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HOT JOBS
UE Professor Makes History as the First Muslim to Have Two Prestigious Mathematics Awards Named in His Honor
EVANSVILLE, IND. (04/10/2025) The University of Evansville (UE) proudly announces that Professor Mohammad K. Azarian has made history as the first Muslim and the first Iranian American mathematician to have two prestigious mathematics awards named in his honor by the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). These honors, established under his name, recognize his outstanding contributions to research, problem creation, and his unparalleled service to the mathematics community.
His extensive academic work includes the publication of 47 papers, 87 problems, and over 60 presentations at international, national, and reginal meetings and conferences. Professor Azarian served four years as a Discipline Peer Reviewer for the Fulbright Scholar Program (2015-2018) and published 78 reviews in the AMS’s Mathematical Reviews (MathSciNet) and the European Mathematical Society’s zbMATH Open (Zentralblatt MATH).
The Mohammad K. Azarian Prize for Mathematical Reviews Reviewers, established by AMS, honors mathematicians who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to the peer review field. This prize will recognize notable achievement by peer reviewers, past, present, and future. By providing quality reviews of scholarly articles, reviewers provide a vital link for researchers between established research and works in progress. The inaugural award will be presented at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, D.C., in January 2026, when AMS and 16 other mathematics organizations will gather for their joint annual meeting.
Professor Azarian, a lifetime member of the AMS since 1983, has been an active force in the mathematical community for decades. His contributions include serving on the Human Rights of Mathematicians Committee and chairing the committee in 2023. Additionally, he has represented AMS on the American Association for the Advancement of Science Human Rights Coalition.
Similarly, the Mohammad K. Azarian Scholar Award, established by MAA, celebrates excellence in mathematical problem creation. This award recognizes individuals whose original, thought-provoking problems challenge and inspire the mathematical community.
Honorees will be selected from contributors to MAA publications – The American Mathematical Monthly, Mathematics Magazine, The College Mathematics Journal, and Math Horizons – as well as from problem creators featured in the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), the Putnam Competition, and the Mathematical Olympiad Program (MOP). By spotlighting outstanding problem creators, this award reinforces the vital role of problem-creation in advancing mathematical thinking and education. The inaugural award will be presented in August at MathFest 2025, in Sacramento, California. Professor Azarian will be a speaker at this conference.
Professor Azarian has been a member of MAA since 1986, with a distinguished record of service. His numerous contributions include serving on the Executive Board of the Indiana Section of the MAA (2001-2007), where one of his responsibilities was overseeing the Indiana College Mathematics Competitions for all of Indiana’s colleges and universities. He was honored with the Mathematical Association of America-Indiana Distinguished Service Award in 2017.
With these two honors, Professor Azarian becomes the first Muslim, the first Iranian American, and the third mathematician to have two distinguished mathematics awards named in his honor by AMS and MAA, the two largest, oldest, and most respected mathematics organizations in the United States. These recognitions underscore his lasting impact on mathematical scholarship and problem creation.
The University of Evansville congratulates Professor Azarian on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to celebrating his contributions to the global mathematical community.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
Aces drop series opener to Drake
Game two set for Saturday at 2 p.m.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Drake scored six runs in the first two innings and pulled away for an 8-0 win over the University of Evansville in five innings at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at James & Dorothy Cooper Stadium.
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead out of the gate, scoring on a 2-out RBI double. Looking to bounce back, the Aces drew two walks in the bottom of the inning before a strikeout ended the threat. The Bulldogs got right back to work in the second, loading the bases with no outs. After scoring a run on a hit batter, Emma Dighton hit a grand slam to push the Bulldogs lead to 6-0.
Jenna Donohoo picked up Evansville’s first hit of the game in the bottom of the second and the Aces would put two runners on in the third, however, Drake kept UE off the scoreboard. The Bulldogs struck again with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth and would take the game by the 8-0 final.
Evansville was limited to one hit while Drake accumulated eight runs on seven hits. Ridgway suffered the loss, allowing five runs in just over an inning. Gracie Hollingsworth threw the final four frames. Molly Hoekst earned the win for the Bulldogs.
On Saturday, the teams meet up at 2 p.m. for the second game of the series.
Small mistakes add up in loss to Illinois State
The Purple Aces dropped their first game of the weekend to the Redbirds
NORMAL, Ill. – The University of Evansville baseball team had another night trying to contain a red-hot offense in a 17-8 loss to the Illinois State Redbirds.
The Purple Aces’ defense had a tough time containing Illinois State on Friday night as the Redbirds scored almost half of their 17 runs from defensive or pitching miscues. UE kept competing at the plate with its 14th game of the season with 10+ hits. Four separate Evansville batters had two hits on the night, with catcher Matt Flaherty (Lake Zurich, Ill. / Bellarmine) also adding two RBIs.
