Graduate College & GPSGA Award Winners
Recognizing Achievement
The Graduate College and Graduate and Professional Student Government Association (GPSGA) present annual awards to celebrate outstanding achievements in research, teaching, mentorship, leadership, and service within Oklahoma State University’s graduate community.
Award recipients are honored each spring at the Graduate College Awards Ceremony. Nominations are announced through the Graduate College Monday Memo.
Graduate College Awards
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshalls
The Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshal recognition is the highest honor bestowed on doctoral and master’s degree graduates at each commencement. Marshals have demonstrated scholarly achievement, as evidenced by academic performance and discipline-appropriate scholarly contributions that capture the essence of our land-grant mission. Marshals receive a monetary award, are recognized at either the fall or spring commencement, and lead the graduates in the processional, recessional, and awarding of the diploma covers.
Graduate Research Excellence Awards
In partnership with the OSU Research Office, Graduate Research Excellence Awards recognize outstanding research accomplishments as reflected in the thesis or dissertation. This is OSU's highest public recognition of the research conducted by the institution’s most talented graduate students. Awardees receive a certificate, a Presidential Letter of Commendation, and a commemorative plaque.
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator Award
The Outstanding Graduate Coordinator award is given annually to a program coordinator in recognition of their work to advance the career aspirations of our graduate students and contributions to the success of our graduate programs. Nominations are submitted by graduate faculty and graduate students. The winner is formally recognized during the annual Graduate College and GPSGA awards ceremony.
Outstanding Graduate Program Support Staff Award
Graduate College Award Winners
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2025 Award Winners
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshals
- Sachithra Gunasekara – PhD, Veterinary Biomedical Sciences
- Jimmy Uba – PhD, Industrial Engineering and Management
- Nazmus Sakib – MS, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Jodie Spivey – MS, Agricultural Education, Communications, and Leadership
Graduate Research Excellence Awardees
- Group I – Biological Sciences
- Dr. Rabindra Khadka – PhD, Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology
- Indira Lakkakula – MS, Entomology and Plant Pathology
- Group II – Humanities
- Dr. Kristina Rogers – PhD, History
- Group III – Physical Sciences and Technology
- Dr. Arfan Ashad – PhD, Biosystems Engineering
- Zaid Mahmood – MS, Electrical Engineering
- Group V – Education
- Dr. Joshua Campbell – PhD, Agricultural Education
- Newlin Humphrey – MS, Agricultural Education and Leadership
- Group VI – Biomedical Sciences
- Dr. Raisa Monteiro – PhD, Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Graduate Dean's Certificate
- Marcia Sun – Educational Leadership and Policy
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Mohmad Judaid Ul Haq – Photonics
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Dr. Jindal Shah – Chemical Engineering
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2024 Award Winners
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshals
- Zhidong Su – PhD, Electrical Engineering
- Kirstin Michelle Sylvester – PhD, Counseling Psychology
- Owen Edwards – MS, Integrative Biology
- Gabrielle Jones – MS, Entomology and Plant Pathology
Graduate Research Excellence Awardees
- Group I – Biological Sciences
- Dr. Kumar Shrestha – PhD, Plant Biology
- Group III – Physical Sciences and Technology
- Dr. Zhangyue Shi – PhD, Industrial Engineering and Management
- Emmanuel Yangue – MS, Industrial Engineering and Management
- Group IV – Social Sciences
- Dr. Clarissa Corkins – PhD, Human Development and Family Science
- Group V – Education
- Dr. Tyler Price – PhD, Agricultural Education
- Kyleigh Hilburn – MS, Agricultural Education and Leadership
Graduate Dean's Certificate
- Joanna Nandita Kolpillai – Comparative Biomedical Sciences
- Andrea Valentina Plata Martinez – Art History
- Gabriela Hernandes Villani – Plant Biology
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Hann Bingham Brunner – English
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Dr. Jill Joyce – Nutritional Sciences
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2023 Award Winners
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshals
- Angelika Ouedraogo – PhD, Biosystems Engineering
- Karl Strecker – PhD, Electrical Engineering
