Dear all,
I am very pleased to announce the winners of our two 2026 undergrad awards. Each year when we read through the submission we are reminded how truly awesome our undergrads are, and that the future of oceanography is bright! So thank you to all the students who put their hat in the ring!
The recipient of the Outstanding Senior Awards is Grace Kugelman. Grace came very close to winning the Diane Adams Undergrad Research Award last year as a junior, a testament to her exceptional dedication to independent research. Despite facing challenges in her final year, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and perseverance, reflected in a stellar 3.98 GPA and an impressive breadth of research experiences over the course of her undergraduate career. I am ever so pleased to be able to present this award to her this year, well deserved!
The Diane Adams Undergraduate Research Excellence Award this year goes to Emory Barrett. Emory brings an equally outstanding academic record, with a perfect 4.0 GPA and a diverse range of research experiences. What distinguished him for this particular award is a remarkable achievement: a peer-reviewed publication as lead author, stemming from his work in Professor Rich Lutz’s Hydrothermal Vents course. Hydrothermal vents were a subject near and dear to Diane’s heart, and she was deeply committed to mentoring undergraduate students throughout her career. Presenting this award in her name to Emory feels like a truly fitting tribute to her legacy.
Congratulations to both of them! We can’t see what all of you will achieve next.
Best wishes,
Silke