{"id":49,"date":"2025-01-31T14:43:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T18:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graduate.ucf.edu\/annual-report-2023-2024\/?page_id=49"},"modified":"2025-03-06T11:17:07","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T15:17:07","slug":"recognition-and-awards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/graduate.ucf.edu\/annual-report-2023-2024\/recognition-and-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognition and Awards"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Recognition and Awards<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

UCF proudly sponsors several prestigious awards to honor excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring within the graduate student and faculty communities. Each year, the College of Graduate Studies offers these awards as a means to celebrate outstanding contributions made by our graduate students across a variety of categories, while also recognizing the faculty who have gone above and beyond in guiding and mentoring these students. These awards play a crucial role in acknowledging the hard work and dedication of both graduate students and faculty, enhancing the academic journey for students and fostering a culture of excellence within the College of Graduate Studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One such award is the Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher<\/a><\/strong>, which recognizes graduate-level research and creative scholarship. This self-nominated award, available during both the spring and fall semesters, provides graduate students with an opportunity to showcase their work and receive recognition for their contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, each year, the College recognizes the invaluable role of faculty members who have gone above and beyond in mentoring graduate students. The College invites recent alumni and current faculty to nominate those who demonstrate exceptional mentorship in guiding graduate students through both their academic pursuits and professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 2023-24 academic year, the College introduced the Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work<\/a><\/strong>, proposed by the Graduate Student Advisory Council. This award honors the artistic achievements of our graduate community, recognizing original and remarkable creative contributions beyond traditional academic research. The winner of this inaugural award received a certificate and a $1,500<\/strong> prize, and was celebrated at the University\u2019s Founders Day ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through these awards, the College continues to champion excellence in both academic and creative fields, highlighting the contributions that shape our community and advancing the continued success of our graduate students and faculty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2023-2024 Graduate Awards of Excellence<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Award for Outstanding Graduate Creative Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Njeri Kinuthia, Emerging Media MFA \u2013 Studio Art and Design, College of Arts and Humanities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hannah Bevan, Integrative and Conservation Biology PhD, College of Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Excellence by a Graduate Teaching Assistant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mousam Hossain, Computer Engineering PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable Mention: Katherine Harris, Conservation Biology PhD, College of Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Outstanding Dissertation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engineering, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences Division<\/em>

Dr. Ce Zheng, Computer Science PhD, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Dissertation: Reconstructing 3D Humans From Visual Data<\/em>
Mentored by Dr. Chen Chen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable Mention: Dr. Swarnadeep Seth, Physics PhD, College of Sciences
Dissertation: DNA Capture and Translocation Through Nanopore<\/em>
Mentored by Dr. Aniket Bhattacharya<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences Division<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Corey Seavey, Biomedical Sciences PhD, College of Medicine
Dissertation: Interorganizational Networks and Coordination in Emergency Management: Policy and Practice in Response to Disasters<\/em>
Mentored by Dr.  Bradley Jay Willenberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable Mention: Dr. Ratna Okhai, Public Affairs PhD, College of Community Innovation and Education
Dissertation: Interorganizational Networks and Coordination in Emergency Management: Policy and <\/em>Practice in Response to Disasters
Mentored by Dr. Naim Kapucu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Outstanding Thesis<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engineering, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Science, and Life Sciences Division<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tajnuba Hasan, Mechanical Engineering MS, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Thesis: Control of the Spar-buoy Based Wind Turbine Floating Platform through Mooring Line Actuation<\/em>
Mentored by Dr. Tuhin Das<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences Division<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jason Pagan, Kinesiology MS, College of Health Professions and Sciences
Thesis: Resistance Training Adaptations in Older Adults Exhibit Task Specificity<\/em>
Mentored by Dr. Matt S. Stock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honorable Mention: Cole Taylor, History MA, College of Arts and Humanities
Thesis: The Bishop and the Poet: Theodulf of Orl\u00e9ans and the Carolingian World<\/em>
Mentored by Dr. Duncan Hardy<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Doctoral Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Engineering, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Science, and Life Sciences<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ahmad Elshennawy, Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, Business, Fine Arts, and Health Sciences<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Robert Dvorak, Professor, Department of Psychology, College of Sciences<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Faculty Excellence in Mentoring Postdoctoral Scholars<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tenured or non-tenure earning faculty who are the associate or full level<\/em>

Dr. Mubarak Shah, Professor, Center for Computer Vision, College of Engineering and Computer Science<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Debbie Hahs-Vaughn, Professor, Department of Learning Science and Educational Research
College of Community Innovation and Education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Award for Excellence by a Graduate Student Researcher<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Fall 2023 Winners<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Master’s: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Winner: ISRAT JAHAN ($1,000) 
Runner Up: Cesar Lopez-Zelaya ($750) 
Honorable Mention 1: Ancuta Margondai ($250) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Winner: Sarah Ashiqueali ($1,000)
Runner Up : Pamela Dow ($750) 
Honorable Mention 1: Alexandra Frank ($250) 
Honorable Mention 2: Kaige Shi ($250) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Spring 2024 Winners<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Master\u2019s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Winner ($1,000): Melanie Cedeno-Lopez 
Joint Runner Ups ($500):
Njeri Kinuthia
Manisha Thenuwara <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctoral:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Winner ($1,000): James Rujimora 
Runner Up ($750): Joseph Goode 
Honorable Mention ($250): Edwin Davidson <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recognition and Awards UCF proudly sponsors several prestigious awards to honor excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring within the graduate student and faculty communities. Each year, the College of Graduate Studies offers these awards as a means to celebrate outstanding contributions made by our graduate students across a variety of categories, while also recognizing the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-notitle.php","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-49","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nRecognition and Awards - 2023 GS Annual Report<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/graduate.ucf.edu\/annual-report-2023-2024\/recognition-and-awards\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Recognition and Awards\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Recognition and Awards UCF proudly sponsors several prestigious awards to honor excellence in research, teaching, and mentoring within the graduate student and faculty communities. 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