The Betti and Robert Giles Senior Mathematics Award is the Math Department's most prestigious award for undergraduate students. It carries a cash award plus a mathematics book selected by the student. It is presented each Spring to usually one, but sometimes two, outstanding seniors in Math. This award is given on the basis of overall GPA, performance in mathematics, and recommendations from mathematics faculty members.
The award is funded by the Robert T. and Betti A. Giles Mathematics Education Fund (originally named the Mathematics Education Fund). This fund was started so that Robert and Betti Giles could honor their love of mathematics. It was also a way to help them get through their grief when Betti's brother, Michael Pharr, died. The Giles were also inspired by mathematician Paul Erdős who gave math awards around the country. With the Senior Math Award the Giles want to touch the lives of young people who love math.
Recipients of the Award
- 2023: Michael Gravois
- 2022: Andrea Bourque
- 2021: Clinten Graham
- 2020: Anna Morgan
- 2019: Logan Hart
- 2018: Derek Walker
- 2017: John Everett Moser
- 2016: Colleen Robichaux
- 2015: Paxton Turner
- 2014: Laura Johnson
- 2013: Sarah Seger
- 2012: Jordan Keller
- 2011: Philip Benge
- 2010: Jennifer Ribbeck
- 2009: Brittan Farmer
- 2008: Irina Holmes (née Craciun)
- 2008: Nickolas M. VanMeter
- 2007: Daniel Scott Whitman
- 2006: Edgar Alexander Mollere
- 2005: Miao Xu
- 2005: Kathleen Larkin Spires
- 2004: Christina Ashley Fannin
- 2003: Wei Zhao
- 2003: Thomas Andrew Moseder
- 2002: Aaron Christopher McDavid
- 2002: Sage Michelle Accardo
- 2001: Michael Jacob Lohman
- 2000: Brian James McMahon
- 2000: Lisa Dianne Comeaux
- 1999: Ted Edward Booth
- 1999: Christopher David Boston
- 1998: Kenneth Frank Scianna
- 1998: Kevin Scott Brown
- 1997: Laura Anne Pace
- 1996: Martin Erik Nyberg
- 1995: Rebecca Lynn Ledet
- 1994: Erica Lynn Zimmer
- 1994: Tvonne Marie Hebert
- 1993: Julie Ann Mihalcik
- 1993: John David Case
- 1992: Jeffrey Barton
- 1992: Dave Wilson Browning
- 1991: Carol Ann Sansoucie
- 1990: Alexander Perlis
- 1989: James Elmo Tarver
- 1988: Arlene Elsie Jones
- 1987: Philip Quartararo