The award for Abernathy, called the Distinguished Teaching Award by a Beginning College
or University Mathematics Faculty Member, was given at the Southeastern Sectional
Meeting, held at the March 23-24 annual meeting at Clemson University. The honor goes to a junior college or university faculty whose teaching has been
extraordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics
is shown to have influence beyond their own classrooms. 
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Winthrop University faculty member Zach Abernathy was presented a beginning teacher award at a recent regional association meeting
for the Mathematical Association of America.
The award, called the Distinguished Teaching Award by a Beginning College or University Mathematics Faculty
Member, was given at the Southeastern Sectional Meeting, held at the March 23-24 annual
meeting at Clemson University.
The honor goes to a junior college or university faculty whose teaching has been extraordinarily
successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown
to have influence beyond their own classrooms. Nominees are eligible from any college
or university belonging in North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama.
Tom Polaski, chair of the Department of Mathematics, said that Abernathy is a model professor. "He engages students in the classroom
with clear exposition and innovative teaching strategies while working outside the
classroom as a demanding and enthusiastic research mentor," Polaski said. "The Department
of Mathematics is glad to count him as a colleague."
Abernathy is now the third Winthrop faculty member to win this award since 2014. Others are Joe Rusinko, 2014, and Kristen Abernathy, Zach's wife, in 2015.
Last year, Zach Abernathy, an assistant professor of mathematics, received the 2017 Early Career Faculty Mentoring Award from the Mathematics and Computer Science Division of the Council on Undergraduate
Research. This national award is given to a mathematics or computer science professor
in recognition of outstanding mentoring of students in undergraduate research.
A Winston-Salem, North Carolina, native, Abernathy joined the Winthrop faculty in
2011. He holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. in mathematics, both from North Carolina State University,
and a B.S. in both mathematics and physics from Wake Forest University.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
