14th Annual Graduate Student Recognition Celebration

The Graduate Student Recognition Celebration, which began in 1999, recognizes students who receive prestigious fellowships and awards. These honorees are providing leadership that is making a significant contribution to the mission of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and to a wide variety of fields of study.

The April celebration was part of Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week (April 2-6).

Wednesday, April 4, 2012
3:00 p.m. — 6:00 p.m.
Alumni Hall in the George Watts Hill Alumni Center

Mehul Patel is a 2012 Impact Award recipient

Research displays began at 3:00 p.m.
Awards ceremony started at 4:00 p.m.
A reception followed

Graduate student recognition includes winners of:

• IMPACT Awards
• Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished Service
• Dean's Award for Significant Contribution to Graduate Education
• Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award
• Council of Graduate Schools/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
• University Research Day Awards
• Honor Society Inductions
• External Fellowships and Awards

Congratulations to UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate and Professional Students for Outstanding Achievements in Research, Academics, Community Service and Leadership During the 2011-2012 Academic Year

2012 GEAB Impact Award Winners for Research Benefitting the State of North Carolina

• Peter Balvanz, Health Behavior and Health Education, Effects of Land Loss on African-American Farmers and Their Hope for the Next Generation
• Kevin Bastian, Public Policy, Evaluating Teacher Quality in North Carolina: Lessons Learned for Teacher Selection, Preparation, Support and Distribution
• Aadra Bhatt, Microbiology and Immunology, Targeted Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Sarah Bortvedt, Cell and Molecular Physiology, The Intestinal Insulin Receptor: Overlooked Fat Regulator?
• Patricia Casbas-Hernandez, Pathology, Understanding How Obesity and Breastfeeding Alter Breast Inflammatory Environments
• Jon Edwards, Biochemisty and Biophysics, The Relaxase Enzyme's Role in S. aureus Antibiotic Resistance
• S. Michael Gaddis, Sociology, The Effects of Peer Poverty and ‘No Child Left Behind’ Accountability on Student Achievement
• Nate Geraldi, Marine Sciences, Identifying Best Ways to Maximize Oyster Population Growth
• Brooke Hoots, Epidemiology, Developing Practical Tools to Inform Allocation of North Carolina's Limited HIV Resources
• Margaret McCormick, Cell and Molecular Physiology, Mending a Broken Heart: Investigating Use of a Novel Biologic in Heart Attacks
• Kristin Nellenbach, Speech and Hearing Sciences, Oral Language, Problem Solving and Reading Attitudes in Adolescent Reading Comprehension
• Kyle Palmquist, Ecology, Protecting Plant Biodiversity in the Longleaf Pine Ecosystem
• Mehul Patel, Epidemiology, Prehospital Notification by Emergency Medical Services Is Crucial to Timely Evaluation of Stroke
• Elizabeth Pempe, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Using Structural Motifs to Improve Heparin Clearance
• Tina Prevatte, City and Regional Planning and Business Administration, From Farm to Fork? An Empirical Investigation of Challenges Faced by North Carolina's Small Meatpackers
• Vanesa Ribas, Sociology, On the Line: The Working Lives of Latinos and African Americans in the New South
• Emily Roscoe, Public Administration and Library Science, The Need for a Return to First Principles in Public Records Law
• Ashley Smyth, Marine Sciences, Assessing Water Quality Enhancement Through Oyster Reef Restoration
• Meagan Vaughn, Epidemiology, Preventing Tick Bites Among North Carolina's Outdoor Workers
• Catherine Vladutiu, Epidemiology, Motor Vehicle Crashes and Expectant Moms
• Stephanie Watkins, Epidemiology, Early Breastfeeding Experiences and Postpartum Depression
• Weichen Xu, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Molecular Diagnostics of Prostate Cancer by Kinase Reporters and Capillary Electrophoresis

Boka W. Hadzija Award for Distinguished University Service by a Graduate or Professional Student

• Jasmine Talameh, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Dean's Award for Significant Contributions to Graduate Education

• Erin Schuettpelz, Director of State Relations and Communications, UNC-Chapel Hill

Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Awards

• Emily Baran, History, 2012 Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award — Humanities and Fine Arts
• Björn Brandenburg, Computer Science, 2012 Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award — Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Engineering
• Jessica Ellis, Nutrition, 2012 Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award — Biological and Life Sciences
• Heather Lasseter, Psychology, 2012 Dean's Distinguished Dissertation Award — Social Sciences

Council of Graduate Schools/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award

• Nathaniel Adam Sowa, MD-PHD Program, “Characterization of Ectonucleotidases in Nociceptive Circuits”

Honorary Society Inductees

Frank Porter Graham Honor Society

• Michael Bertucci, Chemistry
• George Chao, Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Turquoise Griffith, Health Behavior and Health Education
• James Grinias, Chemistry
• Jennifer Job, Education
• Derrick Matthews, Health Behavior and Health Education
• J. Elliott Robinson, Neurobiology
• Lisa De Saxe Zerden (Faculty), Social Work
• Laurie Selz-Campbell (Faculty), Social Work

The Order of the Golden Fleece

• Spencer Robinson, Business Administration
• Tim Stallmann, Geography

The Order of the Grail-Valkyries

• Courtney Lewis, Anthropology
• Tim Stallmann, Geography