29^th Annual Pythagorean Prize
Ceremony and Reception
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Waterman A – C (in the Vistatech Center)
Start time is 2:30 p.m., with presentations at 3:00 p.m.

Learn More & Apply to the Prize

History of the Pythagorean Prize and how to Qualify

The Pythagorean Prize is an annual Mathematics department award that recognizes the top 3 mathematics students of the academic year. It’s our department’s biggest prize, which was founded by Mathematics Professor emeritus Larry Williams. He created the competition back in 1995.

The Prize is a highly celebrated and supported one! Not only are those within the Schoolcraft Mathematics department involved in supporting and sustaining the Prize, but many other departments around campus, as well as within the community at-large, have been generously supporting it as well. In fact, we’ve been very fortunate and blessed to be able to award our top 3 winners in recent years as follows: $3000 to our first-place winner, $1500 to our second-place winner, and $1000 to our third-place winner. This is all in thanks to many generous individuals and departments, including, but not limited to: President of Schoolcraft College, Dr. Cerny, the Office of our Chief Academic Officer, the family of Floyd and Marian Kehrl, the Schoolcraft College Foundation, the Student Activities Office, and many, many more. We are grateful for the continuous support we receive from the College and surrounding community. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to recognize these amazing students in this unique and special way.

The competition for the prize is fierce, and not everybody that applies qualifies for it. In order to qualify for the Prize, applicants must meet the following criterion:

• Be enrolled and have taken classes at Schoolcraft College during Fall or Winter semester of the academic year of presentation.
• Be completing or have completed at least three mathematics courses at Schoolcraft College, with at least one course at the Math 200 level or above.
• Have an overall grade point average of at least 3.25.
• Have a grade point average of at least 3.50 in mathematics courses.
• Not have been a first place winner of this award previously.
• Have completed and submitted an application and essay by the deadline date.

Moreover, students are required to write and submit an essay with their application submission. This essay is a key component, as it helps the committee members to get a well-rounded snapshot of the applicant. Their life stories, journey to the Prize, and how mathematics is a part of who they are is nothing less than inspiring! And if that weren’t enough, many of our winners also serve the College in big and impactful ways. Some examples include being tutors at the Learning Center, participating in the Math and Physics Club, being active members of our Phi Theta Kappa chapter, being Peer Assisted Learners, etc.