Graduate Education Week honors outstanding master's and doctoral degree students

During nonpandemic times, the Graduate School hosts a dinner during Graduate Education Week to honor award-winning graduate students. This year, Graduate Education Week activities and events are being held online and the Graduate School is announcing the winners of the annual awards online. The 2020 outstanding master’s and doctoral degree student award winners are listed below. The students are chosen by their colleges each year for their excellent leadership, scholarship, research, and service in their fields.

Outstanding master's degree students

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Nilanka (Nick) Lord, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Lydia Gilmer, Department of Urban Planning.

College of Engineering: Katie Wardinski, Department of Biological Systems Engineering.

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences: Jessica Brabble, Department of History.

College of Natural Resources and Environment: Balaji Ramesh, Department of Geography.

College of Science: Jennifer Bertollo, Department of Psychology.

Pamplin College of Business: Sarah Spicer, Business Administration.

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Jessica Villm, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Department.

Outstanding doctoral degree students

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences: Qing Jin, Food Science and Technology.

College of Architecture and Urban Studies: Drew Barnes, Environmental Design and Planning.

College of Engineering: Jeannie Purchase, Civil Engineering.

College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences: Inaash Islam, Sociology.

College of Natural Resources and Environment: Brandon Semel, Fish and Wildlife Conservation.  

College of Science: Mary Lofton, Biological Sciences.

Pamplin College of Business: Abhinav Sharma, Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine: Leila Abdelhamid, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences.

Interdisciplinary doctoral student: Zachary Gould, BioBuild Interdisciplinary Graduate Education Program.