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.
Dan Ursu, a PhD student in the Department of Pure Mathematics has received the 2021 Huawei Prizes for Best Research Paper by a Mathematics Graduate Student. Ursu is one of two students to receive this prestigious award.
“Two of my high school math teachers were alumni of Waterloo Math, and they constantly raved about the university,” remembered Gurtaj Dhaliwal. In spite of his teachers’ occasionally excessive cheerleading, the Brampton native pursued his passion for mathematics to the Department of Pure Mathematics within the Waterloo Faculty of Mathematics. “I love that moment where a difficult abstract concept just clicks,” he expressed. “Pure Math lets me delve deeper and deeper into the mental challenge of solving puzzles.”
One of the 2019/2020 recipients of the Faculty of Mathematics Award for Distinction in Teaching was Kathryn Hare.
The award recognizes the teachers’ consistent demonstration of outstanding pedagogical skills and a deep commitment to their students’ education.
The faculty presents a maximum of two Faculty of Mathematics Award for Distinction in Teaching annually. Outstanding teachers at all levels, from first-year through to graduate studies, are eligible with recipients receiving a public citation along with a cash prize.
“While working as an instructional support assistant (ISA), I remember the first time a professor asked for a volunteer to teach a lecture while he was at a conference,” remembers Josué Kurke. “My hand shot up. I donned a professorial kind of jacket with the elbow patches and went all out. Over time, I’ve realized that I feel most at home in front of a classroom. I want to spend my career talking to people about math.”
Learn more about this student studying Pure Mathematics and Combinatorics & Optimization.
Pure Mathematics Professor William Slofstra has received a 2020 Faculty of Mathematics Golden Jubilee Research Excellence Award.
The Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS) has recognized Professor Kathryn Hare as part of the Third Inaugural Class of Fellows.
One of nine women named a CMS Fellow, Hare has been a faculty member in the Department of Pure Mathematics since 1988. Since that time, she has received several honours and awards including:
Early in his second year of medical school, Jose Luiz Avilez realized he wanted something different than medical school could offer. In his heart, he knew he wanted to study mathematics. It was a difficult decision, but by 2016 he was applying to universities.
“A friend of mine who studied at Waterloo told me about its program in Mathematical Finance and that it has a co-op program,” remembered Avilez. “I was sold.”
Learn more about Avilez's experience.
Zhenyuan Zhang, a pure mathematics major at the University of Waterloo, has received an honorary mention for the 2020 Jessie W.H. Zou Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research.