Pi Mu Epsilon and Computer Science: Promoting Excellence in Computing and Mathematics

The computing and information disciplines have rapidly transformed almost every aspect of modern life. It is difficult to predict the ultimate place of the computer in our world. Honor societies like Pi Mu Epsilon (ΠΜΕ) and Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) play a crucial role in recognizing academic excellence and promoting scholarly activities in mathematics and computer science. This article explores the activities, achievements, and significance of Pi Mu Epsilon, with a focus on computer science.

Upsilon Pi Epsilon: Honoring Excellence in Computing and Information Disciplines

Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) stands as the first and only international honor society dedicated to the Computing and Information disciplines. Founded in 1967 at Texas A&M University, UPE's mission is to recognize academic excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. It has expanded to include chapters in various colleges and universities across North America and overseas. The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and the IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS), the world's two largest computer organizations, have endorsed UPE.

Pi Mu Epsilon: Fostering Scholarly Activity in Mathematics

Pi Mu Epsilon is an honor society whose purpose is the promotion and recognition of scholarly activity in mathematics by students at academic institutions that have been chartered as chapters of the society. Students at the sophomore level or above are eligible for admission. Ohio Wesleyan's chapter, known as Ohio Beta, was the 13th chapter to be chartered. It was founded in 1927. Each year, a committee of faculty members reviews the academic records and scholarly activity of eligible candidates.

Activities and Events

Pi Mu Epsilon chapters engage in a variety of activities to promote mathematics and foster a sense of community among students. These activities include:

Induction Ceremony

On May 13, 2022, Ohio Beta held its induction ceremony. Professor Emeritus Marlow Anderson gave the invited lecture on Euler’s origins of the number e. Due to his service to the mathematics community and passion for teaching and learning mathematics, Marlow was inducted as an honorary member of the chapter. Following the lecture, thirteen members were inducted into the organization. This celebration was the first in-person celebration in two years. There was exceptional turn out in-person and on Zoom.

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Pi-k! Event

The first ever Pi-k! event was organized by the United Math Clubs (several members are Pi Mu Epsilon members) in conjunction with the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. The clubs created a path around campus in the shape of the number pi, and members of the campus community were encouraged to run, walk, bike, or scoot to the finish line. Celebrations with pie and other Pi-day activities followed.

Programming Contests

Computer Science students participate in several programming contests throughout the academic year.

Four College Contest

The Four College Contest rotates between Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Kenyon, and Wittenberg. Each college is represented by several three-person teams which travel to the host institution on a winter Saturday.

Student Achievements and Recognition

Pi Mu Epsilon members often achieve significant academic and professional success. Recent graduates and current students have been recognized for their accomplishments through scholarships, awards, and acceptances to graduate programs.

Graduate School Acceptances

Several Pi Mu Epsilon members have been accepted into prestigious graduate programs:

Yinting Zhong will be attending graduate school at Duke University in the Fall.
Oliver Li (’22) will be attending graduate school at Duke University in the Fall.
Marston Xue (’21) will be attending graduate school at the University of Washington -St. Louis in the Fall.
Alayna Mann (’22) was accepted to the MAT program at Colorado College.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Emerson Worrell, Na’ama Nevo, and Casmali Lopez (’23) will be completing REU’s this summer.

The Dr. O. Kenneth Bates Award

The Dr. O. Kenneth Bates Award is given annually to an outstanding senior (or seniors) major in mathematics, computer science, or statistics who has excelled in scholarship and service to the Department. The recipient must have completed an honors project and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Recent recipients of the Computer Science Bates Award include:

Madison L.
Sean N.

Pi Mu Epsilon Award

Sarah N.

Sophomore Award in Statistics

Presented to select first-or second-year students who have excelled in the study of statistics.

Opportunities and Resources

Membership in Pi Mu Epsilon and participation in related activities provides students with a range of opportunities and resources, including:

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Networking

Collaborating with leading tech companies, research institutions and startups.

Collaborative Projects

Collaborative projects alongside like-minded peers.

Extracurricular Activities

Engaging extracurricular activities.

Internship Opportunities

Ensuring you access to a rich tapestry of internship opportunities.

Access to a community

The Mathematics Association of America (MAA) is a community of mathematicians, students and enthusiasts. The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM) is an international community of 14,500+ individual members.

The Significance of Honor Societies

Honor societies like Pi Mu Epsilon and Upsilon Pi Epsilon play a vital role in promoting academic excellence, fostering a sense of community, and providing opportunities for students to engage with their disciplines outside of the classroom. By recognizing and celebrating student achievements, these societies encourage continued dedication to learning and scholarship.

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