UW HONORS TOP GRADUATE STUDENTS
May 14, 2003 -- Top graduate students at the University of Wyoming recently were honored for outstanding achievements in teaching and research.
The UW Graduate School held ceremonies to recognize recipients of the Ellbogen Graduate Student Teaching awards, the Outstanding Master's Thesis awards, and the Outstanding Dissertation awards.
"Graduate education is the cornerstone of a university's reputation," said Don Roth, Graduate School dean. "It defines the frontier of knowledge in each discipline, sets the intellectual agendas for the future and provides our nation's and world's leaders."
Roth told participants that graduate education fosters innovation and analytical and problem solving skills.
"These traits, coupled with your passion to explore and learn, along with hard work, are the most important elements for lifelong success," he said.
Recipients of the Ellbogen Graduate Student Teaching Awards are: Nyla Bailey of Laramie, Department of Political Science; Emily Buller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Modern and Classical Languages; Terri Johnston, Peyton, Colo., English; Nicole Novotny of Cheyenne, Political Science; Robert Sanford of Bradenton, Fla., Modern and Classical Languages; and Hiroshi Takagi, Laramie, Atmospheric Science.
Outstanding Master's Thesis Award recipients are: Mark Grant, Glenrock, Department of Animal Science; Janel Kasper, Gillette, Sociology; Tamara Linse, Laramie, English; Jason McConnell, Laramie, Political Science; Amy Nagler, Evergreen, Colo., Agricultural and Applied Economics; and Michelle Patterson, Kettering, Ohio, Renewable Resources.
Outstanding Dissertation Award recipients are Sarah Bergemann,Charles City, Iowa, Department of Botany; Youwen You, Laramie, Renewable Resources; and Darin Simpkins, Gladwin, Mich., Zoology and Physiology.
Current Graduate School (www.uwyo.edu/UWGrad) enrollment is 2,300. Roth says these students are engaged in research and creative scholarship; many seek professional certifications in conjunction with degree requirements, and some teach classes. Faculty members guide all of these activities with oversight from the Graduate School and college administrators.
Last spring, the university awarded more than 620 graduate degrees, including 445 master's degrees in more than 60 subject areas, plus Ph.D., J.D. (law), Pharm.D. (pharmacy) and educational doctoral degrees.