ASU School of Molecular Sciences recognizes outstanding students, instructors, faculty

On Monday, April 16, Arizona State University's School of Molecular Sciences held its annual award and recognition ceremony for outstanding students, research and teaching assistants, faculty members and their families at Old Main on ASU's Tempe campus.

The ceremony recognized undergraduate and graduate students who excelled in academics and research, distinguished instructors and faculty, and spring 2018 doctoral and master's degree graduates. Awards were presented by faculty members selected by each recipient, and presenters took the opportunity to highlight the many accomplishments of their respective students.

This year, the School of Molecular Sciences introduced several new scholarships, including the John Holloway Memorial Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships, the Edward B. Skibo Memorial Scholarship, and the forthcoming School of Molecular Sciences Innovation Award. In addition, the school announced the inaugural recipients of its Women in Science and First Generation Scholarships.

Many important donors and their families, peers, and colleagues of professors with named endowments were in attendance to help celebrate these amazing students. The school welcomed Kay Krause, daughter of Therald Moeller; former unit chair Bill Glaunsinger who presented the John Holloway Memorial Scholarships and the new School of Molecular Sciences Innovation Award; Helen Rosen, John Holloway’s wife; YuJung Skibo and Eddie Skibo, Edward B. Skibo’s wife and son; and Randy Hughes and Ted Garrett from the Arizona Society for Coatings Technology. Another special guest was Linda Raish, director of development for the natural sciences in ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, who has been central to the successful establishment of School of Molecular Sciences scholarships.   

In total, eight achievement awards and nine scholarships were presented to the most talented and deserving undergraduate students from the school's more than 1,200 chemistry and biochemistry majors. The fall 2017 and spring 2018 Dean's Medal winners were also recognized. Additionally, this year’s School of Molecular Sciences award winners included two recipients of the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship.

Accomplished graduate students also were celebrated, with presentation of graduate awards including the John Kacoyannakis Award, the LeRoy Eyring Memorial Fellowship in Chemistry, the George Yuen Memorial Award, the inaugural John Holloway Memorial Graduate Scholarship, and Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant and Distinguished Teaching Assistant awards. The Distinguished Instructor and Student Associates of the American Chemical Society Distinction of Merit and Scholastic Occupation Faculty Teaching Awards were also presented.

These awards and scholarships are very important to the success of the students at SMS, because they recognize the talent and hard work of the recipients, and also provide financial support that allows students to focus on their learning and academic progress.

“I am very honored to be the first recipient of the SMS Women in Science Scholarship. Receiving this award has made me reflect on the gender disparity in STEM and the importance of my success as a female scientist," said Madeleine Howell, who received both the inaugural Women in Science Scholarship and the ACS Division of Physical Chemistry Undergraduate Award. "This has motivated me to work even harder to achieve my academic and career goals, so that one day I may be a role model for other aspiring female chemists. I believe that supporting the achievements of women in science is critical to increasing female representation in STEM and it is inspiring to be a part of a school that recognizes this. I would not be where I am today without the generous support of the School and the SMS faculty.” 

Learn more about School of Molecular Sciences scholarships.

View photos of awardees, presenting faculty, and donors and families.

Full list of award and scholarship recipients:

George M. Bateman Memorial Scholarship: Rebecca Avila

Therald Moeller Scholarship: Kiko Rex

Wayne W. Luchsinger Chemistry Scholarship: Tyler Rockwood

John Holloway Memorial Scholarship (Undergraduate): Adam Akkad

Edward B. Skibo Memorial Scholarship: Julia Torline

Arizona Society for Coatings Technology Scholarship: Martin DeWitt

School of Molecular Sciences Scholarship: Juliett Zeidas

School of Molecular Sciences Women in Science Scholarship: Madeleine Howell

School of Molecular Sciences First Generation Scholarship: Joseph Ripsam

SAACS Organic Achievement Award: Uma Vrudhula

ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry Undergraduate Award: Zoe Liberman-Martin

ACS Division of Inorganic Chemistry Undergraduate Award: Yvonne Manjarrez

ACS Division of Organic Chemistry Undergraduate Award: Lily Wayne

ACS Division of Physical Chemistry Undergraduate Award: Madeleine Howell

Royal Society of Chemistry Certificate of Excellence: Sai Kottapalli

Distinguished Chemistry Merit Award: Victoria Hernandez

Distinguished Chemistry Merit Award: Jacob Perez

Distinguished Biochemistry Merit Award: Alexandria Layton

Dean’s Medal, Fall 2017: Jonathan Vie

Dean’s Medal, Spring 2018: Logan Tegler

Barry Goldwater Scholarship: Meilin Zhu

Barry Goldwater Scholarship: Humza Zubair

John Kacoyannakis Award: Manas Mondal

LeRoy Eyring Memorial Fellowship in Chemistry: Diana Khusnutdinova

George Yuen Memorial Award: Ahmed Yousaf

John Holloway Memorial Scholarship (Graduate): Apar Prasad

Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award: Yinnan Chen, Dai Hyun Kim, Duo Ma, Brian Wadsworth, Garrett Williams

Distinguished Teaching Assistant Award: Shanika Abeysooriya, Rafael Alcala-Torano, William Asma, Kenny Barker, James Geiger, Yameng Liu, Tara MacCulloch, Corey Miles, Shayesteh Roshdi-Ferdosi, Raymond Seibel, Stephanie Thibert

Distinguished Instructor Award: Marely Tejeda Ferrari

Distinction of Merit and Scholastic Occupation (DMSO) Teaching Award: Timothy Steimle