“We didn’t set a tone on the mound or defensively tonight,” said Head Coach Wes Carroll after the game. “We put ourselves in another tough situation on the road to get back in the series tomorrow.”
Both starting pitchers had to work early on Friday evening, as neither faced the minimum number of batters. Illinois State took the first lead in the bottom of the first inning on a double down the left field line that scored one. The Aces got the final out right after the double to limit the Redbirds to only one run with two left on.
UE took its only lead of the game in the top of the second. Evansville had three hits in four batters, scoring one run and having two runners in scoring position with only one out. A ground out from third baseman Drew Howard (Ferdinand, Ind. / Forest Park HS) scored first baseman Jake McGhee (Fenton, Mo. / Christian Brothers College HS). On the play for Illinois State, the first baseman had a throwing error to help score the Aces’ go-ahead run in shortstop Drew McConnell (Blue Springs, Mo. / Blue Springs HS).
The Redbirds didn’t wait long to answer UE’s offensive outburst in the top of the second. Illinois State retook the lead in the bottom of the inning and didn’t look back with four runs on five hits and one error. After only two innings, the Redbirds had a 5-3 advantage and continued to extend it. Evansville wasn’t able to get on base in the third while Illinois State added another run.
The Aces got back within two runs in the top of the fourth when Flaherty hit his first RBI single to score center fielder Ty Rumsey (Evansville, Ind. / North HS). But with two outs on the board already, UE didn’t bring home another run until the top of the sixth. Meanwhile, the Redbirds had back-to-back three run innings, taking an eight-run advantage just over halfway through the game.
Evansville had a strong start to the sixth inning, loading up the bases with no outs on a McConnell single, a hit by pitch, and a walk. A walk to left fielder Charlie Longmeier (Seymour, Ind. / Seymour HS) gave the Aces their first run of the inning. Flaherty followed up with his second RBI single of the game to score Howard and bring it back to a six-run gap.
But Illinois State kept its bats going in the bottom of the sixth with their biggest offensive frame of the night. The Redbirds added five runs on four hits and a sacrifice fly to try and get a run rule win with a 17-6 lead after two-thirds of the game. UE’s offense was able to continue its hot start to innings in the seventh with a lead off double for pinch hitter Aaron Nehls (Evansville, Ind. / North HS).
McGhee added a single right after Nehls and McConnell being hit by a pitch loaded up the bases for Evansville. The Aces brought in another pinch hitter in freshman Mason McCue (Bourbonnais, Ill. / Bishop McNamara HS), who delivered with an RBI single to left for UE’s seventh run. The single also kept the bases loaded, so when Rumsey hit a fly ball to left field, Evansville was able to score an eighth run to avoid a run rule loss. The Aces’ next two batters flew out to go to the bottom of the seventh.
Freshman pitcher Jack Wills (Shelbyville, Ky. / Shelby County HS) came onto the mound for UE in the bottom of the seventh and helped Evansville get its first scoreless inning on defense. While Wills didn’t throw a strikeout, he did pitch two innings for the Aces without allowing a run to score, not allowing a hit, and only giving up two walks. But UE wasn’t able to make up the nine-run deficit in the final two innings of the night, falling to Illinois State 17-8.
Evansville gets back to work against the Redbirds on Saturday afternoon. First pitch for the second game of the series is set for 3 p.m. from Duffy Bass Field on Saturday, April 12.
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USI Baseball falls in series opener
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – University of Southern Indiana Baseball could not overcome an early deficit, but fell to Tennessee Tech University, 11-6, Friday evening in Cookeville, Tennessee. USI is 16-17 overall and 7-3 in the OVC, while TTU goes to 22-13 overall, 7-3 OVC.
USI was in a hole after three innings, 8-0, before it could get the bats going in the fourth inning. USI sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd put the Screaming Eagles on the scoreboard with a two-run, ground-rule double to get the offense going.
USI junior catcher Micajah Wall finished the Screaming Eagles scoring in the fourth, 8-3, with an RBI single up the middle.
The Screaming Eagles closed the gap to 8-5 during the fifth when sophomore third baseman Parker Martin hit a two-run blast over the right field fence. TTU, however, responded in the bottom half of the fifth with two more runs to re-extend its lead to 10-5.
The Golden Eagles pushed the margin back to six, 11-5, before the Screaming Eagles scored the final run in the eighth for the eventual 11-6 final. USI junior shortstop Clayton Slack drove in the Screaming Eagles’ final run with a ground out.
For the game, Martin led USI with three hits, a run scored, two RBIs, and a home run.
USI freshman right-hander Sage Stout started and took the loss. Stout (3-2) allowed eight runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out a season-high batters in three innings of work.
