Date Published: Nov. 27, 2017
Sophomore Mary Kate Tomassi, BA ’20, “embodies the diligent student who loves learning mathematics,” explained
Assistant Professor of Mathematics John Osoinach, as faculty and students gathered
in Constantin Garden on Wednesday, Nov. 15, to honor Tomassi’s achievement as UD’s
first recipient of the Waldemar J. Trjitzinsky Memorial Award.
As one of seven undergraduates to receive this year’s award given by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), Tomassi will delve further into the field of mathematics in her studies at UD, as well as explore her interest in computer science. UD was one of seven schools in the country selected by the AMS to bestow the award on one worthy student who plans on pursuing a career in mathematics.
“There are plenty of deserving math students at UD,” said Tomassi. “I’m honored to receive such an award, and I’m especially grateful for the support of my professors in the Mathematics Department.”
Although still undecided where her career in mathematics will take her after UD, Tomassi would like to make a positive impact in society by working on issues such as homelessness or human trafficking. “Mathematics allows you to explore and work in so many different disciplines,” she said.
“I truly enjoy studying mathematics, because it gives you an opportunity to further explore philosophical thought in a more tangible sense,” she said. “Learning about the process of mathematics has helped me form better methods of decision making and critical thinking, which benefit not only my studies at UD but my day-to-day life.”
According to her award biography, “Mary Kate is one of those rare students who not only excels in mathematics, but also embraces the mathematics culture at the university by working in the Mathematics Department office.”
Additionally, Texas Right to Life named Tomassi one of 38 2017 Dr. Joseph Graham College Fellows in April. Over the summer, she participated in a week-long training program as part of this fellowship to gain pro-life knowledge and leadership skills to bring back to UD.
This year celebrates the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Waldemar J. Trjitzinsky Memorial Awards, which was made possible by a bequest from the estate of Waldemar J., Barbara G. and Juliette Trjitzinsky. These funds help support mathematics students who lack financial resources. Each year the society selects a number of geographically distributed schools who in turn make one-time awards to assist students in pursuit of mathematics careers.
In April of 2013, senior mathematics major Hoai-Ngoc Ngo presented her research in
Biomathematics at the 93rd annual Texas section meeting of the Mathematical Association
of America. The conference drew faculty and students from across the state, contributing
100 talks in total, nearly half of which were by undergraduates presenting their research.
For her talk titled, Diversity and Homogeneity Revealed in SSR Analyses of NCGR Cultivars,
Ngoc received first prize for the depth of her research as well as her exceptional
presentation. In her research, Ngoc applied both statistical techniques and vector
analysis to the problem of determining the genetic fingerprints of cranberry cultivars.
Since previous crosses of cranberry cultivars have produced advantageous offspring,
the goal of this research was to assist in the process of developing new and desirable
cranberry cultivars. Using her statistical and mathematical techniques, Ngoc was able
to find many discrepancies within previously identified cultivars, and consequently
she was able to demonstrate the need to change the approach used to determine the
pedigrees of these cultivars.
2016 Joseph Andrews
2015 Luke Simmons
2014 Sarah Nicholson
2013 Elizabeth Tasler
2012 Jeremy Smith
2011 Joseph Simmons
2010 Benjamin White
2009 Rafael Carrasco
2008 Joseph Hejkal
2005 Michael Humphries
2004 Joshua Cole
2003 Gregory Nicholas Benes
2002 Travis Brown
2001 Jonathan Engle
1999 Jane Burkett, Carol Gwosdz, Alena Oetting
1997 Tyson Kackley, Nicola Mullan, Erin Vculek
1995-1996 Tyson Kackley, Brian Klingele
1993-1994 Tyson Kackley, Sean Walbran
1992-1993 Philip Muth
1991-1992 Allison Eskritt, Sean Walbran
1990-1991 Sally O'Neill, Paul Speaker
1989-1990 Sally O'Neill, John Pickert
UD students not only read St. Augustine's Confessions in Rome, traveling to Ostia to marvel at the place in which, according to Book IX, St. Augustine and his mother, St. Monica, had a joint mystical vision of God -- they also travel 4.4 miles from the Irving campus to read the text with residents of South Irving.
+ Read MoreAs you know if you’ve read even some of our first UD Reads book, "All the Light We Cannot See," it’s possible to build a radio from random, scavenged parts, as long as you can find the necessary random, scavenged parts, as Werner does in the book. This is also essentially what Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Physics Jacob Moldenhauer did as well: He scavenged parts from the Physics Department, and built a radio.
+ Read MoreThe University of Dallas Board of Trustees announced today that it has unanimously selected Thomas S. Hibbs, Ph.D., BA '82 MA '83, to serve as the university's ninth president. The first alumnus of UD to be president, Hibbs has served as dean of the Honors College and distinguished professor of ethics and culture at Baylor University since 2003.
+ Read More
