Dhruv Patel named first recipient of CLC Foundation's Wilmot Prize
Dhruv Patel of Wauconda, who attended the College of Lake County from 2012-14, was chosen as the first winner of the Wilmot Prize for Excellence in Mathematics scholarship totaling $11,500.
The award is named for John Wilmot, who taught mathematics at the college from 1969-2000 and bequeathed a substantial financial gift to the CLC Foundation upon his death in 2013. Wilmot wanted to provide a significant scholarship annually to a current or former CLC student who has shown perseverance and excellence in mathematics, both in and out of the classroom. The entire CLC mathematics department is the selection committee for the award, according to Tracey Hoy, math professor.
Patel now attends the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), majoring in computer science with a concentration in software engineering.
He said he feels “really honored” to have received the award. “I was surprised when I received the notice in the mail, and it sunk in when I called CLC to confirm it,” he said. He will use the scholarship to pay for tuition and student housing at UIC.
The scholarship is the latest in a string of positive experiences for Patel since he moved to the U.S. After graduating from high school in his native Bombay, India, he moved to Wauconda in 2012 to stay with his uncle, who suggested he attend College of Lake County.
Patel's initial jitters about attending an American college quickly subsided, and he grew to appreciate CLC's supportive instructors and sense of community. He started in the developmental math sequence by taking geometry and intermediate algebra and then progressed to complete the entire calculus sequence as well as differential equations.
“Dhruv received an A in nearly every math course he has taken at CLC, and he also completed several upper-level physics and computer science courses,” said Jeff Mudrock, who taught Patel in second-semester calculus.
Outside of class, Patel made new friends and developed leadership skills as a tutor in the Math Center and as vice president of the college's math and engineering clubs. “It was great practice coming up with ideas, building consensus, setting up a budget and meeting deadlines,” he said of his club experience.
At UIC, Patel said the classes are challenging, and he's grateful to CLC for helping build a foundation. “Without CLC, I would not be where I am today,” he said. “When I started at CLC, I didn't know the standards of American colleges in terms of mathematics, writing English papers or what the exams would be like. At CLC, the standards are high, but the instructors are very helpful. I have been well prepared for UIC.”
Patel, who dreams of being an “innovator,” said he eventually wants to work in Silicon Valley and design financial software. But he still keeps in contact with CLC math instructors and friends via Facebook. This spring, he's decided to give back, by returning to campus to help current CLC students study for finals.
Patel “couldn't be more deserving of the award,” said Mudrock, who also was faculty advisor of the student math club. “He has a deep desire to fully understand every mathematical concept presented to him. I still remember some of the mathematical proofs that Dhruv produced in my second-semester calculus class because they were very well-written and showed a high level of mathematical maturity.”
According to Mudrock, Patel's enthusiasm for mathematics spread to his fellow students. “During the Fall 2014 semester, the Math club saw an increase in student attendance, which I think is due in part to Dhruv convincing fellow students that mathematics is not only incredibly interesting, but it is also abundantly beautiful and fun to study. I think it is great that he will use the prize toward his education and continue to pursue the things he is passionate about,” he said.
The College of Lake County Foundation raises money to fund scholarships and grants that provide CLC students an opportunity for a better future. Through these efforts, the Foundation strengthens the vitality and well-being of the diverse communities served by the college. To learn more about the Foundation, visit www.clcillinois.edu/foundation or call (847) 543-2091.