Dio Lewis Holl Awards
The Dio L. Holl Awards are given in memory of Dio L. Holl. Dr. Holl was born in
Canton, Ohio, January 7, 1895. He received an A.B. degree from Manchester College in
1917, an A.M. from Ohio State University in 1920, and a Ph.D. from the University of
Chicago in 1925. He served in World War I during 1918-1919. From 1923 until 1925,
Dr. Holl taught at Ohio Wesleyan University. He was appointed an assistant professor at
Iowa State College in 1925. He taught in the Mathematics Department at Iowa State from
1925 until his death in 1954. Dr. Holl was professor and head of the department for nine
years. Dr. Holl was interested both in mathematics and in the teaching of mathematics.
He was recognized on the Iowa State campus as a powerful teacher for both graduate and
undergraduate students.
Income from the endowment is used each spring to make monetary awards to outstanding
undergraduate mathematics majors. Initially, there will be each spring one award of $500
to an outstanding mathematics major who is classified as a senior and also one award of
$500 to an outstanding mathematics major who is classified as a junior. As the endowment
grows, the award amounts may be increased or additional awards may be given to
outstanding junior or senior mathematics majors.
The award recipients will be chosen each spring by the following criteria and procedures:
- 1. The eligible students will be undergraduates who are enrolled that spring semester
as mathematics majors and who are either juniors or seniors. Classification as a senior or
junior shall be determined as of the beginning of that spring semester. Candidates may
have other majors in addition to the mathematics major.
- 2. For each class (junior or senior), the ten eligible students with the highest overall
grade point average will be identified. In the case of ties, slightly more than ten may be so
identified. These students will constitute the "award pool" for each class. For each class,
the recipient will be chosen from this award pool.
- 3. The Undergraduate Committee of the Mathematics Department according to the
current Governance Document consists of six elected members of the faculty, the
Coordinator of Undergraduate Studies, and the Department Executive Officer or her/his
designate. This committee (or its future equivalent) shall select the winners of the Dio L.
Holl awards for each class.
- 4. The committee will select the most worthy recipient for each class from the award
pool on the basis of skill in mathematics, ingenuity in mathematics, and accomplishment in
mathematics. They will consider such factors as mathematics courses taken and
involvement in mathematics activities such as the Putnam Exam or the writing of
professional papers.
- 5. No student may win the Dio L. Holl award more than once.
If you have questions about the award or wish to apply, contact
Professor Jim Wilson
396D Carver
294-9816