Department Awards
Ronald Regis Dougherty Memorial Award
The Ronald Regis Dougherty Memorial Award was established in 1979 in memory of , Class of ’79. This is not an annual award and is only awarded when there is a truly outstanding physics student.
2025 Recipient: Amanda Newton for outstanding research in the physics of music.
Horan Physics Award
The Horan Physics Award was established in 1953 by . This annual award is given to an outstanding graduating senior physics major in recognition of an exceptional comprehensive performance as a Physics major.
2025 Recipients: Davide Mazzucco for exceptional comprehensive performance as a Physics major.
Father Gerst Memorial Award
The Father Gerst Memorial Award was established in 1965 in memory of Father Francis J. Gerst, S.J., S.J., former Chair of Math and Dean of the Graduate School. He was on the Mathematics faculty from 1931 to 1962. This award is presented to students from each of the four classes for academic excellence in the study of physics.
2025 Recipients:
Freshman: Ralph Belleza, Emma Colonna, Drake Kim, Sam Morris, Daniela Avramovich
Sophomore: Babel Barm, Wayne Hopple, Alexandra McClure, Florence Pan, Sofia Soto
Junior: Hope Elgart, Bennett Korotko, Tristan Parmerlee, James Knott, Benjamin Haag
Senior: Ainhi Phan, Sofija Brnovich
Service Award
The Service Award is recognition of a graduating student(s) who has demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment and service to the Physics Department.
2025 Recipients: Davide Mazzucco, Selma Kwaja, Sofija Brnovich, Adam Tripi, Hope Elgart, Amanda Newton, Babel Barm, Faiza Nadeem
Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society)
(Society of Physics Students) The Physics Honor Society Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics.
2025 Inductees: Joseph Dingillo, Adam Tripi, Tristan Parmerlee, James Knott, Babel Barm, Benjamin Haag, Lachlan Haydon, Wayne Hopple, Alexandra McClure, Faiza Nadeem, Florence Pan, Sofia Soto, Katherine Summers
Past Recipients of Department Awards
Ronald Regis Dougherty Memorial Award
The Ronald Regis Dougherty Memorial Award was established in 1979 in memory of , Class of ’79. This is not an annual award and is only awarded when there is a truly outstanding physics student.
2025 Recipient: Amanda Newton for outstanding research in the physics of music.
Horan Physics Award
The Horan Physics Award was established in 1953 by . This annual award is given to an outstanding graduating senior physics major in recognition of an exceptional comprehensive performance as a Physics major.
2025 Recipients: Davide Mazzucco for exceptional comprehensive performance as a Physics major.
Father Gerst Memorial Award
The Father Gerst Memorial Award was established in 1965 in memory of Father Francis J. Gerst, S.J., S.J., former Chair of Math and Dean of the Graduate School. He was on the Mathematics faculty from 1931 to 1962. This award is presented to students from each of the four classes for academic excellence in the study of physics.
2025 Recipients:
Freshman: Ralph Belleza, Emma Colonna, Drake Kim, Sam Morris, Daniela Avramovich
Sophomore: Babel Barm, Wayne Hopple, Alexandra McClure, Florence Pan, Sofia Soto
Junior: Hope Elgart, Bennett Korotko, Tristan Parmerlee, James Knott, Benjamin Haag
Senior: Ainhi Phan, Sofija Brnovich
Service Award
The Service Award is recognition of a graduating student(s) who has demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment and service to the Physics Department.
2025 Recipients: Davide Mazzucco, Selma Kwaja, Sofija Brnovich, Adam Tripi, Hope Elgart, Amanda Newton, Babel Barm, Faiza Nadeem
Sigma Pi Sigma (Physics Honor Society)
(Society of Physics Students) The Physics Honor Society Sigma Pi Sigma exists to honor outstanding scholarship in physics; to encourage interest in physics among students at all levels; to promote an attitude of service of its members towards their fellow students, colleagues, and the public; to provide a fellowship of persons who have excelled in physics.
2025 Inductees: Joseph Dingillo, Adam Tripi, Tristan Parmerlee, James Knott, Babel Barm, Benjamin Haag, Lachlan Haydon, Wayne Hopple, Alexandra McClure, Faiza Nadeem, Florence Pan, Sofia Soto, Katherine Summers
Past Recipients of Department Awards