“I guess all those math tricks and jokes are worthwhile,” Myron Hlynka said Tuesday as he prepared to receive the Alumni Award for Distinguished Contributions to University Teaching during Convocation ceremonies, May 28 in the St. Denis Centre.

Dr. Hlynka, a professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, has earned a reputation for teaching with humour and challenging classes to find solutions, alumni board member Jake Rondot said in presenting the award.

“Through his teaching style and dedication to learning, Dr. Hlynka has successfully instilled a love for math and statistics to students who have then passed this passion on in their own careers,” said Rondot.

Hlynka said he was “absolutely flattered” to get the award, which invites nominations from colleagues, alumni, and students to recognize excellence in instruction.

Education professor Christopher Greig received the award at a Friday session of Convocation.

The citation honouring Dr. Greig called him “a passionate, charismatic, and well-researched scholar who is able to seamlessly blend theory and practice from multiple perspectives.”

Letters of support focused on his positive impact on students.

One graduate wrote: “To put it bluntly, Dr. Greig was a blessing in my life, or as some fellow students and I once agreed, he was like a guardian angel.”

The awards, conferred annually since 1987, carry a cash prize of $1,500.