MAA Awards Presented in New Orleans, Volume 48, Number 5
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comm-maa.qxp 3/20/01 10:22 AM Page 507 MAA Awards Presented in New Orleans At the Joint Mathematics Meetings in New Orleans school and university levels. The citation speaks of in January 2001, the Mathematical Association of her “remarkable dedication to teaching and great America (MAA) presented several prizes and success in all of its aspects.” awards. “Leonard Klosinski is well known for his in- valuable contribution to mathematics teaching Haimo Awards for Distinguished Teaching through his capable administration of the William The Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo Awards Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition during for Distinguished College or University Teaching the last twenty-two years,” the citation says. Under of Mathematics honor teachers who have been his leadership the number of contestants in the widely recognized as extraordinarily successful Putnam Competition has remained constant, or and whose teaching effectiveness has been shown even increased slightly, despite a drop in the to have had influence beyond their own institu- number of mathematics majors. He is also an tions. Deborah Tepper Haimo was president of enormously popular teacher known for challeng- the MAA during 1991–92. ing courses that have inspired a loyal following The 2001 Haimo Awards were presented to of students. EDWARD B. BURGER of Williams College, EVELYN SILVIA of the University of California, Davis, and LEONARD F. Chauvenet Prize KLOSINSKI of Santa Clara University. The Chauvenet Prize for expository writing, first “Edward Burger possesses two great talents: he awarded in 1925 to Gilbert Bliss of the University is a marvelous teacher and an exceptional lecturer of Chicago, is given for an outstanding expository and speaker,” the citation says. “He inspires stu- article on a mathematical topic by a member of the dents with his enthusiasm for mathematics and his MAA. The prize is named for William Chauvenet, ability to make it interesting, even fun.” Known as an professor of mathematics at the U.S. Naval Acad- engaging speaker, Burger has given conference talks, emy, and was established through a gift in 1925 presented popular lectures, and appeared on tele- from J. L. Coolidge, then MAA president. vision and radio. The citation calls him “an inspiring The 2001 Chauvenet Prize was awarded to teacher” and “an ambassador of mathematics.” CAROLYN S. GORDON and DAVID L. WEBB for their “Evelyn Sylvia is the consummate teacher, whose article “You can’t hear the shape of a drum” (Amer- hallmarks are complete dedication to the education ican Scientist, January–February 1996, pages 46–55). of her students; the ability to make difficult con- The article describes work that answered a famous cepts comprehensible; great energy; and personal question raised by Mark Kac in a 1966 American qualities of integrity, helpfulness, and caring,” the Mathematical Monthly article entitled “Can one citation says. Silvia has taught all levels of mathe- hear the shape of a drum?”, which won him the matics, from grade school to graduate school, and Chauvenet Prize in 1968. The citation says that the has served as a role model for teachers at the high Gordon-Webb article is “exciting, its mathematical MAY 2001 NOTICES OF THE AMS 507 comm-maa.qxp 3/20/01 10:22 AM Page 508 content understandable by anyone with a minimal knowledge of differential equations, group theory, and linear algebra; and it contains a great deal of historical information concerning what can be inferred about vibrating systems from their frequencies.” Gung and Hu Award for Distinguished Service The Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics is the most prestigious award made by the MAA. The 2001 award was presented to MANUEL P. BERRIOZÁBAL of the University of Texas at San Antonio. “Berriozábal is a mathematician, a college pro- fessor, and a visionary with the unusual talent to turn his visions into reality,” the citation says. “The best example—and the one for which he has become most widely known—is the incredibly successful Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP).” Formed in 1979 in San Antonio, PREP aims to identify and encourage high-achieving students in grades six through eleven who are potential engineers and sci- entists. The PREP program has expanded to other cities in Texas and has reached over 18,000 stu- dents, 81 percent of them minorities and 54 per- cent of them women. A 1999 study showed that 92 percent of these students entered college, and of those, 90 percent completed college and 53 percent majored in science or engineering. In 1997 Berriozábal’s achievements were recognized by the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. The ci- tation for the Gung and Hu Award concludes by rec- ognizing “his extraordinary contributions to the mathematical community and…the vision that has benefited thousands of youth with potential to ex- cel in mathematics, science, and engineering.” Certificates of Meritorious Service Each year the MAA presents Certificates of Meri- torious Service to recognize service to the MAA at the national level or service to an MAA section. Hon- ored with certificates for 2001 were: CARL LEINBACH of Gettysburg College, BERNARD SOHMER of City Col- lege of the City University of New York, RALPH W. CARR of St. Cloud University, KENNETH A. ROSS of the University of Oregon, and JOANNE PEEPLES of El Paso Community College. —From MAA announcements 508 NOTICES OF THE AMS VOLUME 48, NUMBER 5.