Student Awards

Einstein Prize Award – an award presented to a graduating physics major for outstanding performance, qualities adjudged as academic excellence, leadership and overall contributions to the physics program. This award was established in 1995 and funded initially by Dr. Bulent Atalay.

Past recipients:

  • 2023 – Drake Richmond
  • 2023 – Maddie Killian
  • 2022 – William Henry Mills
  • 2021 – Margaret Gregory
  • 2020 – Andrew (AJ) Rasure
  • 2019 – Hannah Killian
  • 2018 – Kayla Frye
  • 2017 – Zaire Sprowal
  • 2010 – Laura Rickard
  • 2005 – Aiyana Garcia
  • 2004 – Erik Spahr
  • 2002 – Nathan Baille and Katherine Maclay
  • 2000 – Justin Conroy
  • 1998 – William Davis Lee
  • 1997 – Miki McCoy and Rita Stidham
  • 1996 – Jeanette La Civita
  • 1995 – Etta Agan

Physics Faculty Award – established in 2002 by the physics faculty, this award recognizes a senior for outstanding academic accomplishment in the physics program.

Past recipients:

  • 2023 – Lana Chaleunrath-Pham
  • 2023 – Luna Morrigan
  • 2022 – Timothy Corbett
  • 2021 – Shannon Brindle
  • 2020 – Logan Cass
  • 2019 – Emily MacIndoe
  • 2018 – Terence McPhillips
  • 2017 – Pengcheng Zhang
  • 2013 – Darren Getts
  • 2011 – Joseph Thompson
  • 2010 – Brandi Rollins
  • 2009 – Christopher Triola
  • 2008 – Katharine Mulrey
  • 2007 – Gardmer Marshall
  • 2006 – Cara Campbell
  • 2005 – Christine Carlisle
  • 2004 – Kevin Pushee
  • 2003 – Matthew Welz
  • 2002 – Mohamed Chakhad

Colgate W. Darden Award – established in 1960, this award is presented to the senior having the highest University of Mary Washington (formally known as Mary Washington College) grade point average.

Physics Major recipients:

  • 2021 – Margaret Gregory
  • 2002 – Mohamed Chakhad
  • 2000 – Kristin Buck
  • 1996 – Jeanette LaCivita
  • 1994 – Dawn Baugher
  • 1982 – Julie Samson

 

Bulent I. Atalay Scholarship in Physics – given to rising junior or senior majoring in physics

  • 2018 – Stephen Tivenan

Glenn and Mary Downing ’59 Scholarship -This scholarship is for students majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) related field and who are at risk of being unable to finish their undergraduate studies at UMW due to a financial setback.

  • 2018 – Kaela Gosdzinski