Scholarships and Awards - Mathematics & Statistics

Scholarships and Awards

The Valparaiso mathematics and statistics department has several scholarships, prizes, and awards available to students. They are given for a variety of reasons, from overall academic performance to the high score on an annual exam that tests mathematics skill. Click any link below for information about the award and a list of recipients.

Howard K. Hughes was an Iowa native who earned Applied Baccalaureate and M.S. degrees in mathematics from the University of Iowa, spent a short time at the University of Kansas, and then received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1930. He began a long and distinguished teaching career at Purdue University in 1928, during which he authored a trigonometry text, published a number of papers, and guided eight students to the Ph.D. in mathematics. Upon his retirement from Purdue in 1968, Professor Hughes came to Valparaiso University, where he enjoyed three years.

Professor Hughes always proudly remembered his participation in a mathematics competition at the University of Iowa that resulted in the awarding of the Louden Prize. Professor Hughes resolved to contribute sufficient funds to Valparaiso University, so that recognition might be given for achievement in mathematics at Valpo.

To ensure the participation of science and engineering students, as well as mathematics students, Professor Hughes declared that the purpose of the competition would be to determine the student showing the greatest proficiency in the first four calculus courses. It is with much pride, and the warm memory of a gentle colleague, that we are privileged to award the Hughes Mathematics Prize.

Howard K. Hughes Recipients:

2024 Sam Gronwold
2021 Eric Blassick
2019 Andrew Edwards
2018 Jonathan Bayert
2017 Samuel Iselin
2016 Casey Richardson
2015 Nathaniel Bouman
2014 Peter Jones
2013 Alexander Arensmeier
2012 Timothy Goodrich
2010 Benjamin Macy
2009 Spencer Roach, William Sheline
2008 Adam Shull
2007 Jared Erickson
2004 Nathaniel Leonard, Alicia Zinnecker
2003 Steven Klee
2002 Briana Ehrhardt
2001 Tamara Cundiff, Lara Pudwell
2000 Kathy Cooksey
1998 Mark Kerins
1997 Genevieve Knight
1993 Jonathan DeVilbiss
1992 Eric Lofstad
1989 Doug Limmer
1988 Hope Concannon
1987 Michael Campbell
1986 Jonathan Jank, Julie Stafford
1985 Kristi Keller, Russell Wenzel
1984 Kathy Dempsey
1983 Jonathan Sorenson
1982 Michael Domroese
1981 Norman Kolb, Paul Sarraffe
1980 Karen Toth, James Handrock
1979 Mark Littman, David Halter
1978 Robert Sepanski
1977 Kevin Boettcher
1975 John Dixon
1974 Leslie Poch
1973 Dean Kolba

In the 1950s, Nancy Wehmeier attended Valparaiso University on a scholarship. She majored in mathematics and minored in physics, chemistry, and secondary education. As a senior, she was pleased to receive the Alpha Lambda Delta Award given to the graduating senior woman with the highest grade point average.

Her Valpo experience provided a solid basis for her to pursue a master’s degree at Illinois Institute of Technology, where she received a National Science Foundation Fellowship. After teaching mathematics in high school and college, she had a career at the Chicago Transit Authority where she was Manager of Management and Budget. She now resides in the Chicago area where she serves on numerous boards or for charitable organizations related to education and social service. She has two daughters.

In appreciation for her Valpo education, grounded in Christian values and the scholarship that she received, she and her husband Robert established the Nancy Wehmeier Nagel and Robert B. Nagel Prize. Believing that excellence should be rewarded, they have specified that the award be given to the woman mathematics major, who has the highest grade point average at the end of her senior year.

Nancy Wehmeier Nagel and Robert B. Nagel Recipients:

2023 Gretchen Kuckkan
2022 Robyn Brown
2021 Lexi Gault
2020 Ashley Hire
2019 Stamatina Kalafatis
2018 Brooke LeFevre
2017 Breanna Struss
2016 Cecilia LaCroix
2015 Abby Kenyon
2014 Samantha Cassell
2013 Stephanie Volz
2012 Carly Anderson
2011 Heather Jerry
2010 Joy Helfen
2009 Jenny Reusz
2008 Kimberly Haugen
2007 Deborah Steffen
2006 Elizabeth Brondos
2005 Kathleen Quardokus
2004 Nina Miller
2003 Tamara Cundiff
2002 Christine Dale
2001 Christine Dale

The Martin David Mundt Scholarship was established in memory of the son of Prof. Marvin and Margaret Mundt. The award is made annually to an upper-division student(s) with a major or minor in mathematics.

