At its November annual conference in Orlando, Florida, AMATYC President Judy Ackerman recognized Professor Marilyn Mays of North Lake College, Irving, Texas, by presenting her with the 2004 Mathematics Excellence Award.

A popular and sought out instructor, Marilyn has taught at North Lake College, in Irving, Texas, for more than 30 years. She currently serves as Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science and also Dean of the Division of Mathematics and Science. Marilyn holds advanced degrees in Mathematics and the College Teaching of Computer Science from the University of North Texas and Texas Technical University.

Extraordinarily active in AMATYC, Professor Mays was a superb president of the organization in 1994 and 1995. For many years she served as chair of the Equal Opportunity in Mathematics Committee, and is passionately devoted to the cause of fostering diversity in the mathematical sciences.

At the ICME 9 conference held in Tokyo in 2000, Marilyn served as chief organizer of the first presentation to deal with community colleges ever held at an ICME. She has spoken and written widely on a variety of topics including attracting minorities into teaching mathematics, mathematical misconceptions, and telecommunications.

Marilyn has been instrumental in AMATYC securing grants from a variety of sources. She led the effort for AMATYC to establish a close connection with the ExxonMobil Foundation. It was largely through her efforts that grants were obtained from the National Science Foundation and from ExxonMobil to fund the development and distribution in 1995 of Crossroads in Mathematics, the organization's signature publication. Marilyn also served as co principal investigator on a grant for AMATYC from the Center for Occupational Research and Development which led to the production of contextual materials to support the AMATYC standards.