The Higginbotham Award is made to an outstanding junior mathematics major.
The award is in memory of Robert Michael Higginbotham, an excellent student who in 1967 received a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics here at College Park. Two years later, he was killed in the Vietnam War. His name can be found online at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Page. The award was established by a donation of his family.
About Robert Michael Higginbotham
Robert M Higginbotham was serving his country during the Vietnam War when he gave his all in the line of duty. He had enlisted in the United States Army. Entered the service via Regular Military. He began his tour on 12 October 1968. Higginbotham had the rank of Specialist Four. His military occupation or specialty was Armor Crewman. Service number assignment was 11575380. Attached to Americal Division, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry, A Troop.
He was born on 25 November 1945. According to our records Maryland was his home or enlistment state and Montgomery county has been included within the archival record. We have Rockville listed as his city. During his service in the Vietnam War, Army Specialist Four Higginbotham experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on 14 May 1969. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Died through hostile action .. explosive device. Incident location: South Vietnam, Quang Tin province. (source: Honor States website)
Award Recipients
- 2025 Allen Bao, Brooke Guo, Clarence Lam
- 2024 Adam Melrod
- 2023 John Brownfield
- 2022 Leopold Bertholet
- 2021 Elliot Kienzle
- 2020 Steven Jin
- 2019 Ryan Synk
- 2018 Erik Metz
- 2017 William Marcus Golding
- 2016 Chalres William Parker
- 2015 Michael Roberts and Kyle Vance
- 2014 Rafael Goissis Setra
- 2013 Roger Curley
- 2012 Edward Lister and Srinivas Vasudevan
- 2011 Andrew Lohr and Derrick Wigglesworth
- 2010 Henry B. J. Scher
- 2009 Greg Laun
- 2008 Rachel Kirsch
- 2007 John Silberholz
- 2006 Andrew Parrish
- 2005 James White
- 2004 Bianca Viray
- 2003 Greg Crosswhite
- 2002 Lawrence D'Anna
- 2001 Chad Groft and Jared Speck
- 2000 Matthew Bainbridge and Jeffrey S. Brown
- 1999 Kathryn Saftner
- 1998 John Armstrong
- 1997 David S. Bindel
- 1996 Sudheer Shukla
- 1995 Sudheer Shukla
- 1994 Uri D. Nodelman
- 1993 Matthew Baker and Alan Preis
- 1992 Emiliano Gomez
- 1991 Ilya Lyubomirsky
- 1990 Christopher Monsour and Richard Penn
- 1989 Not Awarded
- 1988 Not Awarded
- 1987 Michael J. Raue
- 1986 Sylvie A. Ryckebush
- 1985 Sylvie A. Ryckebush
- 1984 Elise Cawley and Eric Zeisel
- 1983 David Wasson
- 1982 Mary Flather
- 1981 Ravi Boppana
- 1980 Steven Bonner
- 1979 Not Awarded
- 1978 Eric Irwin Kuritzky
- 1977 Glenn J. Galfond
- 1976 Glenn J. Galfond
- 1975 Robert B. Johnson
- 1974 Steven Spriggs
- 1973 Edward L. Korn
- 1972 Edward Korn
- 1971 Robert A. Fefferman
- 1970 First year of the award: Mark Meyerson