Graduate students and faculty members were recognized for achievements in research, teaching, mentorship and creative endeavors at the annual Graduate Fellowship and Awards Luncheon.
Take a look at the full list of 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 recipients below:
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Recognizes graduate teaching assistants who have demonstrated special effectiveness in teaching undergraduates at Nebraska.
- Hassan Fazayeli, biological systems engineering
- Donavan Phoenix, agricultural leadership, education and communication
- Rebecca Wolfe, psychology
Outstanding Graduate Research & Creative Activities Award: Recognizes excellence in graduate student research and creativity at Nebraska.
- Peace Adegbite, physics and astronomy
- Anika Azme, civil and environmental engineering
- Nitish Bastola, civil and environmental engineering
- Cailin Smith, biochemistry
- Barbie Zaman Wahid, nutrition and health sciences
Graduate Student Excellence in Mentoring Award: Recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in mentoring undergraduate and other graduate students in research and creative activities.
- Anjana Bhandari, mathematics
- Brooke Parrish, animal science
- Kasey Peters, English
- Portia Plange, biological systems engineering
- Casey Tisdale, psychology
Dean's Award for Excellence in Graduate Education: Honors faculty members whose dedication to graduate students and commitment to excellence in graduate mentoring have made a significant contribution to graduate education at Nebraska.
- Ross Miller, political science
- Byrav Ramamurthy, School of Computing
- Stacey Waite, English
Folsom Distinguished Doctoral Dissertation Award: Recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's doctoral students.
- Vipin Kumar, agronomy and horticulture
- Veera Venkata Ram Murali Krishna Rao Muvva, School of Computing
Folsom Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award: Recognizes the outstanding research and creative accomplishments of the university's master's students.
- Kashish Verma, Entomology
Dean's Fellow: Is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students.
- Ahatsham FNU*, electrical and computer engineering
- Omid Armantalab, civil and environmental engineering
- Shilu Dahal, plant pathology
- Nawaraj Dulal*, plant pathology
- Rebecca Howard Valdivia, psychology
- Nosakhare Idiaghe*, mechanical and materials engineering
- Adda Ireba, natural resources sciences
- Janella Kang*, child, youth and family studies
- Kanak Kanti Kar, civil and environmental engineering
- Irene Magara*, engineering
- Kiruthiga Mone*, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- Oghenetega Obewhere*, chemical and biomolecular engineering
- Christine Parker, School of Global Integrative Studies
- Trisam Sapkota, biological systems engineering
- Daniel Schaefer*, sociology
- Rintu Sen, biological systems engineering
- Tina Shetabi, textiles, merchandising and fashion design
- Lanh Trinh*, mechanical and materials engineering
- Alejandra Vasquez*, political science
- Gauthami Viswan*, physics and astronomy
- Makayla Wendland*, political science
- Ankit Yadav, agronomy and horticulture
- Farzad Yazdipanah*, civil and environmental engineering
- Fatema Yeasmin Tanni, biochemistry
- Junxiao Zhang, biological systems engineering
- Yuru Zhang, School of Computing
Fling Fellow: Is awarded to advanced masters or doctoral students.
- Rachel Beck*, psychology
- Christina Fragel, School of Biological Sciences
- Roopan Miriam George, child, youth and family studies
- Eunhong Lee*, philosophy
- Daniel Lino Plata*, modern languages and literature
- Kevin Liévano-Romero, School of Biological Sciences
- Sahand Serajian*, chemical and biomolecular engineering
- Alejandra Vasquez, political science
Presidential Fellow: Is awarded to advanced doctoral or MFA students.
- Katherine Bogen*, psychology
Outstanding Postdoc Award: Honoring the achievements of exceptional postdoctoral scholars for their comprehensive efforts in research, teaching, mentoring, innovation, and University or community service.
- Siva Shanmugam Nallattinputhur Radhakrishnan, food science and technology
- Biquan Zhao, animal science
Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award: Honoring a UNL faculty member or PI who has demonstrated a sustained commitment and exceptional ability in mentoring postdoctoral scholars' professional and career development.
- Clemencia Rojas, plant pathology
*Denotes 2025-2026 Award Winners
