Background
Dr. Rebecca Stoudtwas a member of the former IUP Mathematics Department from 1991 to 2001, when she died after a valiant five year-battle with breast cancer. In spite of her struggles, she lived fully, not letting the disease detract from the pursuit of her passions: her husband, her children, and her teaching. She was honored with the IUP Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching in 1996, the Middleburg (Pa.) High School Distinguished Alumni Award in 1997, and the IUP Graduate School and Research Sponsored Program Award for Outstanding Achievement in Curriculum and Instruction in 2000.
Rebecca graduated from Middleburg High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education degree in Mathematics Education from Shippensburg State College, a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics from Bucknell University, and a PhD degree in Applied Mathematics from Lehigh University.
Rebecca loved IUP, especially the students, of whom she demanded much but gave much in return. She inspired confidence, gave freely of her time, and was especially fond of her nontraditional and graduate students, who invariably ended up as her friends.
This scholarship, established by family, friends, colleagues, and former students, will continue her legacy of helping students for whom she cared so much. Each year as the scholarship is given it will allow everyone, especially her children, to remember the wonderful woman she was.
Uses and Purposes
The Rebecca A. Stoudt Memorial Scholarship for Mathematics shall provide financial support to students who best meet the following criteria:
- Must be a declared undergraduate major in theDepartment of Mathematics and Computer Sciences at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Must be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.25 GPA in Mathematics courses and minimum 3.0 GPA overall
- Must be a junior or senior with at least 20 credits in Mathematics major courses
- Preference will be given to students who have had to overcome obstacles in order to pursue their education, such as personal or family illness, raising children, or working to support themselves. This preference may not be given at the expense of items 1, 2, and 3.
Selection of recipients shall be made through theDepartment of Mathematics and Computer Sciences in accordance with its established scholarship procedures and by representatives of the Stoudt family. The award must be given in an amount no less than $1,000.