Student Honors
Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
Derek Driedger, Department of English
Mr. Driedger has earned a reputation among his students and colleagues for being a rigorous, fair and engaging teacher. He consistently earns very high scores on student evaluations as a teacher of literature and writing. He is extraordinarily talented at supporting undergraduate students as they learn to read, analyze and write complex texts. His nominating professor also noted the quality of his syllabi and dedication to thoughtful, reflective course design.
Elizabeth Ribarsky, Department of Communication Studies
Ms. Ribarsky is a teaching assistant in the department of communication studies. Her faculty nominator noted that she is a “passionate and dedicated teacher-scholar who demonstrates a unique and highly-focused blend of teaching, research and service.” In her teaching philosophy, she wrote that an effective teacher exercises the important balance between creativity, dedication to students and self-reflective improvement. Clearly, Ms. Ribarsky practices what she preaches.
Christine Stewart-Nunez, Department of English
Ms. Stewart-Nunez’s nominating professor, Barbara DiBernard, notes that she is one of the top graduate students she has worked with in 31 years. She excels in every aspect of teaching, and because of her gifts has been given additional teaching opportunities not usual for a graduate student. She has taught five classes while a student at UNL, and her syllabi show that for each course, she has carefully thought through the critical and academic questions underlying the course and has chosen readings and class activities that relate to those objectives. Like our other award recipients today, Ms. Stewart-Nunez’s teaching evaluations have been exemplary.
Graduate Research Assistant Award
Satya Bulusu, Department of Chemistry
Mr. Bulusu is frequently recognized by his professors as a stand-out graduate student and researcher. During his time at UNL he has published 12 papers in some of the most prestigious science journals. He has made a number of contributious to cluster sciences, particularly to our understanding of structural evolution and transformation of boron, carbon, geranium, water and noble metal clusters. His latest findings have received worldwide media attention.
Satya Bulusu has played a significant role of software consultant to many fellow students and postdoctoral researchers in the department. His colleagues emphasize that he consistently demonstrates exceptional character and a team work spirit.
Graduate Research Assistant Award
Brian Bockelman, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Our next awardee is Brian Bockelman. He is the first student in the recently established joint computer science/mathematics PhD program, and according to his professors, he has made a stellar start. Already he has made significant contributions to both fields. He has recently undertaken an ambitious program developing a comprehensive mathematical software package for an intricate system of numerical methods (known as sinc methods) for solving differential and integral equations.
Beyond his scholarly work, Brian is known for constantly seeking challenges, and for his willingness to help colleagues at UNL and also at other major research universities. His faculty advisors are convinced that his activities in either math or computer science alone would merit this outstanding research assistant award. Today, on behalf of both departments, I am pleased to present Brian Bockelman with a Graduate Research Assistant Award.
Graduate Research Assistant Award
John D. Burton, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Next I would like to recognize John D. Burton, a graduate student in the department of physics and astronomy, with an outstanding graduate research assistant award. Mr. Burton’s research focuses on micromagnetism and electron transport in magnetic nanostructures. Over a very short time, he has mastered micromagnetic modeling, electronic transport theories, and first-principles band structure calculations, all extremely sophisticated and complex methods.
An important aspect of his work involves interaction with researchers at Seagate Corporation. This collaboration has been important for maintaining a partnership with industry and enhancing the performance of UNL’s NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Complimenting his research, Mr. Burton is an exceptional lecturer, and he has represented the university at a number of well-attended professional conferences.
Graduate Research Assistant Award
Mario Callegaro, Survey Research and Methodology
For the past four years, Mario Callegaro has been a research assistant in the department of survey research and methodology. In that time, he has established himself as a nationally and internationally recognized scholar. One of his chief projects has been the emerging Event History Calendar interviewing methodology, which is used to collect survey data. As a part of this project, Mr. Callegaro and his advisor have co-authored and published a number of important papers.
Mr. Callegaro has also assumed a leadership position by chairing meetings, delegating tasks and supervising progress among other graduate research assistants. His continually upbeat demeanor and genuine excitement for the field of survey methodology is, as his advisor puts is, “a reliable source of inspiration for me and for the members of my research team.”
Lowe R. & Mavis M. Folsom Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award
Funded by the Folsom family through the University of Nebraska Foundation, this award recognizes and rewards distinguished scholarship and research at the graduate level. The 2007 recipient of this award is Lu Yuan, who completed her PhD in physics and astronomy in August, 2006.
Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant Award—University Wide
You have already heard descriptions of the achievements of the two winners of these awards, as they already received UNL graduate research assistant awards. Please join me in “re-congratulating” Satya Bulusu, Department of Chemistry and Elizabeth Ribarsky, Communication Studies, for their university wide Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant awards.
