Photo Caption: Michael Smith, center, assistant professor in Trine University’s Department of Mathematics, received the Distinguished Faculty Award during the Christian Campus House annual banquet on Saturday, March 23. Travis Wilhelm, lead campus minister and university chaplain, left, and Karis Dice, an actuarial science major from Hillsdale, Michigan, presented the award.

ANGOLA, Ind. (03/25/2024) — Trine University's Christian Campus House (CCH) honored Michael Smith, assistant professor in the university's Department of Mathematics, with its Distinguished Faculty Award during the organization's 38th annual banquet on Saturday, March 23.

The award is voted on by the CCH senior class.

Smith has been at Trine since 2021. He works closely with the university's actuarial science program, including coordinating Trine's partnership with the Modeling the Future Challenge.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics and Master of Science in mathematics from Purdue University.

"Professor Smith cares for his students. He is genuinely invested in our lives," said Karis Dice, an actuarial science major from Hillsdale, Michigan. "While he pushes his students to become their best, he does not want his students to suffer under too heavy of a workload. He loves to celebrate our successes with us and is present when we may fail. I am grateful to have had a professor like Professor Smith."

"We're grateful for the Trine professors who work to ensure their students are performing well academically and enjoying a well-rounded college experience," said Travis Wilhelm, lead campus minister and university chaplain. "The award is one way to recognize top individuals on the Trine campus."

CCH seeks to help Trine University better the student community as a whole by creating a ministry that serves their spiritual needs.