Martin David Mundt Recipients:

2024 Alex Goworowski
2023 Jacob Griffin
2022 Noah Lang
2021 Eric Yager
2020 Tim DeRolf
2019 Thomas Shomer
2018 Benjamin Levandowski
2017 Calvin Duong
2016 Brian Thompson
2015 Cecilia LaCroix
2014 Puttipong Pongtanapaisan
2013 Samantha Cassell, Abby Kenyon
2012 Michelle Kleckner
2011 Zach Saylor
2010 Adam Shull
2009 Hannah Kwon, Adam Pecher
2008 Jared Erickson
2007 Josh Vredevoogd
2006 Douglas Swanson
2005 Steven Klee
2004 Marjorie Brewer
2003 James Murray, Joseph Puetz
2002 Alan Srock
2001 Kathleen Wisniewski
2000 Wesley Terwey
1999 Amelia Hurlock
1998 Richard Maupin
1997 Katherine Dueringer
1996 Joseph Alyea, Gregory Grossart
1995 Julie Sievers, Angela Janssen
1994 Kirsten Thoney
1993 Julie Peper, Gary Bakkker
1992 Beth Reynolds, Eric Varness
1991 Lori Stoeberl, Doug Limmer
1990 Dayna Gustafson, Tom Thress
1989 Amy Ceder, Marcia Wroblewski

Many “veteran” faculty members, along with many alumni, remember the kind, gentle leader, the father of the CIS department, Kermit Carlson. In the 1940s, he taught at Valparaiso University before and after serving in World War II and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin, one of our country’s leading graduate schools in mathematics. He earned the great respect of outstanding professionals in the field and encouraged and nurtured us to develop skills in this new thing called computer science. In the late 1950s, he had a sense that the computer would have a large impact on higher education, even before those in technical fields began to push for it. He saw the computer as a tool for dynamic mathematics — mathematics in motion. He was a visionary in the true sense of the word.

As chair of the department for many years, beginning in 1957, he built the foundation for this modern department. He was a caring person who attracted caring people to teach at Valparaiso University. He conveyed the feeling that Valpo stood for something worthwhile; we had a mission. He helped to instill in us this feeling of community, mutual respect, and togetherness.

Kermit H. Carlson Recipients:

2024 Kudakwashe Chikonyora
2023 Brook Burbridge
2022 Spencer Gannon
2021 Shreedhar Pandey
2020 Jon Bayert
2019 Jacob Roth
2018 Davina Boykin
2017 Kathryn Lezark
2016 Matthew Klapman
2015 Peter Jones
2014 Adam Clark
2013 Will Olson
2012 Timothy Goodrich
2011 Caleb Grim
2010 Krista Schaefer
2009 Joshua Zuellig
2008 Ansel Hillmer
2007 Ben Anderson
2006 Deborah Steffen
2005 Laura Stellfox
2004 Nina Miller
2003 Josh Persons
2002 Lara Pudwell
2001 Ian Renner
2000 Mark Kerins
1999 Genevieve Knight
1998 Danielle Harmon, Susan Sullivan
1997 Bonnie Stephens
1996 Daniel Felten
1995 Jonathan DeVilbiss

The Denig Endowed Scholarship is granted to those students majoring in math who have a financial need, are in good academic standing, and demonstrate Christian values.

Both Harold and Elizabeth were alumni of Valparaiso University. Harold received his bachelor’s degree in 1941, majoring in business and economics. He was a regional executive for General Electric for 32 years. Harold passed away in 1990. Elizabeth also graduated from Valparaiso University in 1941, with a bachelor’s degree in math. She passed away in 2003. They have two children, Nancy Denig Neubauer and Thomas Denig, who also graduated from Valparaiso University.

Harold and Elizabeth Denig Endowed Scholarship Recipients:

2024 Kurt Brown
2023 Samuel Gronwold
2022 Joely Overstreet
2021 Robyn Brown, Eric Burkholder, Gabe Fragoso
2020 Andrew Edwards
2019 Michael Bukata
2018 Amy Klass
2017 Samuel Iselin
2016 Jordan Bauer
2015 Samuel Prahlow
2014 Shannon Segin
2013 Ian Jones
2012 Alexandra Paradine
2011 Owen Prough
2010 Kelsey Watson
2009 Angie Storer
2008 Jenny Reusz
2007 Kimberly Haugen
2006 Kirsten Keljo
2005 Elizabeth Brondos, Jenna Hammang

Our friend and colleague, Arthur Hallerberg, was among us at Valparaiso University for 18 years. During that time, he represented the epitome of excellence. He was a devoted teacher who prepared meticulously for those students privileged to be in his classes.

