At this year’s Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM) in Seattle, COMAP proudly recognized the exceptional contributions of three remarkable individuals with two prestigious awards: the Sol Garfunkel Award and the Doug Faires Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards honor individuals whose work embodies the mission and values of COMAP, advancing the field of mathematics education and inspiring generations of learners and educators.

The Sol Garfunkel Award

The Sol Garfunkel Award is given to individuals who exemplify Sol’s visionary leadership and dedication to improving mathematics education. Sol Garfunkel, COMAP’s Founder and Executive Director, was known for his ability to connect brilliant minds and champion mathematical modeling as an essential tool in education. This year, COMAP was honored to present the award to Wade Ellis Jr. and Joseph Malkevitch, two pioneers whose work has profoundly shaped the field of mathematics education.

Wade Ellis Jr. has made groundbreaking contributions to integrating mathematical modeling and technology into teaching. His work has helped modernize math curricula and inspired countless educators to adopt innovative approaches. Reflecting on this recognition, Wade shared:

“Such awards are given to an individual, but they are the result of working with and being mentored by many individuals.  Of course, I thank Sol for his ongoing efforts to make modeling, dare I say applied mathematics, part of curricula at every level. I worked with colleagues at West Valley College:  Ed Lodi as a co-other of the textbook Calculus: Mathematics and Modeling and Doug Campbell on the tutorial for ODE Architect, a differential equation modeling program.  In addition, I would like to thank the students and faculty at West Point for allowing me to teach their Modeling course for Plebes.  I thank one and all.”

Joseph Malkevitch has spent nearly five decades collaborating with Sol Garfunkel and COMAP to create applications-oriented materials that emphasize example-driven mathematical modeling using discrete and geometrically based mathematics. On receiving the award, Joe remarked:

“I am deeply honored to receive the Sol Garfunkel Award. I met Sol in 1963 when we started graduate school training in mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, both of us going on to complete doctoral degrees in theoretical mathematics. It was teaching mathematics at York College of the City University of New York that made it clear to me that many mathematics majors and students taking required general education courses especially valued seeing how mathematics was used in the real world, in particular how it made possible new technologies such as cell phones, streaming videos or the Internet. Approximately 50 years ago I started interacting with Sol on applications-oriented modules, other print materials and video that emphasized example driven mathematical modeling, involving elementary discrete and geometrically based mathematics via the Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications (COMAP) that he founded. Nearly all the work I have done in mathematics education and mathematics was enabled by Sol and COMAP. Thank you Sol and COMAP."

The Doug Faires Lifetime Achievement Award

The Doug Faires Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have made lasting contributions to mathematics education, whether through decades of dedication or a singular, transformative achievement. This year’s award was presented to Veena Mendiratta, whose commitment as a mentor and educator has enriched COMAP’s international mathematical modeling contests.

Veena has been an invaluable part of COMAP since the early 1990s, serving as a judge, problem author, and advisor for contests like the MCM, HiMCM, and ICM. Her passion for fostering talent and her dedication to mentoring students embody the spirit of Doug Faires. Upon receiving the award, Veena reflected:

“Receiving the Doug Faires Award is a profound honor.  I was fortunate enough to work alongside Doug during MCM Final Judging for several years, and I admired his dedication to fostering mathematical talent. My own involvement with COMAP began in the early 90s as an MCM judge. As someone from industry, I'll admit I was a little anxious at first, finding myself among so many accomplished math professors! But I quickly found a welcoming and supportive community.  Since then, I have had the privilege of also judging HiMCM and ICM, and have lost count of how many contests I have been involved in. In addition to final judging and triage, I have contributed problems for the contests, some of which have been used in the competitions. This journey with COMAP has been immensely enriching. I have learned a great deal, formed invaluable connections, and witnessed firsthand the power of mathematical modeling to inspire students. Thank you for this recognition!”

Celebrating the Impact of Mathematical Modeling

These awards serve as a testament to the power of mathematical modeling to transform education and inspire creativity, problem-solving, and innovation. COMAP congratulates Wade Ellis Jr., Joseph Malkevitch, and Veena Mendiratta on their well-deserved recognition and thanks them for their outstanding contributions to advancing mathematics education worldwide.