William Rinck Family

Professor William Rinck served as one of the first mathematics professors at Calvin College, teaching from 1905-1920. Popular with students and faculty alike, he worked tirelessly to move the college in the direction of offering full four-year college degrees. His work was cut short, however, when in November 1920, he was killed in an icy car crash along with one of his sons.

To remember and honor Professor Rinck’s love of mathematics, his family and colleagues established a memorial fund in his name. In 2009, his daughter Margaret Rinck added significantly to this fund, enabling the department to offer not only the Rinck Memorial Prize to the outstanding senior mathematics student, an award dating back to 1928, but also scholarships to outstanding mathematics majors.