Teacher Education
Math ed major wins prestigious academic award
School of Education, Health, and Society
9/8/09
Benjamin L. Walker, senior from St. Louis, Mo and a double major in integrated mathematics education and mathematics and statistics, was one of only nine Miami students to receive a 2009 Provost’s Student Academic Achievement Award.
Walker was recognized for his academic accomplishments at Miami's fall opening convocation. His award includes a $1,000 scholarship.
“This is a tremendous honor not only for Benjamin, but for his faculty mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Wanko,” said Carine Feyten, dean of the School of Education, Health and Society.
This past summer, Walker created a pedagogical research project with Professor Wanko that tied together his dual passions for mathematics education and social justice. After meeting with leading researchers, Walker prepared lessons plans for high school teachers that address social justice issues from a unique mathematical perspective.
Walker has also worked with Wanko on a project to develop deductive reasoning in middle school and high school students and the two are co-authoring a book of activities for middle-school teacher to develop proof-readiness skills around language-independent logic puzzles.
Walker is involved in many campus activities, including the Men’s Glee Club and the School of the Americas activist contingent project. He also is a student employee at Miami’s Outdoor Pursuit Center, leading hiking and climbing trips.
“As a student, Benjamin is both engaged and engaging. He is respectful and respected. He challenges himself and he appreciates being challenged,” said Wanko.