Harrelson News–2000
The Undergraduate Program (1998–1999)
by Robert T. Ramsay, Director of Undergraduate Programs
The enrollment in the undergraduate programs in mathematics at the end of the 1998-99 academic year was 266 students, up from a total of approximately 242 last year. The total of 266 students included 152 students who had mathematics as their only major, and 114 students who had two or more majors. 146 students were in the curriculum designated as MA (BS in Mathematics), 8 students were in the curriculum designated as MAA (BS in Mathematics, Applied Option) and 112 students were in the curriculum designated as AMA (BS in Applied Mathematics). The entering class of freshman mathematics majors for the Fall of 1998 consisted of 24 students with an average SAT score well over 1300. This class included two Park Scholars and two Caldwell Scholars.
During the 1998-99 academic year, 50 students graduated from our undergraduate programs. Thirty-one of the graduates were women. Six of the graduates were African-American and five were of the other non-white minorities. Twenty-six of these students were in the MA curriculum, two were in the MAA curriculum and twenty-two were in the AMA curriculum. Forty-six of the fifty provided information about their future plans: 10 are entering graduate or professional schools, 20 have accepted job offers or were going into teaching, 12 are looking for jobs, 4 are completing a degree in another major.
SUM, the Mathematics Club, had another active year with monthly meetings during the academic year. Three of these meetings focused on career opportunities for math and applied math majors. Pam Floryanzia from the NCSU Career Center was the guest speaker for the September 1998 meeting. She gave advice and information about the services available through the Career Center. Charles Dunn, a consulting actuary, talked at the October 1998 meeting about the careers in actuarial science. He also talked about the class he offered Spring Semester 1999, which covered areas of actuarial mathematics involving life contingencies. Finally, Trisha Brady, a former NCSU math major, was one of two representatives from Milliken & Company who spoke at the SUM meeting on February 9, 1999. Trisha, who works in Information Services for Milliken in Spartanburg, SC, talked about the type of work she does there.
Another activity worth noting is the participation of our students in several mathematics contests at the regional and national levels. Joel Ebel was the top NC State student in the 20th Annual Virginia Tech Regional Math Contest, placing in the top 25 out of 186 contestants from 34 schools in the Southeast. David Weaver and Laura Weston were the top NC State students in the 59th William Lowell Putnam Competition, both placing in the top 500 out of 2,581 contestants. Robert Daland, a senior math major, organized three teams of three students each to participate in the 1999 Mathematical Contest in Modeling. These teams were sponsored jointly by the Mathematics Department and the Computer Science Department. Two of these teams received Honorable Mention recognition.
The number of undergraduate students who are getting involved in research activity continues to grow. This Spring, the first ever Undergraduate Research Symposium was held in April. Michael Binger, Owen Eslinger, and Jesus Rodriguez gave talks on their research.
Below is a list of graduating seniors, indicating the honors the students earned.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS
Degrees Conferred June 1998
Spencer Pell Austin
Ryan Michael Czerwiec, Magna Cum Laude
Mary Elizabeth Lassiter, Magna Cum Laude
Degrees Conferred December 1998
Sarah Jane Haldeman, Summa Cum Laude
Amanda Cowles Hudson, Summa Cum Laude
Jack Robinette Hunter
Bonnie Faye Shamlin
Emily Elizabeth White
Degrees Conferred May 1999
Alec Joseph Clevenger, Magna Cum Laude
Keri Diane Clifton
Timothy Ellsworth Dunn
Owen John Eslinger, Summa Cum Laude
Yancy Derek Hufford
Angel Michelle Hullette, Magna Cum Laude
Jessica Rachel Jaynes, Magna Cum Laude
Ping Michael Lin, Magna Cum Laude
Lisa Ann McCool, Summa Cum Laude
Mary Kathryn Nielsen
Robert Michael O'Neill, Cum Laude
Jesus Francisco Rodriguez, Cum Laude
Kimberly Cheaton Smith
Jonathan Allen Stephenson, Cum Laude
Tina Julian Tedder
Kristy Ann Tolar, Cum Laude
Quynh Ngoc Tran, Valedictorian
Benjamin Lee Trzaskoma, Magna Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS
Degrees Conferred December 1998
Allyson Nicole Austin
Michelle Jean Cobb
Misty Annette Greer, Cum Laude
Carolyn Lamar Holloway
Steven Carlos Jones
Marcela Christina Musgrove
T. Jacob Nicholson
Degrees Conferred May 1999
Michael William Binger, Summa Cum Laude
Erin Jean Bowman, Cum Laude
Larry Lee Brown, Jr.
Melanie Christine Clark
Dulce Martinez Datiles
Richard Brent Dozier
Karen Denise Godwin
Jeni Alicia Hedrick
Tammy Katrine Hodges
Renee Marie Johnson, Summa Cum Laude
Joel Carl Kress
Annie Joyce Mitchell
Stacy Lynn Parker
Lea Angela Truman, Magna Cum Laude
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS, APPLIED OPTION
Conferred December 1998
Daniel Scott Wilkins, Cum Laude
Degrees Conferred May 1999
Eve Belle Hullette, Cum Laude
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
PAMS Awards
Leadership (Fall 1998): Carolyn Lamar Holloway
Scholarly Achievement (Spring 1999): Michael William Binger
Research (Spring 1999): Michael William Binger
Mathematics Awards
Outstanding Graduating Seniors in Mathematics: Richard Brent Dozier,
Lisa Ann McCoolJohn Cell Scholarship: Richard Brent Dozier
Mary Alice and Hubert V. Park Scholarships: Lea Angela Truman, Owen John Eslinger
Jack Levine-Charles Anderson Award: David Vincent Weaver
Charles Anderson Scholarship: Quinten Y. Anderson
Mrs. Roberts C. Bullock Scholarship: Robert Theodore Daland
Dr. Rebecca R. Bullock Scholarship: Lisa Ann McCool
Howard A. Petrea Scholarship: Christopher Brian Truman
Carey Mumford Scholarship: Chaunston Levar Avery