Cokinnius grad student awards
This year’s recipients of the Cokinnius grad student awards were Melissa Cregger and Phillip Hollingsworth.
Outstanding teaching award
The outstanding teaching award was named the Sandy Echternacht award in recognition of his many years of excellent teaching here. This year’s recipient was Mackenzie Taylor.
Outstanding EEB undergraduate
The award for outstanding EEB undergraduate went to Lauren Breza. Lauren started research at UTK just after high school, and worked in the Boake, Sanders, and, most recently, Classen labs.
Gary McCracken took pains to note that competition for this award was intense this year, with several other excellent nominees, especially Sarah Wood, Matt Letre, and Heather Tran, all graduating this spring.
Science alliance awards
The UT-ORNL Science Alliance gives awards to outstanding graduate students. This year, half the awards to biologists across three UT biology departments went to EEB graduate students: Emily Austin, Matt Niemiller, and Graham Reynolds.
Staff awards
Staff members Marva Anderson, Jaime Call, Pearl Kirkland-Smith, Cheryl Lynn, and Anne Mintz all received awards for their service to the department.
Marva Anderson receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Jaime Call receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Cheryl Lynn receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Biology GTA award
The award for a biology GTA was given to Lauren Wilmoth for her teaching and leadership as a teaching assistant in biology classes.
Outstanding EEB undergraduate
The award for outstanding EEB undergraduate went to Lauren Breza. Lauren started research at UTK just after high school, and worked in the Boake, Sanders, and, most recently, Classen labs.
Gary McCracken took pains to note that competition for this award was intense this year, with several other excellent nominees, especially Sarah Wood, Matt Letre, and Heather Tran, all graduating this spring.
Staff awards
Staff members Marva Anderson, Jaime Call, Pearl Kirkland-Smith, Cheryl Lynn, and Anne Mintz all received awards for their service to the department.
Marva Anderson receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Jaime Call receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Cheryl Lynn receiving an envelope from Dept. Head Gary McCracken
Phi Kappa Phi award winners at EUReCA
Assistant Professor Brandon Matheny sponsored two undergraduates, Pawel Kosentka (biochemistry concentration) and Sarah Sprague (psychology major), in an undergraduate research project that examined the evolution of fungal toxins in the mushroom family Inocybaceae. This work was also performed in collaboration with Dr. Shawn Campagna and Amanda May in the Chemistry Department. Pawel and Sarah’s research was featured at the Exhibition of Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement, also known as EUReCA. Of the 187 presentations, Pawel and Sarah’s poster won one of three Phi Kappa Phi awards. See https://news.utk.edu/2011/03/22/eureca-research-week/ for more information.