Michael Zhao M e m or i a l S c h ol a r sh i p The College of Science & Utah Communities Rally Together
Michael’s Zhao’s fascination with math took him from the 100 Club in kindergarten
TAYLOR WALKER
to Cambridge University as a Churchill Scholar. In December, 2018, while at Columbia University chasing
Michael Zhao Memorial Scholarship Recipient
his goal of becoming a college professor, Michael passed away due to a sudden heart attack. After Michael’s death, Math Department faculty and fellow Churchill Scholars approached Davar Khoshnevisan, chair of the Department of Mathematics, with the idea of establishing a scholarship in Michael’s name. “The scholarship aims to recognize a truly outstanding mathematics student,” said Khoshnevisan, “which is consistent with celebrating Michael’s memory.”
Taylor will be a senior majoring in mathematics and minoring in computer science. She plans to graduate in spring of 2020.
About the scholarship, Taylor
Many of the faculty in the U’s Math Department have fond memories of working with Michael. Professor
says, “The financial assistance
Gordon Savin, who served as Michael’s honors thesis advisor, said, “Mike was one of the strongest students
provided by the scholarship will
I’ve seen at the University of Utah in more than 20 years. For someone his age, he already had an incredible
be of great help to me in paying
level of maturity and mathematical knowledge.”
for my educational expenses, and it will allow me to concentrate
The new scholarship is intended to keep Michael’s legacy alive. If you’d like to contribute,
more of my time on studying.
please send donations to the following: Tiffany Jensen, Department of Mathematics,
After graduating, I plan on entering
155 South 1400 East, JWB 233, Salt Lake City, UT 84112
the workforce in a math-related field. I hope to honor Michael’s legacy in mathematics as I con-
Laureate Society CRIMSON
tinue to learn about a subject we both enjoy.”
A culture of giving Michael Zhao benefitted greatly from scholarships and donor aid. After his death, Zhao’s parents, colleagues, friends, faculty members and even his high school math teacher, reached out to their community for donations and created the Michael Zhao Memorial Scholarship as a way of “paying forward” the support he received as a student. 7
