The Department of Mathematics is pleased to announce the establishment of the Dr. Joe Rush Putnam Competition Awards, a new endowment that will support and recognize excellence among University of Florida students participating in the annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition.
View the fund on the UF Foundation website
Dr. Joe Rush, a distinguished UF alumnus who earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1977, was inspired to create this fund after learning about recent Putnam activities and student achievements. The news reminded him of his own experiences as an undergraduate in the UF Mathematics Honors Program, where he developed his passion for problem solving. The current faculty advisor for the Putnam team, Professor Kevin Keating, continues to lead a new generation of students in preparing for this celebrated national competition.
As an undergraduate, Dr. Rush fondly recalls taking Professor Neil White’s one-credit Math Problem Solving course, which prepared students for the Putnam competition. He competed three times, placing first among UF participants each year and ranking among the top 100 students nationwide in his final attempt. To this day, he continues to revisit Putnam problems and challenges students to try them.
Through this endowment, Dr. Rush hopes to encourage UF students to embrace the same joy of mathematical discovery and intellectual challenge that shaped his own undergraduate years. Beginning this year, the department will award cash prizes of $500, $300, and $200 (gold, silver, and bronze) to the top three UF participants in the Putnam Competition. Winners will also be recognized with plaques during the department’s annual spring celebration.
Dr. Rush has remained a dedicated supporter of the University of Florida across disciplines. A physician, educator, and entrepreneur, he co-founded UpToDate, one of the world’s most widely used online medical reference systems, and has generously supported UF’s College of Medicine and other units, including Mathematics. His enduring commitment to UF reflects both his intellectual curiosity and his gratitude for the education that helped launch his remarkable career.
For more about his background, see the feature article “Meet Joe Rush” in Florida Physician:
Meet Joe Rush
The Department of Mathematics is deeply grateful to Dr. Rush for his generosity and lasting connection to our mathematical community.