2021 Alumni Gold Medal awarded to Spencer Whitehead

His unwavering commitment to excellence and outstanding academic performance makes Spencer Whitehead (BMath ’21) the recipient of the Alumni Gold Medal for the Faculty of Mathematics. The medal is awarded by recommendation from the Dean of Mathematics, in recognizing alumni for their previous academic achievements. 

Whitehead was a top student in the Pure Mathematics program, achieving a truly impressive cumulative average of 95.889% and a very impressive 98.242% faculty average. He achieved an overall average of 95% or higher in over three quarters of his courses. Whitehead’s academic achievements amazed the Faculty of Mathematics Medal Committee due to the breadth of his studies, and extraordinary student record.

He not only made an impact in academics but also within the University’s community, in particular the Canadian Computing Competition (CCC). In 2016, Spencer qualified for the Canadian Computing Olympiad (CCO) and received a silver medal, finishing in the top 11. From 2017 to 2021, Spencer volunteered as a CCO houseparent, acting as a tutor, chaperone, and guide for the next generation of CCO competitors. “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.

Going above and beyond medal criteria, Whitehead co-authored three papers during his Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA) terms. One paper ‘On a smoothness characterization for good moduli spaces’, co-authored with Dan Edidin and associate professor Matthew Satriano, won him the prestigious Jessie W.H. Zou Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.

The University of Waterloo is proud to present the Alumni Gold Medal to such a dedicated alumnus who continues to exceed in his field.

Learn more about the top students awarded prestigious Faculty of Mathematics medals for the 2021 convocation.