Spring 2023 Luncheon and Award Presentations

On May 5, 2023, the math department held its end-of-semester luncheon. The luncheon was attended by members of the department and guests, including faculty, students, staff, and retirees. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to take a break right before the final exams and enjoy some well-earned downtime after a hard semester of number-crunching. '?

As everyone tucked into their meals, the department took the opportunity to recognize the work of some of its most talented students. Awards were presented to both undergraduates and graduates. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the day, though, was the recognition of the department's newest PhD recipients. These students had worked tirelessly for years to earn their doctorate degrees, and everyone at the luncheon was thrilled to congratulate them on their achievements.

The mood was light and celebratory throughout the event, with plenty of laughter and good cheer to go around. Retired professors caught up with former colleagues and students, and everyone had the opportunity to enjoy some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

With plenty of good food, good company, and good vibes, it's clear that there's a lot to be proud of in this particular corner of the academic world!

Undergraduate Award Recipients

• Hunter Handley - Beth Wilson Award
• Ahyan Ali - Outstanding Mathematics Major
• Carson Hooker - Outstanding Mathematics Major
• Emmaline Whitmer - Outstanding Mathematics Education Major

Graduate Student Award Recipients

• Hayden Henson - Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award
• Elizabeth Matter - Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award

Graduating M.S. Recipients

This year students graduating with their MS also received a plaque presented by Dr. Dorina Mitrea, Professor and Chair of the Mathematics department.

• Alan Lang

Graduating Ph.D. Recipients and Advisors

This year students graduating with their PhD also received a plaque presented by Dr. Dorina Mitrea, Professor and Chair of the Mathematics department.

• Cordell Hammon – Advisor Professor Jonathan Meddaugh
• Joel Henningsen- – Advisor Professor Ronald Morgan
• Jorge Marchena-Menendez – Advisor Professor Robert Kirby
• Jasmin Mohn – Advisor Professor Brian Raines

Quotes From Some of Our Award Winners

Ahyan Ali - Outstanding Mathematics Major

"I am very honored to have received this award. The professors in the mathematics department were some of the greatest and most supportive professors I have ever learned from. The intellectual growth I have experienced here is unmatched, and I am glad to have been a part of this fantastic department. With this experience, I will be pursuing a Masters in Analytics at Georgia Tech while working full-time as a data analyst."

Carson Hooker - Outstanding Mathematics Major

"I am truly blessed to have received this award! I have not always been a pure mathematics major. In fact, just last year I was a secondary mathematics major in the School of Education. However, my passion for math has grown significantly over the past year, and I am a recent add to the mathematics department. I want to thank my professors that have impacted me during my time at Baylor. I am a student who loves going to office hours and getting to know my professors, and I can safely say that the mathematics department has some of the most open and genuine professors at Baylor."

Hayden Henson - Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award

"I am honored to receive such an award. It is good to know that my students have appreciated my efforts. I am grateful to the professors and lecturers in the mathematics department who helped me over the past two years. Dr. Mads Reynolds and Dr. Daniel Herden have been instrumental in helping me shape who I am as an instructor. I understand that I must work even harder to live up to the standard past recipients of this award have set and I look forward to meeting that challenge."

Elizabeth Matter - Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award

"I am honored to receive the outstanding graduate student instructor award this year. My experience in teaching did not begin at Baylor; I was fortunate to get to teach at Cal Poly, where I got my master's degree. However, my time at Baylor has allowed my teaching abilities to flourish! I would like to thank Dr. Morgan for mentoring me and giving me the chance to teach during my first year at Baylor, and Dr. Mitrea for always having constructive feedback to make me a better instructor this year. I look forward to growing even more as an instructor as I get the chance to teach more classes in my remaining years at Baylor!"