UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) recognized exceptional students and faculty for their academic excellence, service and leadership during its annual Wilson Awards Celebration, held on March 29. The Wilson Awards are named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, major benefactors of the college.
“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of our faculty and students,” said Lee Kump, the John Leone Dean in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. “This annual award celebration offers the college an opportunity to honor and recognize the hard work of our faculty and students.”
Matthew Wilson graduated from Penn State in 1918 with a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering, and the Wilson endowment provides the college with support for its well-known student loan program and a number of faculty and student awards and scholarships.
To view photos from the event, visit the college’s Flickr webpage.
2026 recipients
Paul F. Robertson Award for EMS Breakthrough of the Year
This award was created in 2012 with support from a gift by EMS alumnus Paul F. Robertson. This award is given to recognize achievements for a singular breakthrough in research or in the scholarship of teaching. This year’s recipients are:
- Mohammad Rezaee, Centennial Career Development Professor in Mining Engineering
- Feifei Shi, assistant professor of energy engineering
Wilson Award for Excellence in Research
The Wilson Award for Excellence in Research is the college’s highest research honor. This award is given in recognition of scholarly or creative excellence represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. The contribution may be original basic research or may represent the application of knowledge in the creation of a process or device useful to society. Recipient is:
- Shimin Liu, George H. Jr. and Anne B. Deike Chair in Mining Engineering
Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching
This award is given in recognition of outstanding teaching, represented by performance in a single course of instruction or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. The contribution may represent the application of knowledge in a traditional classroom setting, field course or online education. Recipient is:
- Xingchao “XC” Chen, assistant professor of meteorology and atmospheric science
Wilson Award for Outstanding Service
Created in 1999, the Wilson Service Award recognizes exceptional service contributions to the college, the University and the community. Recipient is:
- Christopher S. Fowler, professor of geography
Faculty Advising Award
Created in 2013, the Faculty Advising Award is given in recognition of outstanding advising undertaken by faculty members to enhance the student’s experience at Penn State. Recipient is:
- Nelson Y. Dzade, assistant professor of energy and mineral engineering
Faculty Mentoring Award
The Faculty Mentoring Award honors a faculty member who invests in the success of others, whether it is a new faculty member, a student or a staff member. This award recognizes the generous contribution of time and energy it takes to mentor in teaching, research and service. Recipient is:
- Elizabeth Hajek, professor of geosciences
G. Montgomery and Marion Hall Mitchell Award for Innovative Teaching
This award was created in 1998 to recognize faculty members in the college who use innovative teaching techniques in their courses. Recipients are:
- Benjamin Ahlswede, assistant research professor of meteorology and atmospheric science
- Kevin Bowley, associate teaching of meteorology and atmospheric science
- William Bristow, professor of atmospheric science
- Kenneth J. Davis, professor of atmospheric and climate science
E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Faculty Fellowship
The E. Willard and Ruby S. Miller Faculty Fellowship was created to support faculty of exceptional creativity who propose highly innovative approaches to major contemporary challenges in the earth, energy and material sciences. Recipient is:
- Robert Hickey, associate professor of materials science and engineering, for his proposal “From Waste to Capacitor Materials: Chemical Transformations of Discarded Plastics”
George H. Deike, Jr. Research Grant
The George H. Deike, Jr. Research Grant is awarded in support of an innovative research project. Recipient is:
- Tieyuan Zhu, associate professor of geosciences, was selected for his project: “Listening to Arctic Sea Ice: Seismic Tremor as a Proxy for Ice Strength”
Wilson Research Initiation Grant
The Wilson Research Initiation Grant was established to provide an extra spark to the research career of a junior faculty member. Recipient is:
- Ivy M. Asuo, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, was selected for her project: “Reliable Ambient Optoelectronic Performance through Complementary Human-Robot Materials Optimization”
Gladys Snyder Junior Faculty Grants
The Gladys Snyder Junior Faculty Grants are awarded for proposals for the development of new courses or the improvement of current offerings; for travel to professional meetings; to broaden the studies of junior faculty members; or to recognize significant contributions in research efforts. Recipients are:
- Nicholas Clark and Maziar Montazerian, both assistant research professors in the materials science and engineering, selected for their proposal, “In vitro Bioactivity Assessment of LionGlass””
- Benjamin Cardenas, assistant professor of geosciences, was selected for his proposal, “Filming videos at analog sites as part of the development of a free introductory online planetary geology course, Geosc 50: Planetary Geology”