As a writer, he generated numerous articles, authored two books, and edited the 31st yearbook of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Historical Topics for the Mathematics Classroom. As chair of the mathematics department, as presiding officer of the University Senate, and as director of nine National Science Foundation Summer Institutes in Mathematics, he set standards of service for all to emulate. His service to larger constituencies, whether to his profession or to his church, was always directed toward the betterment others and his love for his own family was deep and abiding. His untimely death left a deep void.

In the spring of 1980, in memory of Professor Hallerberg, Valparaiso University hosted a Symposium on the Use of History in the Teaching of Mathematics. Many national and international figures of the mathematical community attended to memorialize Professor Hallerberg’s consummate scholarship. It is therefore most fitting that there be a Hallerberg Memorial Endowed Scholarship encourages students to emulate his scholarship, service, and Christian commitment; those attributes that earned him the love and respect of all with whom he shared God’s many blessings.

Arthur E. Hallerberg Scholarship Recipients:

2024 Amy Rediger
2023 Gretchen Kuckkan, Lane Scheel
2022 Brooke Palmer
2021 Crista Ventrone
2020 Austin Atterbury, Robyn Brown
2019 Nicky Lewandowski
2018 Alexander Bruno
2017 Brooke LeFevre
2016 Breanna Struss
2015 Brittany Reynolds
2014 Kathryn Merkling
2013 Dan Leighty
2012 Katerina Koutouvas, Janelle Hobbs
2011 Carly Anderson
2010 Peter Ellingsen
2009 Joy Helfen
2008 Bailey Holloway, Kristen Lyons
2007 Carissa Heinold
2006 Ryan Turner
2005 Melanie Simpson
2004 Anna Bickel
2003 Eric Funke, Erin Lo Bue, Drew Trost
2002 Betsy Richardson
2001 Jennifer Engelhardt
2000 Joseph Wurzburger
1999 Ellen Goetz, Jason Adler
1998 Ryan Collier
1997 Anne Hoft
1996 Kristen Myers
1995 Andrew Richardson
1994 Christina Dunklau
1993 Kimberly Meyer, Timothy Maxson
1991 Steven Tripenfeldas
1990 Dana Goldstrand, Rhonda Kraus
1989 Diane Atwood
1988 Tammy Benner
1987 Cynthia Cardels, Martin Hofer
1986 Kim Wasserman, Susan Wilson
1985 Darryl Schultz
1984 Donna Hildebrandt
1983 Lisa Dombrowski
1982 Susan Kalemba

Sigma is the mathematical notation for summation, or adding things up. Students who are honored with the Sigma award have been involved in the mathematics and statistics department in multiple capacities and are honored for the sum of their activities.

Sigma Award Recipients:

2022 Eric Burkholder, Marcus Engstrom
2021 Tim DeRolf, Andrew Edwards, Hannah Pleasant
2020 Nicky Lewandowski, Jacob Roth, Thomas Shomer
2019 Tina Kalafatis, Ryan Kulwicki, Jon Metcalfe
2018 Abigail Larson, Kathryn Lezark
2017 Brian Thompson
2016 Nichole Smith, Bill Mackelfresh, Daniel Groth
2015 Puttipong Pongtanapaisan, Adam Clark, Christine Warner
2014 Timothy Goodrich, Michael Stuck, Ruyue Yuan

Analogous to the Sigma award, the D.A.S.H. award recognizes students who are graduating with a major in data science, actuarial science, or statistics and who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance in one of these three disciplines.

D.A.S.H. Award Recipients:

2024 Prashant Bhatta, Austin Hofman, Justin Self
2023 Grace Edwards, Caleb VanArragon
2022 Cassandra McMorrow, Madison Gawlinski, Gabriel Fragoso
2021 Julia Allen, Terry Wade
2020 Adi Johnson, Mackenzie Faurote, Mark Young
2019 Emma Chelsvig, Daniel Herschel, Kimberly Orr
2018 Adam Apel, Andrew Flasch, Grace Rogers
2017 Jordan Bauer, Matthew Klapman

The Actuarial Science Exam Award recognizes students who have passed one or more actuarial exams before graduation from Valparaiso University.

2023 Prashant Bhatta, Kudakwashe Chikonyora