In 1976, Bender won the MIT Graduate Student Council Teaching Award, and in 1983 he won the Gargoyle Award for teaching undergraduates at Washington University. Bender coached the Washington University Putnam mathematics competition team, which had many top-five performances under his leadership.
Bender was honored with the MIT Graduate Student Council Teaching Award in 1976, and two years later, he received the Gargoyle Award for teaching undergraduates at Washington University. As a coach, Bender led the Washington University Putnam mathematics competition team to numerous top-five finishes.