OSU Students and Faculty receive Phoenix Awards

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

(Stillwater, OK   April 23, 2008) - Daniel Edmonds and Shirley Vincent were recently honored at the 26th Annual Phoenix Awards with the highest awards given to graduate students by Oklahoma State University’s Graduate and Professional Student Government Association and the Graduate College.

Edmonds, a plant and soil science graduate student from Morris, was named the Outstanding Master’s Student, and Vincent, an environmental science student from Tulsa, was named the Outstanding Doctoral Student. The Outstanding Graduate Faculty Member was Dr. Edward Jones, associate professor of English.

Phoenix Awards recognize exemplary achievement in leadership, scholarship, professional involvement, and university and community service, especially relating to involvement with graduate students. It is the highest honor presented by the association, according to Eric Kennel chair of the awards committee.

Student winners received certificates and $750, and their names are engraved on the Phoenix Awards plaque located outside the Graduate College offices in Whitehurst Hall.

The awards are open to all OSU graduate students and faculty. Faculty members nominated students for the outstanding master’s and doctoral students, and students nominated faculty for the outstanding faculty member award.

Finalists for the master’s award were Timothy Periard of Houston, a zoology major, who received a certificate and $250; and Nicki L. Aubuchon-Endsley of Stillwater, a clinical psychology major, who received a certificate and $100.

Finalists for the doctoral award were Samodha Fernando of Sri Lanka, an animal science major, who received a certificate and $250; and Benjamin Lawrence of Tulsa, a chemical engineering major, who received a certificate and $100.

Finalists for the faculty award were Dr. Ranga Komanduri, Regents Professor, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and Dr. Melanie Page, associate professor of psychology.