PROVIDENCE, RI --- Paul J Sally, Jr. of the University of Chicago has won the 2000 Award for Distinguished Public Service. Presented by the American Mathematical Society, the award is one of the highest distinctions given for service to mathematics. The award will be presented at the Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, DC on January 20, 2000.

The award citation says that Sally is being honored "for the quality of his research, for his service to the Society as Trustee, but more importantly for his many efforts in improvement of mathematics education for the nation's youth and especially for members of minority and underrepresented groups, and for his longitudinal mentoring of students, in particular the mathematics majors at Chicago."

Sally received his doctorate in 1965 and very shortly thereafter he became involved in a mathematics competition for students in the Chicago Public Schools. He has offered an academic year course for those students performing best in the competition; many of the students in the course are women or members of underrepresented minorities. Sally remains a mentor of these students for many years. His commitment to education also shows in his work in the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project and in a Young Scholars Program for high school students.

Founded in 1888 to further mathematical research and scholarship, the 30,000-member American Mathematical Society fulfills its mission through programs and services that promote mathematical research and its uses, strengthen mathematical education, and foster awareness and appreciation of mathematics and its connections to other disciplines and to everyday life.

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PAUL SALLY RECEIVES
AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED PUBLIC SERVICE