New math endowments created for undergraduate scholarships

Two new endowments have been created that will benefit undergraduate students studying mathematics at Michigan State University.

The endowments, which represent over $100,000 in initial gifts, will award their first scholarship recipients for the fall semester of 2026.

The Gregory L. Caucutt Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student demonstrating financial need and majoring in mathematics and actively enrolled in the MSU Honors College. The scholarship is named after Greg Caucutt, a 1968 graduate of MSU.

Caucutt received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from MSU before receiving a National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship to attend graduate school at the University of Maryland. After earning his master’s degree in mathematics in 1970, Caucutt joined IBM in Rochester, Minn., where he worked on the development of innovative mid-range computer system software as both a programmer and manager. Caucutt retired in 1999 and established the scholarship to help others taking an academic path similar to his own.

The Shirley A. Gloss Soler Mathematics Education Scholarship will be awarded to undergraduate students in their junior or senior year who are pursuing a degree in Mathematics and who have demonstrated an interest in becoming educators.

Gloss Soler was a graduate of MSU and enjoyed a long career in mathematics before passing in 2025. Her roles included service as a secondary education mathematics teacher, as well as data analysis work with IBM, GE, NASA and Lockheed Martin. Gloss Soler, who received financial assistance to obtain her degree, desired to establish an endowment to provide opportunity for students like herself.

You can donate to either endowment through MSU’s College of Natural Science.

For opportunities to donate to MSU funds which directly benefit the Department of Mathematics, please visit givingto.msu.edu.

Learn more about scholarship opportunities for mathematics students.