Arkansas Tech University Celebrates 2025-26 STEM Award Winners
On April 27, the Arkansas Tech University (ATU) College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) held an awards dinner at the Hull Building Event Center to honor the achievements of its faculty and students for the 2025-26 academic year.
Dr. John Jackson, the dean of the College of STEM, welcomed attendees as the master of ceremonies. The keynote speaker was Dr. Jennifer Ballard, director of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and an ATU alumna with a Bachelor’s degree in fisheries and wildlife science.
Awards were presented by department heads, including Dr. Michael Davis, Dr. John Krohn, and Dr. Hamed Shojaei. Here’s a look at the award winners from this year:
Department of Biological Sciences
- Outstanding Biology Students: Mackenzie Epperson and Justin Contreras-Portillo
- Outstanding Geosciences Student: Shannon Griffin
- Outstanding Fisheries Student: Macy Sparks
- Outstanding Wildlife Student: Heath Williams
- Outstanding Graduate Student: Nicole Bow
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Scholarship: Dr. Kyler Hecke, assistant professor of fisheries science
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Service: Cheryl Chaney, assistant professor of biological sciences
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching: Dr. Jacob Siebach, assistant professor of geology
Department of Engineering and Computing Sciences
- Outstanding Electrical Engineering Student: Luke Beldin
- Outstanding Computer Science Graduate: Andrew Pinkerton
- Outstanding Cybersecurity Graduate: Collin Parrie
- Outstanding Information Technology Graduate: Brennan BonDio
- Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Graduate: Lauren Bradford
- Outstanding Information Technology Graduate (Graduate Program): Landon Boyd
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Scholarship: Dr. Robin Ghosh, assistant professor of computer and information science
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Service: Jacob Weidenfeller, senior instructor of electrical engineering
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching: Dr. Jerry Wood, professor of computer and information science
Department of Mathematics and Physical Sciences
- First-Year Student Achievement Award in Chemistry: Lucia Perez Hruba
- First-Year Student Achievement Award in Mathematics: Natalie Spadoni
- First-Year Student Achievement Award in Physics: Gavin Hurbanek
- Outstanding Chemistry Student: Caitlin Drake
- Outstanding Physics Student: Joseph Temple
- Physics Senior Fellowship and Outstanding Mathematics Student: Skye Palmer
- Chemistry Senior Fellowship: Jaycie Massengale
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Scholarship: Dr. Matt Hankins, assistant professor of physics
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Service: Dr. Mariusz Gajewski, professor of chemistry
- Outstanding Faculty Award in Teaching: Dr. Rajib Choudhury, associate professor of chemistry
- Outstanding Instructor Award: Terre Taylor, university instructor of mathematics
To find out more about the ATU College of STEM, visit their official website.
