BH Neumann Award for Angelo Di Pasquale

Angelo Di Pasquale received a BH Neumann Award at a function at the Amora Riverwalk Hotel, Melbourne, on Monday 27 August 2007. The Award was presented by Professor Peter Taylor, Executive Director of the Australian Mathematics Trust.

Angelo Di Pasquale receives his Award from Peter Taylor.

Angelo afterwards with his family, from left mother Margaret, sister Anita, father Rudy and brother Robert.

CITATION

I first knew of Angelo when his name appeared on a list of Melbourne students in 1989 who had won Diplomas in the International Mathematics Tournament of Towns.

In fact Angelo had started in AMOC's program in 1988 as a Year 9 student at Eltham College. He went to a lecture organised by Victoria's then AMOC Director Judith Downes. The lecture was given by Emanuel Strzelecki, who made him think for the first time about proving what he believed to be correct. This experience motivated Angelo to take a lifelong interest in mathematics. Actually Angelo was not the person from his school intended to be invited. The student invited was a near-perfect scorer in the Australian Mathematics Competition, but it turned out to be a successful interchange.

Angelo went on to make the 1990 and 1991 Australian IMO teams, competing in Beijing and Sigtuna, and won a Bronze Medal on each occasion.

In 1992 Angelo attended a training camp where former Olympian Mark Kisin suggested he would be welcome to teach. He did so and has continued to do so until this day.

Angelo became Deputy Leader of the Australian team in 1997 and continued in this role until 2001. He succeeded David Hunt as Director of Training in 2001 and has been Australian Team Leader at IMOs from 2002.

He completed a Science Degree at Monash in two years (1992 and 1993) being fast tracked via being a Faculty Scholar, and completed his Honours Degree during 1994.

In 1995 he commenced a PhD, holding an AO Capell Scholarship, with supervisor Walter Neumann (son of Bernhard). He completed this PhD, working on configurations of curves, in 1999.

While studying at Monash Angelo also pursued music studies, gaining both an AMusA and an LMusA. He is a wonderful pianist and also enjoys listening to classical music and studying music history.

Angelo studies the Bible and gains particular pleasure from teaching the Bible, and how it can help people, to others.

He also likes chess, bridge, and watching and participating in various sports such as cricket, tennis, table tennis, body surfing and go-karting.

Angelo has proved an outstanding role model for the students he teaches and he also studies their progress closely, being perceptive at detecting and addressing difficulties when they arise, and dealing with them in a fair manner.

It is very good that many former Olympians have attended tonight to see a unique honour, the first time this Award has been presented to a product of the Trust's system.

Peter Taylor
Monday 27 August 2007