2011 Student Award Winners
The WKU Department of Physics and Astronomy would like to congratulate Schuyler Wolff, Suzanna Sadler, and Kyle Curry who were recently selected as recipients of the departments awards for Service, Research, and Scholarship respectively. Schuyler, Suzanna, and Kyle are pictured below with their awards at the 2011 Ogden College Student Awards Ceremony.
Dr. George V. and Sadie Skiles Page Award for Excellence in Scholarship*
Awarded to the graduating Physics major with the highest academic standing.
Kyle Anderson Curry
Kyle receives the George V. Page Award based upon his outstanding academic record while a student at WKU. He will graduate from WKU this Spring with a major in physics and a minor in mathematics having earned a perfect 4.00/4.00 GPA. He is a member of the national physics honor society Sigma Pi Sigma and serves as treasurer for the WKU Chapter of the Society of Physics Students. He has been an active student leader in the SKyTeach program at WKU and is currently finishing his student teaching at Rockcastle County High School. Following graduation, Kyle hopes to find a faculty position teaching physics and/or physical science at a high school near his hometown in Pulaski County, KY.
Dr. Randall Harper Award for Outstanding Research in Physics and Astronomy*
Awarded to the junior or senior student with research exhibiting significance, effort, originality, and creativity.
Suzanna Marie Sadler
Suzanna is a junior physics and mathematics major at WKU who is presently working under the direction of Dr. Louis Strolger in the area of extra-galactic cosmology, focusing on Type Ia supernovae and their progenitor environments. She started this research while a student in the Gatton Academy of Math and Sciences at WKU and has given presentations on her recent work at the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society and National Conference on Undergraduate Research within the past academic year. Her academic accomplishments include regular recognition on the Dean’s List or President’s List and a recent invitation to join the National Physics Honor Society Sigma Pi Sigma. Suzanna is also very active in service activities in the department and presently serves as the President-Elect for the WKU Chapter of the Society of Physics Students. Following graduation from WKU Suzanna plans to attend graduate school in astronomy or astrophysics to continue her studies in extra-galactic cosmology.
Dr. Douglas Humphrey Award for Outstanding Service*
Awarded to the junior or senior student with a record of service within the department and to science outreach to the community.
Schuyler Grace Wolff
Schuyler Wolff has many accolades, including being a student in the Honors College, a member of Phi Mu Epsilon and Sigma Pi Sigma, an Ogden Dean’s List honoree, and a President’s List honoree. She has won scholarships from the Gatton Academy for Math and Science, and from the Kentucky Space Grant Consortium. She has presented her work in supernova progenitor studies at several regional and national conferences, and has won Best in Session at the 40th WKU Student Research Conference. Her hard work has won her REUs with the University of Güttingen, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. In her spare time, she serves as the Executive Officer for the Hilltopper Astronomy Club, and President for the Society of Physics Students. After graduation, she plans to earn her doctorate in astrophysics, and pursue a career in professional astronomy as an academic at a research institution.
* Award made through the efforts of the College Heights Foundation.
