Physics Honors Day 2006

April 24, 2006

The department rewarded excellence on April 24 when Professor and Head Soren Sorensen handed out the year’s top academic honors.

Dr. Bruce Bursten, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, began the celebration when he recounted his own journey through science education, which began with his undergraduate days at the University of Chicago and eventually brought him to UT Knoxville as a distinguished professor of chemistry, as well as dean. By turns serious and humorous, he explained to the students in the audience that they have a unique perspective from which to educate people about science and its importance. While others may challenge you, he told them, they will also listen.

“You need to start becoming strong advocates of physics, and of science in general,” Bursten said.

Students were honored from the first year through the graduate level, with several students inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society.
Dr. Michael Guidry was awarded the Society of Physics Students Teacher of the Year honor.

Sigma Pi Sigma Inductees

Steven Boada
John Carruth
John Sinclair
Shaun Ard
Xiaoguang Li
Cinzia Metallo
Dan Parshall
Scott Thornton

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

Outstanding First Year Physics Student Award
Jacob Suggs

Robert Talley Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Research
Sean Lindsay

Robert Talley Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Leadership
John Carruth

Douglas V. Roseberry Award
Daniel Passmore

Robert W. Lide Laboratory Citations
Phil Evans
Matt Hollingsworth

GRADUATE AWARDS

Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Usama Al-Binni

Paul H. Stelson Fellowship for Professional Promise (First Year)
Jun Zhao

Paul H. Stelson Research Fellowship (Beginning Research)
Mikhail Batygov
Murat Özer

Fowler-Marion Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Robert Moore

Colloquium Awards
Madhusudan Ojha
Jason Smith

SPS Outstanding Teacher Award
Dr. Michael Guidry

2006 Chancellor’s Citations
These physics students were recognized at the Chancellor’s Honors Banquet on April 12:

Chancellor’s Citation for Academic Achievement: John Carruth
Chancellor’s Citation for Professional Promise: Murat Özer and Dan Passmore