AWM Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Association For Women in Mathematics

Intro
The Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM), together with Math for America, runs an essay contest to highlight the continuing contributions of women and to encourage gender inclusion in the mathematical sciences. The contest invites students to produce biographical essays about contemporary mathematicians or statisticians — people who are working in or retired from mathematical sciences careers — with the piece based primarily on an interview. Middle school, high school, and undergraduate students are eligible to participate.

Eligibility and Essay Subject
- Who you may write about: Your subject should be a woman or an individual from an underrepresented gender identity in the mathematics community who is currently working in or retired from a career in the mathematical sciences.
- Exceptions (not eligible as interview subjects): anyone who has been the subject of a Grand Prize, First Place, or Honorable Mention essay in any of the previous three contests; the AWM President, President-Elect, Past President, and Executive Director; and current members of the AWM Essay Contest Committee. A full list of ineligible interviewees is available online.

Suggested ways to find an interview subject
- Consult career resources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or SIAM.
- Explore organizations and showcases like NAM, NSBE, SACNAS, Lathisms, Mathematically Gifted & Black (MGB), Indigenous Mathematicians, or Spectra.
- Search for mathematicians active on social media.
- Check faculty listings on nearby college or university department websites (mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, computer science, physics, engineering, finance, etc.).
- Ask a local math teacher for recommendations.

Submission window and where to submit
- Submission period: November 1 through February 1. All entries must be uploaded via MathPrograms.org.
- Submissions for the 2026 contest are currently being accepted on MathPrograms.org.
- Questions about the contest may be directed to the AWM Essay Contest Organizer, Dr. Johanna Franklin, at johanna.n.franklin@hofstra.edu.

What a complete submission must include
1. The biographical essay:
- Length: about 500–1000 words.
- Must be written as an essay, not simply a transcript of the interview, and should be based primarily on an interview you conducted with your chosen subject.
2. A brief student biography:
- Approximately 100 words; may be written in the first person.
- Include the student’s name, grade level, school, and mathematical interests.
3. Student contact information:
- Student’s name; mailing address for the student or parent; and a phone number or email address for the student or parent.
4. Interview subject contact information:
- Subject’s name and email address; phone number is optional.

Categories and awards
- Eligible entrant categories: Grades 6–8, Grades 9–12, and Undergraduate.
- At least one winning essay will be selected from each category.

Judging criteria
- Essays will be evaluated by a panel of mathematicians.
- Primary judging elements are content (quality of the biographical narrative and use of interview material), grammar, and overall presentation.
- Remember: the piece should synthesize the interview into a coherent essay rather than present the interview verbatim.

Suggested interview questions
Use these as starting points and expand with follow-up questions based on the subject’s responses:
- What inspired you to pursue a career in the mathematical sciences?
- What is your educational, family, or cultural background?
- What kind of work do you do (or did you do)?
- What advice would you give students interested in mathematical careers?
- What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?

Practical note on interviews
- Conducting the interview live (in person, by phone, or via videoconference) generally leads to a more conversational exchange and richer material than an email interview. Follow up on interesting points the subject raises to deepen the story.

Rights
By submitting, you transfer ownership of the entry to the Association for Women in Mathematics.

If you need anything clarified, contact Dr. Johanna Franklin (johanna.n.franklin@hofstra.edu).