Give him a phone call. Send him a card. The department has celebrated with a reception to honor Professor Ira J. Papick, who brought home to the department a fourth consecutive William F. Kemper Teaching Award. The University has confirmed that the department's consecutive Kemper Awards have set a University record.
The 1999 award honors Papick's two decades of creativity, dedication and enthusiasm in the classroom. It carries a $10,000 stipend.
"Ira's focus and commitment to students have always been central to his academic life," department Chair Elias Saab says, "and this is evident in every one of his classes. With this award, Ira joins an elite group of honorees. The mathematics department takes great pride in supporting and recognizing that excellence in teaching."
Previous department faculty winners are Nakhle Asmar in 1998, Peter Casazza in 1997 and John Beem in 1996.
Recognition of Papick's teaching has come through numerous other noteworthy awards, including the Arts and Science Purple Chalk Award in 1981, the Amoco Award for Undergraduate Teaching in 1986 and the Mystical 7 Award in 1989.
Several publications have featured articles about Papick's teaching: Campus Digest, Mizzou Weekly, Missouri Alumnus and the St. Louis Post Dispatch Magazine. Lisa Birnbach's nationally published College Book (Ballantine Books, NY, 1984) listed Papick as one of MU's best professors.
Students of Papick have entry to some unusual classes, such as his frequently offered Honors College discussion course, Mathematics: The Terrible Beauty, previously titled, The Art of Mathematics. The class is a unique exploration of a medley of mathematical ideas with highly motivated first-year students.
Until recently, the Terrible Beauty class was the only mathematics course offered through the Honors College.
Papick takes very seriously his role in the preparation of secondary and middle-grade teachers. With four faculty members of the College of Education, he and math colleague John Beem are collaborating on developing and participating in two teacher-training projects. The group has funding from the National Science Foundation and the Missouri Department of Education for enhancement of teachers of middle school and secondary-school mathematics.
They have recently designed and are implementing a comprehensive preparation program for teachers of middle school mathematics. Working with teachers from Missouri's schools, the MU researchers jointly investigated exemplary models of standards-based mathematics curricula and, with NSF funds, established the national ShowMe Center for the dissemination and implementation of reform curricular materials for middle-grade mathematics.
Saab says, "Their efforts have contributed to the professional development of teachers and have dramatically influenced the content and pedagogy of the department's pre-service program."