George Berzsenyi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1938 (age 86–87) Budapest, Hungary |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Mathematician, mathematics educator |
| Known for | Mathematics competitions, mentoring students, founding USAMTS |
| Awards | Paul Erdős Award (1996), Gung and Hu Award (2016) |
George Berzsenyi (born 1938) is a Hungarian-American mathematician and retired professor, known for his contributions to mathematics education and his mentorship of high school mathematics students. He chaired the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), co-founded the United States of America Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS), and helped create several problem-solving programs. For his contributions, he received the Paul Erdős Award in 1996 and the Gung and Hu Award in 2016. [1]
Berzsenyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1938. His family descends from the Hungarian poet Dániel Berzsenyi. He emigrated to the United States in 1957 following the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, accompanied by his father, Col. Miklós de Vargha. [2] He earned his doctorate in mathematics with a specialization in complex analysis. [3]
Berzsenyi taught mathematics at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, for 19 years. [4] He later joined the Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology, where he continued to teach and promote mathematics competitions for 12 years [4] until his retirement in 1999.
At Lamar University, Berzsenyi organized an annual "Mathematics Day" (1977–1982) for high school students. He also created the Texas Mathematics Olympiad during this period. [5]
In 1983, Berzsenyi became the founding chair of the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) committee and served for six years. He also contributed problems to the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), including the earlier AHSME. [5]
In 1989, Berzsenyi co-founded the United States of America Mathematical Talent Search (USAMTS), a nationwide proof-based contest by mail. Modeled on Hungary’s Középiskolai Matematikai Lapok , it allowed students extended time and feedback. He directed the contest through the 1990s, later co-editing international problem volumes for the IMTS. [6]
Berzsenyi was the first coach of the Texas team for the American Regions Mathematics League (ARML) in 1980. [4] He also mentored students for the Intel/Westinghouse Science Talent Search and similar competitions.
He edited The Competition Corner in The Mathematics Student journal, running a year-round correspondence contest. This later became the basis for a retrospective co-authored volume.[ citation needed ]
In 1996, Berzsenyi received the Paul Erdős Award from the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions. [5] In 2016, he received the Gung and Hu Award from the Mathematical Association of America for a lifetime of distinguished service. [1]
Berzsenyi’s protégés include numerous academics and scientists. Among them are Noam Elkies, Kiran Kedlaya, and Vamsi Mootha, who credited Berzsenyi’s mentorship in an NPR feature. [8]