Mathematics Department members honored at Faculty Recognition Lunch

Two mathematics department members were honored at last week's Faculty Recognition Lunch.  Professor Andersen received Provost’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.  While Provost Boelkins noted many of Dr. Andersen's accomplishment in areas of teaching and curriculum development, he also noticed that she is frequently seen around campus without shoes.  Therefore, in addition to the award, he also presented her with a number of pairs of shoes ranging from colorful slippers to go-go boots to fur covered mukluks.  From this picture shown here, you can see that she still prefers to go shoeless.

Another major award was presented to that calculus-loving dog Elvis Bogart Wales.  He was presented a honorary doctorate of literature for his numerous publications during the past year.  His citation read "Honoris Causa Ad Gradum Admitto Litterarum Doctoris Caninarum."  Elvis is shown wearing the hood he also received at the ceremony.

Time to start making plans for the summer

Enjoy college?  How could you make it better?  How about:

1. Work hard during the day and have evenings totally free for recreation.
2. Be able to concentrate on just one project.
3. Work together with other students who are motivated and engaged.
4. GET PAID rather than pay.

Sound too good to be true?  It happens every summer via the NSF-REU summer mathematics research at Hope College.  Scores of students from around the country apply for the eight week program which pays $2600.  Several positions are reserved for Hope students, so you are encouraged to apply.

Application is easy; just check out www.math.hope.edu/reu.html.  Since we know you, you don't need letters of recommendations. See professors Tim Pennings or Aaron Cinzori if you have any questions.  Jim Boerkoel, Andrew Wells, Brandon Alleman, and Mike Cortez did research last year, so feel free to check with them as well.

The first mathematics colloquium of the semester is scheduled for next week Thursday

Not sure what you want to do with your math major?  Ever thought about becoming an actuary?  Often at the top of job rankings, a career as an actuary is desirable to many.  You can find out more information about the actuarial field at the mathematics colloquium next week Thursday, January 22 at 4:00 p.m. in VZN 297.  The colloquium is titled, "So, you don't want to teach or go to grad school?" and will be presented by Beth Sanders (Hope class of 1999) who is currently working for Deloitte.  She will inform us about various types of actuaries, exams required for credentials, and about a typical day for a pension actuary.  The talk will be appropriate for all levels of students.

Sign up for the First Annual Mathematics Spring Bowling-Pizza Biacet

Take a break from the January doldrums! Get your blood flowing with a little bowling action and then thicken it up with Mario's pizza - the best in town. Bowling begins at 11:00 a.m., Saturday January 24, at Holland Bowling on the corner of 9th St. and Central Ave. (a stone's throw from VanderWerf).  We'll come back to VanderWerf for pizza at 12:30. A valuable prize will be given out for the best bowling score.

If you plan to attend, include your name on the sign-up sheet that is located on the wall across from Tim Pennings's office at 213 VWF.

While most of you were studying for exams during the weekend before exam week, four Hope students were taking the Putnam Exam.  The William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, administered by the Mathematical Association of America, is the most prestigious mathematical competition for undergraduates in the nation.  It took place on Saturday, December 6, 2003.  The students participating at Hope were Jim Boerkoel, Peter VanWylen, and Stefan Coltisor.  (Mike Rininger also took the exam while in Budapest.)  Professor Stoughton administered the exam and took the students to lunch that day as well.

Mathematical Contest in Modeling to take place next month

The Mathematical Contest in Modeling is an international competition in which teams of two or three students produce a solution to an open-ended, real world, mathematical modeling problem. The competition takes place over a long weekend. The problems are announced on a Thursday evening, and the completed solution is due on the following Monday evening. Over the course of the weekend, the competitors pick one of the three announced problems, then research the situation and prepare a solution. For students interested in applied mathematics, this is a great opportunity to see what mathematical modeling is like.

Traditionally, students from small liberal arts colleges, such as Hope, have done well in this competition. The reason for this is that, in addition to doing the mathematics, each problem requires the solution to communicate the findings to a non-mathematical audience in some way.  More information is available at http://www.comap.com/undergraduate/contests/mcm/.  In addition to information about this contest, you can link to previous contest questions at this site.

This year the competition will take place from 8 p.m. on Thursday, February 5 through 8 p.m. on Monday, February 9. If you are interested in getting more information or competing, please contact Prof. Cinzori (cinzori@hope.edu.)  The deadline for applications is Wednesday, February 4.

Mike Rininger to speak on the Budapest Mathematics Semester

Mike Rininger, a mathematics major who is studying in Budapest, Hungary for the academic year is back in Holland on break and has agreed to share some of his impressions and experiences related to the Budapest Mathematics Semester.  Mike will speak on Thursday, January 22 at 11:00 a.m. during a special coffee hour at the Fried International Center.  If you are interested in studying mathematics in Budapest or just want some information about the program, make sure you attend this event.

The Budapest Mathematics Semester provides a unique opportunity for North American juniors or seniors to spend one or two semesters in Budapest and study under the tutelage of eminent Hungarian scholar-teachers. The instructors of Budapest Semesters in Mathematics are members of Eötvös University and the Mathematical Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the two institutions known for having educated more than half of Hungary's highly acclaimed mathematicians. Most instructors have had teaching experience in North America and are familiar with the cultural differences. All courses are taught in English and credits are transferable to North American colleges and universities.   More information about this program can be found at http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/math/budapest/.

Where was my math prof last week?

If you couldn't seem to find your mathematics professor last week, it may be because he or she decided to skip out on our frigid weather and head to Phoenix.  Professors Andersen, Bekmetjev, Catalano, Stoughton, and Tanis were attending the Joint Mathematics Meetings in sunny and warm Phoenix, Arizona. 

20:0:3  40:9  1:6:81 6:59:8 35:8:1 12:90 8:2:44 2004.