Kaitlyn McConville, a Westminster College junior mathematics major, received a travel/presentation grant from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to present "Break It Down: Using Wavelets to Analyze Hand-Written Letters" at the Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Lincoln.

McConville is a daughter of Keith McConville of Wexford and a graduate of North Allegheny High School.

The work was part of McConville's summer research funded by the National Science Foundation project "Mentoring through Critical Transition Points."

Dr. Carolyn Cuff, professor and chair of Westminster's Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and a 1978 Westminster graduate, said, "Wavelets are mathematical functions which break down, compress, and analyze information in component parts. One aspect of Kati's work considered the machine recognition of hand-written envelopes which must be machine-sorted by a post office."

In addition to the presentation of papers, undergraduates at the conference heard about graduate schools from current graduate students and about opportunities in government and industry from mathematicians with advanced degrees.

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education. The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences. Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for additional information about the Drinko Center.

Contact Cuff at (724) 946-7291 or e-mail ccuff@westminster.edu for more information.