USU College of Science Recognizes Top Scholars of 2023

Utah State University’s College of Science hosted an awards ceremony and reception on April 20 to recognize students, faculty and staff for outstanding achievements.

“Today, we honor our students for their hard work and for their dedicated service,” said College of Science Dean Michelle Baker. “We also honor our faculty and staff for their mentorship of students, excellence in research, exemplary teaching, dedication in outreach and for their efforts in providing meaningful learning opportunities.”

Valedictorian for the college is Dylan Julander. Chemistry and biochemistry faculty member Missy Kofoed will be Julander’s faculty escort at commencement exercises.

The college’s Scholar of the Year is Bruce Brewer. Brewer,along with Nicola Baird, Aaron Cox, Kenyon Gale, Joshua Kay, Rebekah Scott and Andrew Williams are the college’s Dean’s Scholars.

Heather Allen was recognized as the college’s Peak Prize Undergraduate Researcher of the Year. Allen was also named USU’s 2023 Peak Prize Undergraduate Researcher of the Year at the university’s Robins Awards ceremony, which was April 7 at Utah State.

Sarah Nielson is the college’s Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year, and Rachel Tong was recognized as the college’s nominee for the 2023 Legacy of Utah State Award.

Gabriella Cale, who served as science senator for the 2022-23 academic year, was thanked and honored for her service.

The USU Get Away Special Team, coordinated by the Department of Physics, was recognized for receiving the university’s 2023 Achievement of the Year Award at the Robins Awards.

Kate Richardson is the Graduate Student (MS) Researcher of the Year and was also named Utah State’s 2023 Master’s Student Researcher of the Year at the university’s Robins Awards.

Nikolay Tkachenko and Mallory Hagadorn were named the college’s Graduate Student (Ph.D.) Researchers of the Year. Tkachenkowas also named Utah State’s 2023 Graduate Student (Ph.D.) Researcher of the Year at the university’s Robins Awards.

Matt Burnham is the college’s Graduate Student Teacher of the Year.

Kris Valles received the college’s 2023 Staff Excellence Award. Cindy Weatbrook was recognized as the Utah State University Employee of the Month for January 2023.

Noelle Beckman is the college’s Outstanding Graduate Mentor of the Year.

Brent Thomas was named Undergraduate Faculty Mentor of the Year, and T.C. Shen was recognized as the college’s Peak Prize Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year.

The Faculty Teacher of the Year is Hannah Lewis, andthe college’s Faculty Researcher of the Year is Yi Rao.

Al Savitzky was the college’s nominee for the Faculty University Service Award.

Also recognized at the ceremony was David Peak, who was the college’s nominee for the Cazier Lifetime Achievement Award.

Greg Podgorski was honored for his service as chair of the college’s Science Unwrapped public outreach program. In an April 19 ceremony, Science Unwrapped was awarded the USU Presidential Award for Community Engagement — Partner Category.

Science Dean Michelle Baker was recognized at the ceremony as the 2023 recipient of the Utah State University Diversity Award — Administrator Category.

Diane Alston, James Evans, David Farrelly, Nicholas Flann, Susanne Jänecke, Pata Rujirawat, John Shervais, John Stark, Kim Sullivan and Daniel Watson were honored at the ceremony as 2023 retirees.

Andy Anderson was honored for 40 years of service.

Recognized for25 years of service were Shane Brewer, Ludger Scherliess, T.C. Shen and Greg Wheeler.

John Flores, Douglas Harris, Dean Mathias, Mary-Ann Muffoletto, Dominique Pautet, Xiaojun Qi, Linda Skabelund and Tonya Triplett were honored for 20 years of service.

Recognized for 15 years of service were Tyson Chappell, Curtis Dyreson and Carla Endres.

First-year faculty recognized at the ceremony were Carrie Bala, Eric Beckman, Peter Crooks, Aysel Erey, Nick Pardikes, Moira Robinson, Carl Rothfels, Cathy Rushworth, Tuan Trinh and Sara Weinstein.

The College of Science includes the academic departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, computer science, mathematics and statistics, geosciences and physics.