The Department of Mathematics closed out the academic year on Wednesday, April 29, with its annual End of Academic Year Celebration and Undergraduate Awards Ceremony—bringing together students, faculty, and families to recognize a year of hard work and achievement.
More than 60 attendees gathered for the celebration, sharing food from local favorites Jenny’s Kuali, Plaza Azteca, and Wegmans while reconnecting with classmates, mentors, and friends. The event reflected the close-knit, collaborative spirit that defines the department.
Graduate Director Xiaofeng Sun opened the program by recognizing graduate students preparing to complete their degrees this spring and summer. The evening also provided an opportunity to welcome new members of the department and thank visiting faculty for their contributions.
Graduate Recognition
Several graduate students will complete their degrees in 2026, including master’s students in Mathematics and Statistics & Data Science, as well as doctoral candidates whose work spans mathematics, applied mathematics, and statistics and data science.
Spring 2026 — Master of Science (MS)
Sam Dayton (Mathematics)
Eponine Farber (Mathematics)
Gillian Gottlieb (Mathematics)
Isabelle Hanley (Mathematics)
Zicheng Huang (Statistics & Data Science)
Adam Shaker (Mathematics)
Spring 2026 — Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Sihong Pan (Mathematics, Advisor: Mark Skandera)
Zhaoping Yang (Mathematics, Advisor: Rob Neel)
Summer 2026 — Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Steven Berger (Applied Mathematics, Advisor: Wei-Min Huang)
Blake Bortnick (Mathematics, Advisor: Andrew Harder)
Dylan Hafner (Mathematics, Advisor: Si Tang)
Lu Zhang (Applied Mathematics, Advisor: Yue Yu)
PhD Graduates — Sihong Pan (Spring 2026) and Lu Zhang (Summer 2026)
Undergraduate Awards
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of undergraduate awards by Professors Terry Napier and Mark Skandera. Each student was recognized for their academic achievement and contributions to the department.
C.C. Hsiung Award — Joshua Hall
Recognizes an outstanding senior for excellence and contributions to the study of mathematics.
Mathematics Faculty Award — Chris Giannaras
Honors exceptional ability and promise in mathematics.
Thornburg Mathematics Prize — Ben Spahiu
Awarded to the senior with the strongest record in advanced mathematics coursework.
Elisha P. Wilbur Mathematics Prize — Hamza Al Farsi and Griffin Moore
Recognizes outstanding performance in early undergraduate mathematics courses.
Congratulations to all of our graduates and award recipients. Your work reflects the strength, curiosity, and dedication of the Mathematics Department community.
Spotlight Recipient
Joshua Hall
C. C. Hsiung Award