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 SciencesNilanka (Nick) Lord, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

College of Architecture and Urban StudiesLydia Gilmer, Department of Urban Planning.

College of EngineeringKatie Wardinski, Department of Biological Systems Engineering.

College of Liberal Arts and Human SciencesJessica Brabble, Department of History.

College of Natural Resources and EnvironmentBalaji Ramesh, Department of Geography.

College of ScienceJennifer Bertollo, Department of Psychology.

Pamplin College of Business: Sarah Spicer, Business Administration.

Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary MedicineJessica Villm, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences Department.

Outstanding doctoral degree students

College of Agriculture and Life SciencesQing Jin, Food Science and Technology.

College of Architecture and Urban StudiesDrew Barnes, Environmental Design and Planning.

College of EngineeringJeannie 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 ScienceMary Lofton, Biological Sciences.

Pamplin College of BusinessAbhinav 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.

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