East Stroudsburg University Senior Finalist for Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence

Syed R. Ali Zaidi

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on May 3, 2023, No Comments

Johnathan Makar, a senior at East Stroudsburg University from Oxford, Pa., was ESU’s finalist for the 2023 Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence.

Created in 2000, the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence is conferred upon a graduating senior from one of the 14 universities in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. The award was founded by Dr. Syed R. Ali-Zaidi, a charter member of the State System Board of Governors.

Makar will graduate this May with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a minor in physics. He was nominated as ESU’s finalist for the award based on his outstanding academic achievement, active pursuit of knowledge and research in his field of study.

Makar has been named to the Dean’s List every semester and achieved an impeccable GPA of 3.96 in his demanding and challenging accelerated academic program.

Makar had the opportunity to represent ESU as the only undergraduate student to attend the University of Delaware Graduate Student Mathematical Modeling Camp and the Mathematical Problems in Industry Workshop at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2022. He was able to be a contributing student, along with graduate students, on a math modeling paper called “Modeling the Tradeoffs in Publishing Urban Travel Data Sets” which was published on the University of Delaware GSMMC website.

Makar has always been someone who immerses himself with many other aspects of being a successful university student by being active in various academic related clubs and athletics. He was a member of the track and field team competing in the discus, and after an injury kept him from competing, he returned as the team’s volunteer equipment manager.

“I know that his passion and commitment for his areas of study will continue as his career progresses and he plans on attending graduate school,” said ESU President Kenneth Long. “I know he will continue to make our University, the State System, and Commonwealth proud.”

Candidates for the 2023 award were recommended by their university president at the conclusion of a campus application and selection process that was open to all graduating seniors. Multiple selection criteria included outstanding academic scholarship, including prizes, honors, and honorary societies; participation in extra/co-curricular activities; and a two-page essay by the nominee addressing how the university has prepared them for their next career step.