Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America
Distinguished Service Award

Citation to

Don Miller

The Indiana Section Distinguished Service Award was initiated in 1993 to honor a member of the Section by acknowledging his or her extraordinary contributions to the Section and outstanding efforts consistent with the stated purposes of the Mathematical Association of America and the Section, namely, assisting in promoting the interests of and improving education in the mathematical sciences in America, especially at the collegiate level.

If the winner of this award was chosen by a lottery, then this year's recipient would certainly be able to offer advice on the selection process. For among his many notable accomplishments at his institution during his more than thirty-five years as a faculty member is his recently published work concerning state lotteries. In the mathematics department that he chaired for ten years he is recognized as a versatile teacher, a leader in mathematics curriculum development, and an expert in statistics and operations research. On his campus he has served - often as a chair - on almost every major committee and was honored in 1992 with his institution's most prestigious award for extended service.

Tonight we honor Don Miller of Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame as the twelfth recipient of our Distinguished Service Award. In spring of 1993 Don headed up arrangements on the Saint Mary's campus for the memorable "Tri-Section" meeting of the Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan Sections, and later, from 1994 through 1997, Don served as the Section's vice-chair, chair, and past-chair. His service at the national level of the MAA includes a role as an officer in the recently formed Special Interest Group on Environmental Mathematics, and his work with the Mathematical Contest in Modeling and activity in the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematicians are widely recognized.

Don's leadership in the Section has always been appreciated by those who work with him. He operates with a no-nonsense approach combined with a great sense of humor - probably the same approach he uses as a softball coach at Saint Mary's!

Don, tonight your lottery numbers have come up right. Congratulations to you - our colleague and friend and the recipient of the 2004 Distinguished Service Award.

Michael Karls, Chair
Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America
April 2, 2004