Math & Statistics honors event welcomes inductees, thanks others

April 17, 2023

Faculty/staff report

Mu Sigma Rho (statistics honorary) new inductees with faculty advisor Mike Larsen at right.

The Department of Mathematics & Statistics held its annual honors and recognition event on Friday, April 14, 2024, at 3:15 p.m. in Jeanmarie Hall 380.

Seven students became inductees into Mu Sigma Rho, the national honorary society for statistics. Its purpose is the promotion and encouragement of scholarly activity in statistics, and the recognition of outstanding achievement among the students and instructional staff. Three Saint Michael’s seniors were inductees last year.

Professor Michael Larsen is the faculty advisor for Mu Sigma Rho. Eight students were inductees in Pi Mu Epsilon, the national mathematics honors society, in October of 2022.

One student took the 83rd William Lowell Putnam mathematical competition. The “Putnam Exam” is the premier undergraduate mathematical competition in the world. Students study past problems, methods of solution, and advanced mathematics in preparation. Professor Amir Barghi is the faculty advisor for the Putnam study group.

Those gathered also honored these student graders and tutors from mathematics and statistics.

The Department recognized the excellent contributions of Professor Pat Bunt (physics) for teaching MA 130 Elements of Calculus and Professor Maria José Magalhães (adjunct) for teaching ST 120 Elementary Statistics this year.

Finally, certificates of appreciation went to 10 students for their important role as graders and tutors in 2022-23 (photo at left). Also present were some friends and family, and faculty members George Ashline, Chris Desjardins, Jif Hefferon, Cornelia Mihaila, and Barbara O’Donovan. The day’s program included time for photos and refreshments.

Mu Sigma Rho, continuing members: Summer Chaponis,’23, Parker Lambert,’23, Kevin Russell ’23, Aidan Westfall ’23; Mu Sigma Rho, inductees 2023: MiKayla Ball ’23, Alexander Chirgwin ’23, Camille Gallagher ’24, Mia Gardner ’24, Swapnil Jhajharia’24, Eiley Murphy’23. Seamus Stein’23, Putnam Exam 2022 participant Aidan Westfall’23; Graders and tutors 2022-23: Sky Bickings’24, Summer Chaponis’23, Camille Gallagher’24, Mia Gardner’24, Zac Hinds’23, Parker Lambert’23, Bernadette Lesieur’25, W. Gray Pierson’24, Olivia Stebbins’24, D. Ty Wick ’26; Faculty acknowledgments: Professor Pat Bunt, instructor of physics, MA 130 Elements of Calculus; Professor Maria Jose Magalhaes, adjunct instructor, ST 120 Elementary Statistics.