- Hannah Baker – MS, Agricultural Economics
- Antigone Burke – MS, Natural Resources Ecology and Management
Graduate Research Excellence Awardees
- Group I – Biological Sciences
- Casey Meili – MS, Microbiology/Cell and Molecular Biology
- Group II - Humanities
- Dr. Amanda Johnson – PhD, History
- Group III – Physical Sciences and Technology
- Pratik Dhakal – PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Group V – Education
- Dr. Courtney Brown – PhD, Agricultural Education
- Group VI - Biomedical Sciences
- Stephanie Myers – PhD, Biomedical Sciences
Graduate Dean's Certificate
- Alvin Ngo – Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Gina Errico – Plant Biology
- Parna Ghosh – Integrative Biology
- Salome Suarez – Entomology and Plant Pathology
- Miruthula Tamil Selvan – Comparative Biomedical Sciences
Graduate College Ambassadors
- Mahesh Kumar Sivasubramanian – Comparative Biomedical Sciences
- Juhi Chaturvedi – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Md Tajuddin Khan – Economics
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Dr. Aditya Jayadas – Design and Merchandising
Outstanding Program Staff Member
- Kelley Reuterfors – Forensic Sciences
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2022 Award Winners
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshals
- Katherine Bode – MS, Nutritional Sciences
- Courtney Brown – PhD, Agricultural Education
- Joel Komakech – PhD, Nutritional Sciences
- Clair Leffingwell – MS, Educational Leadership Studies
Graduate Research Excellence Awardees
- Group I – Biological Sciences
- Mohammad Habibi – PhD, Animal Science
- Robin Shuffett – MS, International Agriculture
- Group VI - Biomedical Sciences
- Srijana Karki – PhD, Sociology
- Claudia Raines – MS, Communication Science and Disorders
- Group V - Education
- Jose Manuel Uscanga Aguirre – PhD, Agricultural Education
- Katelyn Miller – MS, Agricultural Communications
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Celine Cortes
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Kristi Carpenter – Communication Science and Disorders
Outstanding Program Staff Member
- Sarah Lyon – Sociology
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2021 Award Winners
Honorary Graduate Commencement Marshals
- Sreekul Raj Rajagopal – PhD, Photonics
- William M. Hammond – PhD, Plant Biology
- Madison Kay Lapke – MS, International Agriculture
- Benjamin Semola – MS, Global Studies
Graduate Research Excellence Awardees
- Group I – Biological Sciences
- Hasina Rakotomanana – PhD, Nutritional Sciences
- Nicholas Koemel – MS, Nutritional Sciences
- Group II - Humanities
- Christopher Linforth – PhD, English
- Group III – Physical Sciences and Technology
- Amir E. Khaneghahi – PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Group V – Education
- Samantha Blackwell – PhD, Agricultural Education
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Ryan Koch – Integrative Biology
Outstanding Graduate Coordinator
- Dr. Doug Miller – History
Outstanding Program Staff Member
- Melody Ladd – Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
GPSGA Awards The Graduate and Professional Student Government Association also sponsors annual awards that are presented at the Graduate College and GPSGA Award Ceremony.
Doctoral Student Phoenix Award
The Doctoral Student Phoenix Award is the highest recognition bestowed by GPSGA on an OSU doctoral student and recognizes exemplary achievement in leadership and scholarship, community and university service, and professional involvement, especially as it relates to the OSU graduate student body. Applicants are nominated by any faculty member, administrator, or graduate student (including self-nominations), must be enrolled as a graduate student in the current academic year, require no more than 6 credit hours for degree completion after the spring semester, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.5. The student award winners each receive a monetary award from the GPSGA.
Master's Student Phoenix Award
The Master's Student Phoenix Award is the highest recognition bestowed by GPSGA on an OSU master's student and recognizes exemplary achievement in leadership and scholarship, community and university service, and professional involvement, especially as it relates to the OSU graduate student body. A call for nominations is made through the Graduate College Monday Memo each year. Applicants are nominated by any faculty member, administrator, or graduate student (including self-nominations), must be enrolled as a graduate student in the current academic year, require no more than 6 credit hours for degree completion after the spring semester, and have a minimum grade point average of 3.5. The student award winners each receive a monetary award from the GPSGA.
Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Each year the GPSGA recognizes an outstanding graduate teaching assistant. Nominations may be initiated by any faculty member, administrator, or graduate student (including self nominations). Master's and doctoral student applicants are eligible and must be enrolled as a graduate student in the current academic year and have a minimum grade point average of 3.5. The award winner will be recognized at the annual awards ceremony and receive a monetary award and a certificate.
Graduate Faculty Phoenix Award
The Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor award is given annually to a faculty member in recognition of excellence in mentorship of graduate students. The winner, selected by graduate students, will receive formal recognition during the annual Graduate College and GPSGA awards ceremony and have their names engraved on the Phoenix Awards plaque located outside the Graduate College.
GPSGPA Awards Winners
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2025 Award Winners
Service Leadership Award
- Pratikshya Paudel – GPSGA Social Chair
- Abiola Samson Olaniyi – Communications Director
- Vivesh Bhadariya – Intergovernmental Liaison
- Damilar Ajagbe – International Affairs Liaison
- Gabby Gomez – Secretary
- Sonika Poudel – Vice President
- Eshan Maitra – President
- Marcia Sun – Ex Officio / Past President
GPSGA Phoenix Award
- Doctoral: Jimmy Uba – Industrial Engineering and Management
- Master’s: Shaolin Jahan Eidee – Petroleum Engineering
Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
- Dr. Anita Silwal – School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology
Graduate Education Champion
- Dr. Stephen Clarke – Associate Dean of Research, College of Education and Human Sciences
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2024 Award Winners
Service Leadership Award
- Sonika Poudel – GPSGA Social Chair
- Haridas Kumar Das – Parliamentarian
- Abiola Samson Olaniyi – Communications Director
- Michael Afolabi – Intergovernmental Liaison
- Torsha Goswami – International Affairs Liaison
- Mahesh Sivasubramanian – Secretary
- Eshan Maitra – Treasurer
- Enrico Laoh – Vice President
- Marcia Sun – President
GPSGA Phoenix Award
- Doctoral: Jeevotham Senthil Kumar – Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Master’s: Owen Edwards – Integrative Biology
Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
- Dr. Douglas Knutson – School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology
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2023 Award Winners
Service Leadership Award
- Jimmy Uba – GPSGA Social Chair
- Sanmi Alake – Parliamentarian
- Mehnaz Sharna – Communications Director
- Haridas Kumar Das – Intergovernmental Liaison
- Eshan Maitra – International Affairs Liaison
- Mahesh Sivasubramanian – Secretary
- Michael Afolabi – Treasurer
- Lauren Haygood – Vice President
- Marcia Sun – President
GPSGA Phoenix Award
- Doctoral: Yuxuan Li – Industrial Engineering and Management
- Master’s: Casey Meili – Microbiology/Cell and Molecular Biology
Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
- Dr. Edralin Lucas – Nutritional Sciences
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2022 Award Winners
GPSGA Phoenix Award
- Doctoral: Salome Suarez Freile
- Master’s: Maryam Baghizadeh Fini
Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
- Dr. Anita Silwal – School of Community Health Sciences, Counseling and Counseling Psychology
Graduate Education Champion
- Dr. Natascha Riedinger – Boone Pickens School of Geology
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2021 Award Winners
GPSGA Phoenix Award
- Doctoral: Samantha Addante – Clinical Psychology
- Master’s: Kushal Shah – Business Analytics and Data Science
Phoenix Graduate Faculty Mentor Award
- Dr. Adel Pezeshki – Animal and Food Science
GPSGA Outstanding Committee Members
- Jeevotham Senthil Kumar, Rachel Higgins, Karleyda Sandoval Carvajal, Rose Fields,
- Jayesh Yevale, Fernanda Ramirez Saenz, Parna Ghosh, Sanmi Alake