Malcolm Gillis Award in Mathematical Economic Analysis
The Malcolm Gillis Award in Mathematical Economic Analysis is given to the graduating senior majoring in MTEC with the highest GPA
in courses for the major. The 2020 winner is Yixing (Lisa) Ling.
Michael D. Maher RISE Award in Economics
The Michael D. Maher RISE Award in Economics is sponsored by the current senior program adviser for the
Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies, and is awarded to the rising senior majoring in Economics with
the highest GPA in courses for the major. The 2020 winner is Alexander Patterson, who is a rising senior
studying Economics and Managerial Studies. His special interest is in finance, especially in developing an
understanding the foundations of investing.
risE award in MathEMatical EconoMic analysis
Alexander
Patterson
The RISE Award in Mathematical Economic Analysis is sponsored by the RISE Council and is awarded to the
rising senior majoring in MTEC with the highest GPA in courses for the major. We have two recipients of the
2020 award, whose GPAs were also within 0.004 of each other: Cade Ballew and
Vicente Iglesias.
Cade Bellew is a rising senior at Brown College, originally from Norman,
Oklahoma, who is a rising senior double majoring in MTEC and CAAM. He
is looking forward to continuing his studies during his senior year, specifically
through a research capstone course and the Honors Program.
Cade Bellew Vicente Iglesias is originally from Towson, Maryland, and is majoring in Statistics
as well as Mathematical Economic Analysis. He has interned at the Federal Reserve
and will be working for Susquehanna International this summer. He is still unsure what he will do after
graduating, but is most interested in macroeconomics and finance.
Vicente Iglesias
Patricia and Robert H. Parks Jr. Prize for Excellence in Economics
The Patricia and Robert H. Parks Jr. Prize for Excellence in Economics is awarded to an outstanding ECON or
MTEC student or students who are entering the work force upon graduation. The 2020 recipients are Elizabeth
Rasich and Davis Nelson.
Elizabeth Rasich is an MTEC major who will be working for the University of
Chicago’s Crime Lab after graduation. Her research projects at Rice examined the
economics of consumer bankruptcy, environmental protections, and microfinance.
Davis Nelson is a senior MTEC major from McMurtry College who, upon
Elizabeth Rasich
graduation, will begin working for BDT Capital Partners as a merchant banking
analyst in Chicago. During his time at Rice, Davis was heavily involved with
McMurtry College Government, the Rice Club Lacrosse team, and the Rice
Undergraduate Finance Club.
Davis Nelson
Tax Executives Institute Undergraduate Tax Scholar Award
The Tax Executives Institute Undergraduate Tax Scholar Award is given to an outstanding student or students
who are rising seniors and have demonstrated an interest in taxation. There are two recipients in 2020: Autumn
Engebretson and Samuel Spitz.
Autumn
Engebretson
Autumn Engebretson is a rising senior at Duncan College majoring in
Mathematical Economic Analysis and Managerial Studies and minoring in Business
and in Financial Computation and Modeling. She is involved with the Baker
Institute’s Center for Public Finance working as a student researcher for Dr. John
Diamond, and is exploring options in both finance and graduate work in tax policy
and economics.
Samuel Spitz is a rising senior from the Bay Area studying Economics and
Managerial Studies. Outside of his work in economics, Samuel enjoys leading Rice Ventures, running his
startup (filtur.net), working with the Doerr Institute, and playing pickup basketball at the Rec.
Samuel Spitz
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