If applying online creates an undue hardship, please call the National Office at 405-325-0144 to make other arrangements.

All application materials, including recommendation letters, must be submitted online no later than 11:59 pm CT on February 3, 2025.

This award was established in 1981 by a grant from Dr. Robert Kalin of Florida State University, a former president of Mu Alpha Theta. Dr. Kalin was a nationally recognized mathematics educator and was one of Mu Alpha Theta’s strongest supporters. The Mu Alpha Theta Educational Foundation continues to support the Kalin Award.

To be eligible for the award, the nominee must be representative of all student members who excel in mathematics and provide notable service to Mu Alpha Theta. The nominee must be graduating from high school and planning to begin college studies in the year the award is given. Each chapter is allowed to nominate one Mu Alpha Theta member for the award. The sponsor of the chapter will determine how the chapter's nominee is selected, unless the sponsor is related to a possible nominee.

NEW: The winner will receive $7,500 and a distinguished plaque. The winner may take the award as a cash prize or have it sent to his/her prospective college as a scholarship. The winner’s school will also receive a $1,000 chapter grant.

When regular, in-person National Conventions are possible, top candidates for the award must attend our national convention in July with their chapter and will be interviewed in person by our Governing Council.

NEW: Interviewed finalists who do not win the award will each receive a $1,000 prize.

Previous Winners:

2024 Eli Mrug – Alabama School of Fine Arts, Birmingham, AL

2023 Tucker Shea – Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL

2022 None

2021 Andrei Mandelshtam – University High School, Irvine, CA

2020 Kira Nogoshi – Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL

2019 Yared Tadesse - Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL

2018 Cynthia Wang - Lawton Chiles High School, Tallahassee, FL

2017 Chi Cao - Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Baton Rouge, LA

2016 Wilbur Li - W. P. Clements High School, Sugar Land, TX

2015 Nathan Watson - Berkeley Preparatory, Tampa, FL

2014 Joyce Kang - Brentwood High School, Brentwood, TN

2013 Steve Han - Buchholz High School, Gainesville, FL

2012 Dae (Daniel) W. Kang - Rickards HS, Tallahassee, FL