Scholarships

Fall 2025: The deadline for the Fall 2025 Department of Mathematics and Statistics Scholarships is at 4PM on October 31st. Please apply with this Google Form once it is available.

Each year, the Department of Mathematics and Statistics awards scholarships to deserving mathematics majors and graduate students. The purpose of these awards is to encourage academic excellence by honoring our best students. These scholarships are funded through donations by friends of the department. Information and application forms are available in the spring semester and scholarship winners are honored at a reception. The Department of Mathematics Scholarships were first awarded in 1983. Each year, mathematics faculty members contribute to this fund to honor academic achievement and encourage further academic studies.

To apply for the scholarship, you must submit an online application (linked above when it appears). The one form will automatically apply to all scholarships. Together with the filled out form, you will need to submit the name of one faculty member who is willing to provide a letter of recommendation for you. It would be a good idea to contact these professors ahead of time, to ask if they are willing to write you a letter. 

Eligibility Criteria

The criteria for eligibility are:

  • You must have a major from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
  • You must have taken at least one upper division or graduate course in the Mathematics Department; (if you are a graduate student, you must have taken at least three graduate courses in the Mathematics Department)
  • You must be enrolled at SJSU in the semester preceding the awards.
  • Master's Programs: MA Math, MS Stats, MS Data Science, and MS (Applied) Math. Requires 9 credits of completed graduate coursework and a GPA of at least 3.5.
  • Single-subject teaching credential (in Mathematics). Must be a full-time credential student (interns are ineligible) with at least a B average.
  • Prep-for-Teaching major: Requires at least one upper division math course completed and at least a B in all math courses.

The Scholarships

Richard C. Dieckmann Scholarship

This scholarship was first awarded in 1983. Professor Dieckmann was a highly regarded member of the mathematics faculty here for many years. He endowed a scholarship fund by a gift from his estate to reward and encourage academic excellence by a math major.

C. Kenneth Bradshaw Award for Outstanding Teaching Associate

The award has been given each year since 1993 to the most outstanding teacher among the graduate students. C. Kenneth Bradshaw was a gifted teacher and an Associate Chair in the Department. As associate chair, he was best known for the many small, but mighty, steps he took to improve the quality of life for students. The department faculty endowed this award in his honor after he retired.

Paul F. Byrd Award

Professor Byrd was a distinguished applied mathematician and faculty member in the Department of Mathematics for 30 years. He is best remembered for his knowledge of applied mathematics, his ability to learn independently, his love for solving monthly problems, his readiness and willingness to transmit his knowledge to students and colleagues, and his capacity to fight for social justice. His former student, Kent Okasaki, was the prime instigator in establishing the scholarship in honor of his thesis advisor using  his HP stock options to endow the scholarship. Professor Byrd's family and colleagues have also contributed to the establishment of this annual award in his memory. This award was first awarded in 1994. 

Hoggatt Award for Outstanding Research Potential

The is the most distinguished of all of our scholarship awards. Since 1981, the prize has been awarded each spring to a student with the greatest research potential, based on faculty recommendations. This award is named for Verner E. Hoggatt, former faculty member who founded a mathematical journal called the Fibonacci Quarterly. He supervised a record number of 39 theses in the department. (39 by the way is 3 times the 7th Fibonacci number.) One of his students, Marjorie Bicknell-Johnson writes that Vern Hoggatt particularly encouraged young women in mathematics. The Fibonacci Association funds this award every year in honor of its founder.

Dunaway Scholarship

The Dunaway Scholarship is intended for a student who:

- is currently enrolled in the single subject credential program for mathematics at San Jose
State University;

- is taking classes that count towards the credential in mathematics;

- is a full time student during the academic year in which the scholarship is awarded;
has a B average in all math classes previously taken;

- and maintains a 3.25 grade point average for all credential work.
(Note: This award is not open to students enrolled in the credential internship program.)

- This application includes an essay question.

The Lucille R. Morton Scholarship

The Morton Scholarship is intended for a student who:

- is a prospective high school math teacher,

- is a BA Math (preparation for teaching) major,

- has no grade lower than a B in any of their classes,

- is a full-time undergraduate student,

- is taking math classes that count towards their math major, and

- has passed Calculus 1 and 2 with a B or better.

The award is open to sophomores, juniors and seniors in the BA Math, Preparation for teaching program. The award is renewable provided the awardee writes an acknowledgment of the award to Lucille Morton’s family, continues to make progress towards a BA Math degree or a single subject Credential in Mathematics, and maintains a B or better in each math or credential class.

Other Scholarships

The financial aid office[BROKEN LINK] of San Jose State University awards scholarships based on scholastic achievement and financial need.