Cross Undergrad Scholarships

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Cross Undergrad Scholarships in Mathematics

The Mathematics program offers students the opportunity to apply for one of the Wright W. and Annie Rea Cross Mathematics Undergraduate Research Scholarships.

These scholarships are designed to support students to participate in undergraduate research in mathematics. The goal is to provide valuable educational experience for talented undergraduate students through participation in faculty’s ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed by or for the scholarship recipients.

Eligibility

Students majoring in mathematics, including students majoring in the BS in Mathematics with Licensure, at USM are eligible. Mathematics majors or double majors are encouraged to apply. Academic excellence will be the main criterion for selection. Previous recipients who made satisfactory progress in their research are eligible for renewal.
Completion of some mathematics courses is required for most research projects. In general, MAT 167 Calculus I and MAT 168 Calculus II are required and MAT 285 Introduction to Differential Equations is desired. Research topics in applied mathematics or pure mathematics will be carefully chosen to be accessible to scholarship recipients with a suitable background in mathematics.
These Mathematics Undergraduate Research Scholarships are provided by the Wright W. and Annie Rea Cross Endowment with a stipend at least $2,000 for each academic year. Travel support for conference presentations is also available. This is a competitive award and funds are limited. Eligibility does not guarantee an award. Some qualified applicants may receive a research assistantship from a professor’s grant.

Wright W. and Annie Rea Cross

A 1951 graduate of the Southern Miss Department of Mathematics, had a vision for the future of mathematics education at USM. In 1994, Wright Wilson “Bill” Cross. and his wife Annie established one of the University’s first math scholarships, followed by a planned gift. Over 20 years after their initial gift, their generosity continues to benefit the Department of Mathematics.

The Crosses’ contributions have transformed the educational experiences mathematics majors gain at Southern Miss. Instead of sticking to routine calculations and the typical assignments required for graduation, you will be challenged to analyze complex theories and solve elaborate equations through research projects, leading to findings worthy of publication in the nation’s top mathematics journals and selection for presentations at the largest mathematics conference in the world. With support from the Cross Chair Endowment and guidance from Dr. Xie, the Cross Scholars claim these achievements as mere undergrads.

2024-2025 (AY):

Maddie Miller (Advisor: Dr. Qingguang Guan)
Luke Fontan (Advisor: Dr. Qingguang Guan)
Prajwal Neupane (Advisor: Dr. John Harris)
Anzhelika Vasilyeva (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Morgan Wilson (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Courtney Francois (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Franissa Simon (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Rupak Raut (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Nisha Paudel (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Bimarsh Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)

2024 Summer:

Rupak Raut (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Nisha Paudel (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2023-2024 (AY):

Abel Gurung (Advisor: Dr. Qingguang Guan)
Courtney Francois (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Marshall Thompson Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Jacob Gardner (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Franissa Simon (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Anzhelika Vasilyeva (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Rebecca Scariano (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Morgan Wilson (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Manitejus Kotikalapudi (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Luke Fontan (Advisor: Dr. Karen Kohl)

2023 Summer:

Anzhelika Vasilyeva (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Franissa Simon (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2022-2023 (AY):

Jacob Gardner (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Morgan Wilson (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Courtney Francois (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Rebecca Scariano (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Abel Gurung (Advisor: Dr. Qingguang Guan)
Franissa Simon (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)

2022 Summer:

Jacob Gardner (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Morgan Wilson (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2021-2022 (AY):

Megan Sickinger (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Michael Whitlock (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Tony Panella (Advisor: Dr. John Perry)
Emma Betsill (Advisor: Mrs. Marlene Naquin)
Jacob Gardner (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Komal Chapagain (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Barbara Jones (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Breanna Masterson (Advisor: Dr. Sungwook Lee)

2021 Summer:

Megan Sickinger (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Tony Panella (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2020-2021 (AY):

Aaditya Paudel (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Michael Whitlock (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Cole Springer (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Komal Chapagain (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Shailee Manandhar (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Minh Nguyen (Advisor: Dr. Karen Kohl)
Barbara Jones (Advisor: Dr. Anna Wan)
William Clifton Estes (Advisor: Dr. Anna Wan)
Andrew Hood (Advisor: Dr. Sungwook Lee)

2019-2020 (AY):

Hamas Tahir (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Gokul Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Aaditya Paudel (Advisor: Haiyan Tian)
Aaditya Kharel (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Shailee Manandhar (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Nishchal Sapkota (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)
Usama Asam (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Yumi Maharjan (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Shiron Manandhar (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Swapnil Bhatta (Advisor: Dr. Sungwook Lee)

2019 Summer:

Gokul Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Regen Mcgee (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2018-2019 (AY):

Gokul Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Quan Chen (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Aaditya Kharel (Advisor: Dr. James Lambers)
Yumi Maharjan (Advisor: Dr. Huiqing Zhu)
Aaditya Paudel (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Nishchal Sapkota (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder and Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Hamas Tahir (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2018 Summer:

Rimsha Bhatta (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Nishchal Sapkota (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Aaditya Kharel (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2017-2018 (AY):

Scott Geyer (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Gokul Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Hamas Tahir (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Aaditya Paudel (Advisor: Dr. Haiyan Tian)
Nishchal Sapkota (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)

2017 Summer:

Candice Davis (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Gokul Bhusal (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Hamas Tahir (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
Scott Geyer (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)
William Johnson (MSMS junior high) (Advisor: Dr. Zhifu Xie)

2016-2017 (AY):

Jesse Robinson (Advisor: Dr. Bernd Schroeder)

Eligibility

Recipients of these scholarships will be required to:

Be a full-time USM undergraduate student and be a mathematics (including licensure) major;
Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0;
Conduct a meaningful (pure or applied math) project with a final oral presentation and a written report;
Take MAT 494 Undergraduate Mathematics Seminar and actively participate in class discussion and presentation.

Apply for the Cross Scholarship

Talk to Dr. Zhifu Xie, the Wright W. and Annie Rea Cross Endowed Chair.
Return the Application Form, short biography, unofficial transcript and a one-page proposal (if applicable) to Dr. Zhifu Xie.

Meet our Cross Endowed Chair

The Wright W. and Annie Rea Cross Endowed Chair in Mathematics and Undergraduate Research provides funding for a distinguished chair in mathematics, scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in mathematics, and research support for the chair and scholars, including travel, supplies and equipment.

As the Cross Chair, Dr. Zhifu Xie is responsible for recruiting Cross Scholars, attracting faculty colleagues to assist with undergraduate research, directing undergraduate projects and actively publicizing the program and student accomplishments.

The most exciting part of working at a university is working closely with students and watching their progress through internships and individual research projects. Although research is traditionally associated with graduate study, I strongly encourage undergraduate participation in original research because it exposes them to applying mathematics to solve real-world problems. It can make a huge impact on their lives as they realize all mathematics has to offer.
-Dr. Xie

Cross Undergrad Scholarships