Oklahoma State University administrators, faculty and staff were recognized for their service, work and loyalty during the University Awards Convocation Tuesday at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center in Stillwater.

The Eminent Faculty Award, which recognizes the highest level of scholarly achievement at OSU, was presented to Girish Agarwal, Regents Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences. His accomplishments span a broad area of scholarship in quantum optics. He is recognized as one of the top physicists in the world and played a major role in building a strong quantum optics program at OSU.

"His work has been recognized at the highest level, as witnessed by his election as a fellow of the Royal Society, where he joins the ranks of Sir Isaac Newton and Benjamin Franklin, among other luminaries," said OSU Provost Robert Sternberg during his introduction of Agarwal.

In comments following the presentation of the award, Agarwal announced he was donating the Eminent Faculty Award's $10,000 stipend to OSU.

Also announced were recipients of the University Service Awards. These awards are given to one member of the faculty, staff and administration to recognize work to advance the overall betterment of the university. This year's winners were: Bob Kropp, professor in the Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; David Porter, professor and department head of Plant and Soil Sciences and past interim associate dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; and Barbie Teel, administrative assistant in the Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences.

The University also presented for the first time the Karin and Robert Sternberg Award for Excellence in Advancement of the land-grant mission of OSU. The winners were Susan Willoughby, computer specialist in the Registrar's Office; Larry Sanders, professor and extension economist in Agricultural Economics, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources; and the School of Architecture team of Seung Ra, assistant professor, and Jeffrey Williams, professor.

Phoenix Award for Graduate Faculty

Rama Mahalingam, Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

President's Cup traveling trophy for Creative Interdisciplinarity

First Place - Nanotechnology Research and Signal Analysis – Integrated Diagnostics

with Team Leader Lionel Raff, Regents Professor Department of Chemistry.

Team members include:

Satish Bukkapatnam, Professor, Industrial Engineering and Management

Martin Hagan, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Bruce Benjamin, Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Physiology, Center for Health Sciences

Ranga Komanduri, Regents Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, recognized for contributions as original Team Leader. He passed away September 6, 2011.

Second place - Families and Schools for Health: Understanding Rural Childhood Obesity

with Team Leader Amanda Harrist, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science.

Team members include:

Glade Topham, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science

Lenka Shriver, Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences

Laura Hubbs-Tait, Regents Professor, Human Development and Family Sciences

Melanie Page, Professor, Psychology

Third place - Powerful New Technology for Electronic Diagnostic Nucleic Acid Analysis

with Team Leader Jacqueline Fletcher, Regents Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology.

Team members include:

Astri Wayadande, Assistant Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology

Francisco Ochoa Corona, Assistant Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology

Carla Garzon, Assistant Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology

Li Maria Ma, Assistant Professor, Entomology & Plant Pathology

Ulrich Melcher, Regents Professor, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Rakesh Kaundal, Assistant Research Scientist, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Jeff Sallee, Assistant Professor, 4-H Youth Development

Robert Allen, Department Head, Forensic Sciences, Center for Health Sciences

William Schneider, Research Scientist, Emerging Plant Pathogens & Pests Unit

Regents Distinguished Research Award

Samuel Fuhlendorf, Professor of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Richard Bunce, Professor of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Riley Dunlap, Regents Professor of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences

Dursun Delen, Professor of Management Science and Information Systems, Spears School of Business

Prabhakar Pagilla, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Edralin Lucas, Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Sciences

Pamela Lloyd, Associate Professor of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences.

Julie Thomas, Professor of Teaching and Curriculum Leadership, College of Education

Regents Distinguished Teaching Award

Lou Anella, Professor, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Matthew Lovern, Associate Professor of Zoology, College of Arts and Sciences

Jacqueline Vadjunec, Assistant Professor of Geography, College of Arts and Sciences

Robert Cornell, Associate Professor of Accounting in the Spears School of Business

Diane Montgomery, Regents Professor in the School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, College of Education

Moh'd Bilbeisi, Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture, & Technology

Whitney Bailey, Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science, College of Human Sciences

Merrick Foundation Teaching Award

Shannon Ferrell, Assistant Professor of Agricultural Economics in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Outreach Faculty Excellence Award

James Puckette, Associate Professor of Geology in the College of Arts and Sciences

International Education Faculty Excellence Award

James Pappas, Associate Professor in Management, Spears School of Business

Sigma Xi Young Investigator Award

Michael Tobler, Assistant Professor in Zoology, College of Arts and Sciences

Sigma Xi Lectureship award

Allen Apblett is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences

Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence

Charles Abramson, Regents Professor of Psychology

Regents Professors

Kaladi Babu, Physics, College of Arts and Sciences

David Knottnerus, Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences

Excellence in Advising Award

Joe Schatzer, Professor of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Leslie Baldwin, Lecturer in Communication Sciences and Disorders, College of Arts and Sciences

Karen Christian, Senior Academic Counselor in the School of Media and Strategic Communication, College of Art and Sciences

Marissa McIntyre, Academic Counselor, Student Success Center, Spears School of Business

Gary Duhon, Associate Professor, School of Applied Health and Educational Psychology, College of Education

Suzanne Bilbeisi, Professor of Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology

Chris Campbell, Assistant Director, Learning and Student Success Opportunity Center, Division of Academic Affairs

Donna Birchler, Senior Administrative Support Specialist, International Studies and Outreach, Division of Academic Affairs

Murat Hancer, Associate Professor of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, College of Human Sciences

Jamie Hughes, Early Childhood Specialist in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, College of Human Sciences.

Staff Advisory Distinguished Service Awards

Kathy Shelton, Executive Assistant to the Vice President, Division of Student Affairs

Anne Presley, Administrative Support Specialist, School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology

Norma McBride, Housekeeping, Physical Plant, Division of Administration and Finance

Jeannie Petersen, Housekeeping, Physical Plant, Division of Administration and Finance

Carey McCully, Veterinary Technical Supervisor, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences

Sternberg Land Grant Awards

Staff award -- Susan Willoughby, Computer Specialist in the Registrar's Office

Faculty award -- Larry Sanders, Professor and Extension Economist in Agricultural Economics, Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Team award – Seung Ra, Assistant Professor, and Jeffrey Williams, Professor, in the School of Architecture, College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology

Leave the Ladder Down Awards

Faculty -- Daniel Stein, Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Staff -- Dustin Ivey, Manager of Instructional Support in the College of Education

University Service Awards

Faculty -- Robert "Bob" Kropp, Professor in the Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Administrator -- David Porter, Professor and Department Head of Plant and Soil Sciences and past Interim Associate Dean of the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Staff -- Barbie Teel, Administrative Assistant in the Department of Sociology, College of Arts and Sciences

Eminent Faculty Award

Girish Agarwal, Regents Professor of Physics, College of Arts and Sciences