Graduate students receive awards for excellence in teaching, research, and service

The Virginia Tech Graduate School honored master's and doctoral degree students from across the university at the school’s annual awards dinner during Graduate Education Week.

Students received awards for service, teaching, research, and top dissertations and theses. Vice President and Dean for Graduate Education Karen P. DePauw also recognized the 2018 Edward A. Bouchet Honor Society inductees and the graduate students of the year.

Doctoral and master's degree students were nominated for the awards by their colleges.

In addition to receiving their awards at the dinner, the students will be recognized during the Graduate Commencement Ceremony May 16.

Dean DePauw also awarded the Graduate School's outstanding mentor awards to professors nominated by graduate students and faculty across the university.

Student of the year and service awards

• 2019 Graduate Student of the Year: Assad Khan, Chemistry, College of Science. Honorable mention: Benjamin Bradford DeVore, Psychology, College of Science.
• Graduate Service Excellence Award: Martina Svyantek, Individualized interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.

Thesis and dissertation awards

• Outstanding Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Dissertation Award: Mohammad Mozaffari, Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering.
• Outstanding Social Sciences, Business, Education, and Humanities (SSBEH) Dissertation Award: Crystal Kyle; Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• William Preston Master's Thesis Award, STEM: Andreas Sukmana, Biological Sciences, College of Science.
• William Preston Master's Thesis Award, SSBEH: Emily Harmon, History, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

Teaching awards

• Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) Instructor of Record Excellence Award: Leigh McKagen; Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought (ASPECT); College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Kristen Noble, Chemistry, College of Science.

Outstanding doctoral degree students

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Emily Myers, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise.
• College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Alexander Darr, Landscape Architecture; Alexandria Schiavoni, Landscape Architecture.
• College of Engineering: Farzad Ahmadi, Engineering Mechanics.
• College of Natural Resources and Environment: Sydney Hope, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
• College of Science: Richard Jayne, Geosciences.
• Pamplin College of Business: Yuan Li, Hospitality and Tourism Management.
• Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Kristin Eden, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences.
• Interdisciplinary doctoral student: Alexander Haring, Macromolecular Science and Engineering.

Outstanding master's degree students

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Kayla Harris, Agriculture, Leadership, and Community Education.
• College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Ezgi Isbilen, Architecture.
• College of Engineering: Hannah Patton, Biological Systems Engineering.
• College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences: Jenni Gallagher, History.
• College of Natural Resources and Environment: Katie McBaine, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
• College of Science: Ligia Antezana, Psychology. 
• Pamplin College of Business: Elizabeth Drabant, Business Administration.
• Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Sarah Khatibzadeh, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences.

Outstanding faculty mentors

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Professor Thomas Kuhar, Entomology.
• College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Associate Professor Steven Thompson, Architecture.
• College of Engineering: Assistant Professor Walter Lee, Engineering Education
• College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences: Professor Nancy Bodenhorn, Education, Curriculum, and Instruction.
• College of Natural Resources and Environment: Associate Professor Marcella Kelly, Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.
• College of Science: Professor Jeffrey Walters, Biological Sciences.
• Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Associate Professor Xin M. Luo, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences.

Written by Cathy Grimes