Top undergraduate students awarded prestigious Faculty of Mathematics medals for 2021 convocation

Thursday, June 10, 2021

2021 graduates Spencer Whitehead (BMath ’21) and Robert Cummings (BMath ’21) have been awarded the Alumni Gold Medal and Governor General’s Silver Medal, respectively.

These prestigious medals are awarded to undergraduate students who attain the highest academic standings while completing their degrees. 

Whitehead was a top student in the Pure Mathematics program, achieving a cumulative average of 95.9% and 98.2% faculty average. More than three quarters of Spencer’s courses have an overall average of 95% or higher. 

Cummings, a Computer Science and Combinatorics and Optimization students, obtained the top cumulative average of all students who finished in spring 2020, fall 2020, and winter 2021 at 97.7%. He also achieved the top Faculty average at 98.8% and his outstanding academic record includes 22 course grades of 100%.

Going above and beyond the Medal Criteria, both Whitehead and Cummings made a lasting impact beyond the classroom walls at the Canadian Computing Competition (CCC).  

“Spencer has contributed immensely to problem creation for both the CCC and CCO. He is precise, funny, creative, and gentle. I am extremely pleased that he has been awarded the Alumni Gold Medal” commented Professor Troy Vasiga. 

“Robert’s academic brilliance is complemented by his outstanding personal qualities; his mentoring and support of fellow students is noteworthy,” said Joseph Cheriyan, a Waterloo Combinatorics and Optimization professor.

The University of Waterloo is proud to present the Alumni Gold Medal and Governor General’s Silver Medal to such dedicated students and involved Warriors. Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment, Spencer and Robert! 

Learn more about Whitehead and Cummings in their individual profile stories.