THUNDERBOLTS SHUT OUT HAVOC 2-0, FORCE THIRD GAME
Evansville, In.: Behind a spectacular 47-save shutout from Cole Ceci along with clutch goals from Isaac Chapman and Derek Contessa, the Thunderbolts defeated the Havoc 2-0 on Friday night at Ford Center, setting the stage for a winner-take-all Game Three in Huntsville on Saturday night, face-off at 7:30pm CT.
Following another scoreless first period, Evansville grabbed the first lead in the second period as Contessa set up Chapman on a breakaway at 8:05, scoring five-hole on Mike Robinson, with a secondary assist going to Nolan McElhaney. In the third period, Contessa made it a 2-0 game by scoring on a 2-on-1 rush, assisted by Chapman. The Havoc pulled Robinson with just under three minutes remaining in regulation but could not find a way to score as the Thunderbolts shut the door the rest of the way. Evansville executed well on details the entire way through regulation from start to finish, killing all five Havoc power plays, blocking numerous shots, and doing well on defensive rebounds to cut down on Huntsville’s secondary opportunities.
Chapman and Contessa each finished with one goal and one assist, while Cole Ceci pitched the Thunderbolts’ first-ever playoff shutout by stopping all 47 Havoc shots. The win was also Evansville’s first regulation playoff victory since game one of the 2018 President’s Cup Playoff quarterfinals against the Macon Mayhem. Game Three will be back in the Huntsville Ice Sports Center on Saturday, April 12th at 7:30pm CT.
University of Evansville Hosts Transylvanian Students for American Educational and Cultural Experience through Gimi2US
EVANSVILLE, IND. The University of Evansville (UE) is proud to serve as an academic partner with Gimi2US for its American Educational and Cultural Experience, an immersive exchange program that brings 26 Transylvanian high school students from Tamasi Aron Gimnazium, Romania to the United States for a two-week educational and cultural journey. Taking place from April 3 to April 18, 2025, the program is designed to provide students with firsthand experiences in American high schools, university-level learning, and cultural engagement in Evansville, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois.
Coordinated by UE alumna, Anna Gergely, in partnership with Gimi2US in Romania and three Evansville high schools-Evansville Day School, North High School, and Reitz Memorial High School-this initiative encourages international academic collaboration, cross-cultural exchange, and growth for all participants.
During their 10-day stay in Evansville, Transylvanian students will be welcomed into local host families, providing them with an authentic look at American daily life. They will attend high school classes, engage in extracurricular activities, and participate in hands-on educational workshops at the University of Evansville. Through interactive sessions, students will explore innovative academic programs, gain insight into future college opportunities while experiencing language immersion. In addition, visits to local factories, American cultural workshops, and exposure to sports traditions will further enrich their understanding of American society.
“For the participating American students and faculty, this initiative offers a valuable opportunity for cross-cultural engagement and academic enrichment,” said Catie Taylor, Senior Associate Director of Admission. “By welcoming Transylvanian students into our schools and homes, we can gain a deeper understanding of international perspectives, fostering meaningful relationships and developing essential intercultural competencies.”
Life’s two certain truths: death and taxes
As tax season looms and Hoosiers reflect on life’s certainties, Attorney General Todd Rokita and Indiana’s favorite ghoul, Sammy Terry, are reminding residents that while death and taxes may be inevitable, losing your hard-earned money to the state doesn’t have to be one of them.
“There are two things guaranteed in life – death and taxes,” Sammy Terry said. “Death can be painful, but paying your taxes doesn’t have to be with a little extra cash in your pocket from Indiana Unclaimed.”
Attorney General Rokita invites all Hoosiers to text SAMMY to 46220 to see if they can re-claim forgotten treasures from the state’s Unclaimed Property Division.
“They say nothing is certain but death and taxes, but I’d add a third: Hoosiers deserve what’s rightfully theirs,” Attorney General Rokita said. “Whether it’s money left behind after a loved one’s passing or funds lost to the taxman’s oversight, our office is here to reunite you with your property — before it’s gone for good.”
In Indiana, unlike any other state, the Attorney General oversees this program, ensuring these assets find their way back to their rightful owners.
Examples of potential unclaimed property include:
- Unclaimed wages or commissions
- Money orders
- Safety deposit box contents
- Savings and checking accounts
- Refunds
- Overpayments such as:
- Credit card balances
- Cell phone bills
- BMV payments
Here’s how to make sure your property doesn’t go unclaimed:
- Keep a record of all bank accounts.
- Record all stock certificates and be sure to cash all dividends received.
- Record all utility deposits, including telephone, cable, and electricity deposits.
- Cash all checks promptly.
Hoosiers have 25 years to claim their money once it’s reported to the Unclaimed Property Division, and the process is free, fast and secure. With tax deadlines fresh in mind this April, Attorney General Rokita encourages families to search not just for themselves but also for businesses, deceased relatives and anyone else. Physical items from dormant safe deposit boxes — like jewelry or heirlooms — are also held, though they may be auctioned after three years if unclaimed.