The Department of Mathematics is delighted to announce the inaugural recipients of the Professor Alfonso Gracia-Saz Memorial Scholarship: Xiangyu Li and Chong Un. The scholarship is awarded to a first-year, full-time undergraduate student in Math & Physical Sciences, based on achieving the highest score in the International Math Olympiad or a comparable mathematics competition the year prior to their admission.
The scholarship was established in honor of the late Alfonso Gracia-Saz, an associate professor in the Department of Mathematics. He was a well-recognized mathematician and educator who taught some of the largest and most challenging courses at the University while enhancing the student experience. He co-led the recruiting and training of the University of Toronto Putnam Math Competition team and also served as an instructor for the Canada/USA MathCamp. His extraordinary contributions to mathematics education were recognized by the 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award of the Canadian Mathematical Society.
Professor Gracia-Saz’s legacy lives on through this scholarship, empowering students to achieve their full potential. Xiangyu Li, a student in the mathematics specialist program, expressed his excitement upon receiving the award, stating:
I am extremely honored to be a recipient of this scholarship. As I enter my second year of the mathematics specialist program, this award motivates me to continue pursuing mathematics at the university level and beyond. In particular, I look forward to deepening my knowledge of algebra, analysis, and topology during my time at U of T. These areas are not only rich with beautiful ideas but also lay the foundations for the mathematical research I wish to pursue.
Chong Un, a student in the mathematics and physics specialist program with additional interests in computer science and chemistry, also conveyed his gratitude. He shared:
I want to remember Professor Alfonso Gracia-Saz and his contribution to education and thank the department for acknowledging my achievement in high school. I wish to attain a solid mathematical foundation and explore some interdisciplinary topics in physical science in my degree.