GSA honors those who support graduate students at Rice

The Graduate Student Association (GSA) has recognized several staff, students and friends of the university for their strong support of Rice graduate students with its service awards for 2012.

GSA Faculty Teaching/Mentoring Award

Royce Carroll, assistant professor of political science, and Sibani Lisa Biswal, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, were honored with this award, which is presented to faculty members who demonstrate outstanding service to graduate student education.

GSA Faculty/Staff Service Award

This award is presented to staff members who have gone beyond the call of duty to improve the quality of life for graduate students at Rice. This year’s recipients are Philippa Angelides, programs and departments coordinator in the Office of Student Activities, and Courtney Wyly, program coordinator of student activities and administration in the Jones Graduate School of Business.

GSA Service Award

The recipients of the GSA Service Award — graduate students Sumedh Warudkar, chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Brian McCall, bioengineering — were selected based on their contributions of time, effort and service to improving graduate life and education at Rice.

Friends of Rice Graduate Students Award

The Friend of Rice Graduate Students Award is presented in recognition of efforts to enhance the lives of graduate students. This award honors people within and beyond the Rice community who may not otherwise be recognized for their service to graduate students. This year’s recipients are Paula Sanders, vice provost for academic affairs, dean of graduate and postdoctoral students and professor of history; George Hirasaki, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and Gayle Schroeder, department coordinator in bioengineering.

GSA Robert Lowry Patten Award

Four graduate students received the GSA Robert Lowery Patten Award: Anne Hellebust, bioengineering; Clark Needham, bioengineering; Gabriel Ceriotti, chemistry; and Victor del Carpio Neyra, economics.

This award is given in honor of Robert Patten, the Lynette S. Autrey Professor in Humanities and former GSA faculty adviser. It recognizes graduate students who might not otherwise have been honored for their service and achievement on behalf of graduate students.