching, tutoring and extra duties. Winners were Kristen Hughes, Stephanie Harris and Patrick Ragan.

KU's math department annually recognizes outstanding graduate teaching assistants with the Florence Black Excellence in Teaching Award and the John Bunce Memorial Award.

Lindsay Henning received the $1,000 Florence Black Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was established in memory of Black, a faculty member who served from 1918 to 1960.

Giulo Caviglia received the $600 John Bunce Award, which commemorates a KU math professor who served from 1970 to 1991.

Estela Gavosto, associate chair of mathematics, and David Lerner, professor of mathematics, received the G. Baley Price Award for Excellence in Teaching, presented by the Mathematics Graduate Students Association.

Fred Van Vleck, professor of mathematics, received the Max Wells Teaching Award, which recognizes outstanding or exemplary teaching by a KU mathematics faculty member.

Award winners' hometowns, year in school, parents' names and awards follow:

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Overland Park
Andrew Womack, senior, son of James and Kathleen Womack; Rockhurst High School graduate; outstanding achievement on the Putnam exam.

RILEY COUNTY
From Manhattan
Patrick Ragan, senior, son of James and Gail Ragan; Manhattan High School graduate; outstanding contributions to the Kansas Algebra Program.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Valley Center
Keith Preston, sophomore, son of Harold and Diana Preston; Valley Center High School graduate; second place junior level math prize competition.

From Wichita
Nickolas Hein, senior, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hein; Bishop Carroll High School graduate; first place senior level math prize competition.

MISSOURI
From St. Louis
Kristen Hughes, graduate student; St. Joseph's Academy graduate; outstanding contributions to the Kansas Algebra Program.

NEBRASKA
From Bellevue
Chris Kurth, junior, son of Allen and Susan Kurth; Bellevue West Senior High graduate; outstanding achievement on the Putnam exam.

OKLAHOMA
From Oklahoma City
Ryan Kinser, senior, son of Pam and David Kinser; Classen High School graduate; Putnam Competition team member.

WYOMING
From Kemmerer
Lindsay Henning, graduate student; Florence Black Excellence in Teaching Award.

CHINA From Chengdu
Xiaobong Yue, freshman, son of Huanxun Yue; Putnam Competition team member.
Bo Wang, sophomore, son of Li Wang; outstanding achievement on the Putnam exam.

From Macau
Pedro Lei, junior, son of Kok Hon Lei; Putnam Competition team member.

ITALY
From Varazze
Giulo Caviglia, graduate student; John Bunce Award.