Education: High Math at Hanover

Grants of a mere $500,000 are no longer unusual—although colleges still receive them gratefully—but one made last week by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to Dartmouth College is worth noting. The gift, which will pay for the mathematics half of a building for the mathematics and psychology departments, was made largely in recognition of the work of one 32-year-old professor. Says Dartmouth President John Sloan Dickey of his math department's chairman, Hungarian-born John G. Kemeny: "A really great teacher; he has the ability to ignite a lot of fuel."

Impressive Record. Teacher Kemeny, wearing an almost academic mustache on a face not...