KU News Release

KU math department honors students, faculty at 51st annual spring banquet

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LAWRENCE — Fifty-two undergraduate and graduate students and two professors were recognized for outstanding academic and teaching achievements by the University of Kansas mathematics department at its 51st annual honors banquet last month. Recipients of the 2008 New Student Scholarships awarded in January were also recognized at the banquet.

This year, the math department presented more than $87,700 in awards and scholarships. Award winners are announced in the spring. Scholarship recipients will be announced in the fall. Funds for awards and scholarships are administered through KU Endowment.

Rachel Debes, Hays senior, and Nick Tobaben, Topeka senior, each received a cash award of $100 for their performance in the National William Lowell Putnam Competition, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America. This competition is open to all regularly enrolled undergraduates in colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Two students received certificates and Jayhawk statues from the Kansas Algebra Program for their outstanding contributions to teaching, tutoring and extra duties. Winners were Scot Pruyn, Wichita senior, and Andrew Stark, Wichita junior.

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

Kabe Moen, Lawrence doctoral student, received the $1000 Florence Black Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was established in memory of Black, a faculty member who served from 1918 to 1960.

Moen also received the $500 John Bunce Award, which commemorates a KU math professor who served from 1970 to 1991.

Tim Dorn, Sioux Falls, S.D., master’s degree student, is the first recipient of the $500 Ralph Byers Student Award. This award was established to commemorate Byers’ commitment to numerical analysis.

Aslihan Demirkaya, Istanbul, Turkey, doctoral student, received the $500 Paul F. Conrad Graduate Scholarship. This is the first year the award is given in his memory. Conrad was the first Henry J. Bischoff Professor of Mathematics.

David Nualart, professor of mathematics, received the G. Baley Price Award for Excellence in Teaching, presented by the Mathematics Graduate Students Association.

Fred Galvin, professor of mathematics, received the $5,000 Max Wells Teaching Award in recognition of outstanding or exemplary teaching in the field of mathematics by a KU faculty member.

Award and scholarship winners are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high schools (when available) and award or scholarship. Individuals with double majors or several awards are listed multiple times.

KU Endowment is the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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