June 24, 2003

Contact: Teri Leahy, physics and astronomy, (785) 864-1225.

KU physics and astronomy department honors students, faculty

LAWRENCE -- Two May graduates of the University of Kansas who received National Science Foundation fellowships worth $114,000 each have been honored as part of the KU Department of Physics and Astronomy's annual awards banquet. The department recognized students, faculty and staff in May at The Oaks conference center northeast of Lawrence.

Those attending the banquet recognized the two NSF fellowship winners: Ian Tice of Tecumseh and Ryan Kinser of Oklahoma City, Okla. An NSF graduate fellowship provides $38,000 a year for three years. Tice will study at Columbia University in New York City; Kisner will study at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Eight graduate and undergraduate students received cash awards ranging from $100 to $2,000 for being outstanding students in their major, outstanding graduating seniors or outstanding teaching assistants.

Five students were honored for winning summer research awards through either the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates or the U.S. Department of Energy.

Eleven students and one faculty member also were inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, a national physics honor society. Officers for the organization also were chosen. Michael Shawn Murray, adjunct assistant professor of physics and astronomy, was inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma.

The KU chapter of Sigma Pi Sigma also honored the following faculty and staff :

 • Ray Ammar, professor and chair of physics and astronomy, received the Sigma Pi Sigma Faculty Teaching Award and Chair Recognition
 • Robin E. Davis, professor and associate chair of physics and astronomy, received the Sigma Pi Sigma Associate Chair Recognition.
 • Adrian Melott , professor of physics and astronomy, received the 2003 Outstanding Educator Award from the KU chapter of Phi Delta Kappa, an international association for professional educators
 • Allan Hase, instrument maker for the physics and astronomy department, was voted Sigma Pi Sigma staff member of the year.

Students honored at the banquet, their parents' names, their high school alma mater (if available) and their awards or memberships are listed below by hometown.

DOUGLAS COUNTY
From Eudora
Delora Tanner, master's degree student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.

From Lawrence
Majeed Amini doctoral student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.
Leah Bowen, master's degree student in physics; $100 E.E. Slossen award as an outstanding graduate teaching assistant; Sigma Pi Sigma co-president.
John Clark, doctoral student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.
Stephen Floor, senior in physics and in computer science, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erik Floor; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee and co-webmaster.
Katherine R. Greene, master's degree student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma co-secretary.
Shahid Hussain, doctoral student in physics; $100 E.E. Slossen award as an outstanding graduate teaching assistant.
Ronald Vallejo, doctoral student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.
Xiang Wang, doctoral student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.

From Lecompton
Mathew Matheny, senior in mathematics and in physics, son of Stephen and Janie Matheny; Free State High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.

JEFFERSON COUNTY
From Grantville
Adam Kraus, May 2003 graduate in astronomy, physics and mathematics, son of Gary and Susan Kraus; Perry-Lecompton High School graduate; $300 Stranathan Award as the outstanding physics and astronomy senior.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Lenexa
Alan Dibos, senior in physics and mathematics, son of Heidi Dibos; Shawnee Mission South High School graduate; $2,000 Prosser award as outstanding physics student; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee. Dibos also will study during the summer at the University of Illinois-Urbana through the National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates.

From Olathe
Hannah Kathleen Swift, junior in astronomy, mathematics and physics, daughter of Thomas and Virginia Swift; Olathe South High School graduate; Wealthy Babcock New Student Scholar award.

From Overland Park
Eric Callaway Levy, May 2003 graduate in atmospheric science, son of Alice and Peter Levy; Shawnee Mission South High School graduate; $100 award as outstanding graduating atmospheric science student.
Judy Yu, May 2003 graduate in physics, computer engineering and mathematics, daughter of Elizabeth Chu; $100 Astronomy Storer award and Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.

MCPHERSON COUNTY
From Galva
Ian Lewis, junior in engineering physics, physics and mathematics, son of Loretta Lewis; McPherson High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.

From McPherson
Jesse Dean Noffsinger, junior in physics and in mathematics, son of Kent and Faye Noffsinger; McPherson High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee and co-webmaster. Noffsinger also will participate in an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates at Ohio State University in Columbus.

SEDGWICK COUNTY
From Wichita
Kevin L. Kohlstedt, senior in engineering physics, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Kohlstedt; Wichita High School Heights graduate; $100 award as outstanding engineering physics senior; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee. Kohlstedt also will take part in the Department of Energy Summer 2003 Student Research Participation Program at Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, Ill.
Joni Jorgenson, senior in engineering physics, daughter of John and Debra Jorgenson; Kapaun-Mt. Carmel High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma inductee.
Joshua Evan Meyers, senior in mathematics and physics, son of Evan and Jane Meyers; Wichita High School East graduate. Meyers will participate in an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates at Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Tecumseh
Ian T. Tice, May 2003 graduate in physics and in human biology, son of John and Deb Tice; Shawnee Heights High School graduate; National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

From Wakarusa
Jason Cecil Shea, senior in physics, son of Donald and Elaine Shea; Shawnee Heights High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma co-treasurer. Shea will participate in an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

NORTH CAROLINA
From Fayetteville
Tanya Brown, senior in atmospheric science, daughter of Michael and Cindy Dulaney; Seventy-First High School graduate; $100 award as the outstanding atmospheric science teaching assistant.

OKLAHOMA
From Edmond
Richard Louis Alexander, doctoral student in physics; $100 E.E. Slossen award as an outstanding graduate teaching assistant.

From Norman
Sarah Feldt, senior in physics and mathematics, daughter of Andy and Jane Feldt; Norman North High School graduate; Sigma Pi Sigma co-president.

From Oklahoma City
Ryan David Kinser, May 2003 graduate in mathematics, son of Pam and David Kinser; Classen High School graduate; National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship.

GERMANY
From Landsberg
Rainer Wolfgang Schiel, doctoral student in physics; Sigma Pi Sigma co-treasurer.