College of Medicine graduate education office and departments present awards to exceptional students
Penn State College of Medicine recognized 25 graduate students for their outstanding academic and research achievements and contributions to the campus community.
Graduate faculty and students nominated these exceptional individuals for five awards and two scholarships.
Students recognized include:
Charles W. Hill Graduate Excellence Award in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Dr. Charles “Chuck” Hill was one of the original faculty of the Department of Biological Chemistry, now Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, at Penn State College of Medicine.
Arriving in 1969, Hill was a “triple threat,” respected for his research, leadership and teaching. His success in making very difficult material readily understandable and mentoring students through the rigors of becoming successful independent scientists was legendary throughout the College.
Upon his retirement in 2000 and in tribute to his dedication to the success of graduate students, the faculty of this department endowed the Charles W. Hill Graduate Excellence Award as a yearly recognition for an outstanding graduate student in the department.
2020 recipient:
- Tanay Thakar, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Patrick G. Quinn Award for Outstanding Performance by a Post-Comprehensive PhD in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology
Dr. Patrick G. Quinn was a professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology for 26 years. This award is given to a candidate in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology in his memory.
2020 recipient:
- David Rasicci, Anatomy PhD program
Richard J. Courtney Graduate Student Award in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology
This award is named for Dr. Richard Courtney, former chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, distinguished educator and professor emeritus. Dr. Courtney was a highly esteemed and cherished leader, investigator and teacher at Penn State College of Medicine, recruited in 1991 as professor and chair. He retired in early 2012 and touched many lives during those 20 years. Colleagues described him as a generous and self-effacing man who, through his gentle demeanor, wise counsel and unwavering commitment to science and education, became a mentor to students and associates alike.
2020 recipients:
- Adam Fike, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Xupeng Hong, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Graduate Alumni Society Award
This honor is awarded to individuals who have achieved the milestones of their degree expectations and have additionally provided their colleagues and the College of Medicine community with examples of involvement above and beyond the expected.
2020 recipients:
- Kalins Banerjee, Biostatistics PhD program
- Emily Blanke, Neuroscience PhD program
- Erika Dahl, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Jenna (Wilcox) Hagerty, Anatomy PhD program
- Xupeng Hong, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Yeon Soo Kim, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Monica Manglani, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program (Biomedical Sciences PhD program)
- William Miller, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Heather Ren, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program (Biomedical Sciences PhD program)
- Jocelyn Simmers, Master of Public Health program
- Aditi Sharma, Doctor of Public Health program
- Victoria Silvis, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Angela Snyder, Neuroscience PhD program
- Patricia Yee, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program (Neuroscience PhD program)
Graduate Alumni Endowed Scholarship
This honor recognizes students who have made contributions to the campus that had a positive impact on their graduate colleagues and classmates.
2020 recipients:
- Alison Celigoi, Master of Public Health program
- Christopher Kendra, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Kelsey Leach, Master of Public Health program
Karl H. Beyer Jr., MD, PhD, Scholarship
This award is given to students who show dedication to the enrichment of their academic area of interest, as well as for their contributions to campus, the community and their disciplines.
2020 recipients:
- Melissa Butt, Doctor of Public Health program
- Adam Fike, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Rebecca Fleeman, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
- Maryknoll Palisoc, MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program (Biomedical Sciences PhD program)
- Tanay Thakar, Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Graduate Student Research Forum Leadership Award
This award is given for leadership and dedication to providing all graduate students and graduate faculty with an opportunity to share their research in the Graduate Student Research Forum.
2020 recipients:
- Greer McKendrick, Neuroscience PhD program
- Quinn Wade, Neuroscience PhD program
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