The Grainger College of Engineering
Physics

Excellence in Outreach, Service, and Diversity Award

Award  Description and Eligibility

Each fall semester, starting in Fall 2022, we will award up to four (4) Excellence in Outreach, Service, and Diversity Awards to Illinois Physics graduate students who have made significant contributions to outreach, service, and/or DEI efforts on behalf of the Department of Physics. In addition to a $500 cash award, awardees will have their names listed below. An incomplete list of outreach, service, and DEI activities that could be considered for these awards includes

Any current or recent (within the past year) Illinois Physics graduate student is eligible for the Excellence in Outreach, Service, and Diversity Award.

Nominations should pertain to outreach, service, and diversity related activities performed while the nominee was an Illinois Physics PhD student, and should not pertain to PhD research. Award winners are ineligible for a second award in two consecutive years, but are eligible again following this 1-year buffer period. Nominations in a particular year that are not awarded will remain eligible for one additional year.

Members of the award decision committee are ineligible for the award during the years they serve on the committee. 

Nominate someone today!

Award Winners

2023 Award Recipients

Katie Gifford

Katie Gifford

"For excellence in outreach at Science at the Market and at local middle schools, fostering scientific curiosity and engagement."

 

Mayisha Nakib

Mayisha Zeb Nakib

"For excellence in outreach and service in the Illinois Guidance for Physics Students (GPS) program and the Physics Graduate Student Association (PGSA), supporting undergraduate students and leading Science at the Market."

 

Preetha Sarkar

Preetha Sarkar

"For excellence promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through the Women & Gender Minorities in Physics (WGMP) program and through exemplary service in multiple campus organizations."

 

Devyn Shafer

Devyn Shafer 

"For excellence in service in the Illinois Guidance for Physics Students (GPS) program, providing essential educational and professional support for Illinois undergraduate students."

 

2022 Award Recipients

Domenica Garzon

Domenica Garzon

“For excellence in outreach and service in The Rikuna Project, a program bringing scientific research to underserved communities in Ecuador.”

 

Shubhang Goswami 

“For excellence in outreach and service through the Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO), founding the Toxic Masculinity workshop, and promoting sexual harassment reporting and prevention tools in the Physics Department.”

 

Adithya Kuchibhotla 

“For excellence in service at the Urbana-Champaign Books to Prisoners (UCBTP) program and the Education Justice Project (EJP), providing educational support for prisoners.”

 

Kristen Schumacher 

“For excellence in outreach through founding the Physics Outreach and Instruction through New Technologies (POINT) program, bringing novel educational tools to the Champaign-Urbana community.”

 

Emily Waite 

“For excellence promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through your significant contributions to the Women & Gender Minorities in Physics (WGMP) program.”