- Ida Djenontin, assistant professor of geography, was selected for her proposal, “Advancing Social-Ecological Research on Ecosystem Restoration through Student-Focus Engaged Scholarship”
Postdoctoral Excellence in Research Award
Postdoctoral Excellence in Research is given in recognition of excellence in research represented by a single contribution or a series of contributions around a coherent theme. This award is designed to celebrate postdoctoral scholar’s outstanding achievements in research that has or will impact their field of study. Recipient is:
- Qitao Zhang, postdoctoral scholar in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards
The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards were created to honor undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, and faculty who have demonstrated exemplary leadership that manifests the ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion into practical action. Recipients are:
- Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Undergraduate Student Award: Miranda Quezada, undergraduate student in environmental systems engineering
- Catherine Lyons Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Graduate Student Award: Lily Houtman, graduate student in geography
- Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Post Doctoral Award: Kavyashree Keremane, postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering
- Charles Hosler Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Faculty Award: Anthony C. Didlake, Jr., associate professor of meteorology and atmospheric science
College-level Student Awards
Jay M. and Katherine DeFinis Award for Outstanding Student Leadership
Established in 2005 to honor outstanding student leadership abilities within the student organizations of the college. Recipients are:
- Luke Snyder, undergraduate student in meteorology and atmospheric science
- Alexander Massa and Nicholas E. Prince, both graduate students in meteorology and atmospheric science
Ellen Steidle Achievement Award
Established in 1953 by Dean Edward Steidle to honor the memory of his wife, this award recognizes junior and senior EMS students for their service to the college. Recipients are:
- Senior Award: Sofia Sarracino, undergraduate student in earth sciences
- Junior Award: Tara Staresinic, undergraduate student in meteorology and atmospheric science
Dean Edward Steidle Memorial Scholar Award
Established in 1981 to honor Edward Steidle, dean of the college from 1929 to 1953, this award is given to a graduating senior who is a truly outstanding scholar in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences and who plans to go to graduate school. Recipient is:
- Lizzie Johnson, undergraduate student in geosciences
GEMS Diamond Award
Established in 2006, the Graduates of Earth and Mineral Sciences (GEMS) Diamond Award grants a lifetime membership in the Penn State Alumni Association to a graduating student who is found to have the most well-rounded involvement and achievement in both the University and community environment during their student experience while in the college. Recipient is:
- Irena Potochny, undergraduate student in materials science and engineering
College Marshal
The college marshal designation is given to the most accomplished graduate overall. The college marshal is:
- Emily Shor, undergraduate student in meteorology and atmospheric science, with minors in geographic information systems and French
Earth and Mineral Sciences Academy for Global Experience
Established in 2009, the Earth and Mineral Sciences Academy for Global Experience (EMSAGE) program helps students develop as communicators and collaborators and prepares them to be effective leaders in their disciplines and responsible global citizens. Students may aspire to EMSAGE Laureate status by achieving notable success in scholarship, service, global literacy and experiential learning.
2025-26 EMSAGE Laureates
- Maria Abreu, energy engineering
- Elizabeth Aichele, materials science and engineering
- Asad Al-Abri, materials science and engineering
- Ava Blansfield, geography
- Westin Boyd, meteorology and atmospheric science
- McKenna Burke, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Ann Ehrlich, geography
- Allison Evans, materials science and engineering
- Joshua Hasenau, environmental systems engineering
- Sofia Hoffman, environmental systems engineering
- Joseph Hokky, energy engineering
- Lizzie Johnson, geosciences
- Erick Kirchner, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Amanda Kulak, environmental systems engineering
- Hanlet Leonardo, energy engineering
- Logan Madden, geography/earth sciences
- Skyler McKinney, geography
- Kaleah Moran, environmental systems engineering
- Raya Pauling, environmental systems engineering
- Anna Penird, geosciences
- Irena Potochny, materials science and engineering
- Pavan Kumar Reddy Pothula, materials science and engineering
- Miranda Quezada, environmental systems engineering
- Isabel Rivera, geography
- Mariam Salama, petroleum and natural gas engineering
- Sofia Sarracino, earth sciences
- Allison "Allie" Scarlett, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Veronica Sciulli, environmental systems engineering
- Emily Shor, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Zachary Simms, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Luke Snyder, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Allison Sousa, meteorology and atmospheric science
- Aaliyah Thompson, environmental systems engineering
- Sophia Warnock, energy engineering
- Ryan Zaff, geosciences
- Jiawen "Jenny" Zhang, energy business and finance