The University of Tulsa’s Graduate School recently hosted the 2025 Graduate Student Awards Banquet. Several unique honors were bestowed upon students and faculty who stood out in their research or mentorship: the Distinguished Graduate Student Research Award, presented to a student whose research has made a substantial and original contribution to their academic field; the Distinguished Graduate Student Award, presented to a student who has excelled academically and made a substantial contribution to their department, university, or scholarly community; the Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award, presented to a faculty member who has had a substantial impact on the academic life and career of their students; and the Distinction in Pedagogy Award, presented to a faculty member who has had a substantial impact on the academic life and career of their students.
“I take mentorship incredibly seriously because I get a chance to help shape someone’s future, and their future is so important,” said Alex Kingston, assistant professor of biological sciences and recipient of the mentor award. “Mentoring is something that has been a driving force in my career. Having good mentors has made me want to be one of those people for trainees. It is truly an honor, and I wouldn’t have received such an award without the confidence from the mentees with whom I interact.”
Additionally, the winner of the first Graduate Student Research Celebration poster competition was honored at the event, as well as the recipient of the Distinguished Alum Award.
“The Graduate Student Awards Banquet is designed to honor the many ways our graduate students contribute to life on campus – as researchers, teachers, mentors, and community leaders,” said Jennifer Airey, vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. “The culminating event of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, we come together for a night of friendship, dining, music, and dancing and take a break from work to celebrate one another.
“Beyond the winners of our Mentor, Research, and Graduate Student Awards, this year we awarded our second group of students with Distinction in Pedagogy and added two new awards to our roster: the Distinguished Graduate Alum Award and the Distinguished Graduate Poster Competition Award. Our inaugural poster competition at Graduate Student Research Celebration Day was particularly competitive – nearly 70 graduate students from departments across campus shared their research with the community.”
Graduate School 2025 honorees
Distinguished Graduate Poster Competition Award
Trivanni Yadav (physics)
Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
Alex Kingston (biological sciences)
Distinguished Graduate Alum Award
Aziz Alhejaili (M.S. ’20, Ph.D. ’24) (chemical engineering)
Distinguished Graduate Student Award
Anastasia Matveeva (anthropology/archaeology)
Caroline Schell (B.S. ’17, M.S. ’20) (mechanical engineering)
Tanner Mierow (biological sciences)
Distinguished Graduate Research Award
Garrett Williamson (mechanical engineering)
Olivia Pletcher (biological sciences)
Naser Khatta Dizabadi (M.E. ’24) (computer engineering)
Distinction in Pedagogy
Marta Lourenco (B.S. ’23) (mathematics)
Asad Nadeem (M.E. ’23) (mechanical engineering)
Emily Esther (B.S. ’18, M.S. ’20) (mechanical engineering)
Edgar Pereira (M.S. ’03) (mechanical engineering)
Bryce Day (B.S. ’21, M.E. ’22) (mechanical engineering)