The Thad Dankel Mathematics Scholarship Endowment was announced on November 3, 2005. The Scholarship is in honor of the 33 years that Dr. Thad Dankel devoted to the Mathematics and Statistics Department at UNCW.

When Dr.Dankel joined the faculty in 1971, after earning the B.S. at Duke University and the M.A. and Ph.D. at Princeton University, he was one of only eight faculty in the Mathematics Department. As an applied mathematician, Dr. Dankel’s areas of interest have been applied stochastic processes, differential equations and mathematical physics. He has published papers numerous papers, is a member of several professional and honorary societies, taught many upper level courses in applied mathematics and analysis, including special topics courses on Hydrodynamics, Water Waves and Ocean Circulation. He directed three master’s theses at UNCW and several undergraduate honors and research projects.

“I have always been impressed by his broad range of knowledge and interests in mathematics,” says current Mathematics and Statistics Chair, Wei Feng, “Many of us also know Thad as a colleague who cares about the well-being of others.” The Dankel Scholarship will be a way for him to continue to reach out and help students who seek Mathematics as a major.

Dr. Dankel was unavailable to receive the certificate in person due to health issues announcing the Scholarship, but his wife, Susan, was on hand to receive the honor. “Thad will be thrilled to see this and to know that there will be something to help students carry on in this work.

The effort to raise the $30,000.00 endowment is well underway with pledges coming in from friends and family. Once endowed, it will be the first endowed scholarship specifically for the Mathematics and Statistics Department. If you would like to give, contact the University Advancement office or fill in our easy to use online giving form at http://www.uncw.edu/uniadv/documents/giftform2.pdf

UNCW Faculty and Staff can fill out: http://www.uncw.edu/uniadv/documents/giftform3.pdf and give through payroll deductions. Questions can be directed to Bo Dean at x4181 or by writing deanb@uncw.edu