Edward Jerome Finan joined the faculty at Catholic University in September, 1930, soon after having received his Ph.D from Ohio State University as a student of the algebraist C. C. MacDuffee. Dr. Finan was well respected by his colleagues, beloved by his students as an outstanding educator, and recognized for his research in number theory. He was promoted to the position of Ordinary Professor, and in 1947, he was appointed Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The next year, Finan resigned from the Deanship for health reasons; however, he was able to resume teaching full-time and conducting research. He remained an active leader in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics until his death on May 9, 1960.
The E. J. Finan Memorial Award in Mathematics was established through contributions from Dr. Finan's colleagues and students to honor his memory and three decades of dedicated service to the University. A plaque in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics commemorates the award, with the names of each year's recipients engraved on individual plates.
The Finan Memorial Award recognizes a graduating math major who has demonstrated exceptional achievement in the study of mathematics.
Recipients
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Patrick Daigle |
| 2023 | Andrew Barth Riley Smith |
| 2022 | Garrett Farrell Elizabeth Pacious |
| 2021 | Ian Nelson Kerry Silidker |
| 2020 | Casandra Abgrab |
| 2019 | Theresa Abela Matthew Menture |
| 2018 | Daniel J O'Hagan |
| 2017 | Ellen DiMartini Ethan Robinett |
| 2016 | Peter Gartland |
| 2015 | Alexander Russell |
| 2014 | Nicholas S. Shields |
| 2013 | Timothy McEvoy |
| 2012 | Stuart Nygard |
| 2007 | Amanda Shaw |
| 2006 | Joseph Herning |
| 2004 | Mark J. DeCelles |
| 1997 | Angela M. McKay |
| 1996 | Deborah A. Scharzwalder |
| 1995 | Maria L. Montello Daniel P. Wisniewski |
| 1994 | Daniel Liam Higgins |
| 1991 | Kazuhiro Iwasawa Raquel E. Maderazo |
| 1990 | Susan Elizabeth Lolz |
| 1988 | Theresa Marie Gallo |
| 1985 | James Hughes |
| 1983 | Ann M.Cisek |
| 1982 | Martin D. Schoch |
| 1980 | Dwight Barkley |
| 1975 | James S. Arzigian |
| 1974 | Richard M. Bates |
| 1973 | Vincent J. Cogliano |
| 1971 | Robert F. Merski |
| 1970 | Mary P. Bradley Mary Ann Milly |
| 1969 | Peter J. O'Rourke |
| 1968 | Ronald V. Giusti |
| 1967 | Susan Milly |
| 1966 | Neil Sharp C.F.X. |
| 1965 | Richard Frechette F.F.C. |
| 1964 | Bernardus Garvey C.F.X. |