Stegun received the Gold Medal of the U.S. Department of Commerce for her work on the handbook.
On September 15, 1965, Irene Stegun was honored with the U.S. Department of Commerce Gold Medal. This prestigious award was presented in recognition of her outstanding leadership and editorial work on the *Handbook of Mathematical Functions*. As one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the Department of Commerce, the medal highlighted Stegun’s remarkable contributions to mathematics, particularly in compiling such an invaluable resource. The accolade also underscored her role as a pioneer in a field traditionally led by males, placing her among the notable women in science of her era. This recognition not only celebrated her individual achievements but also spotlighted the growing influence of women in mathematics and educational sciences.