Colorado State University graduate students presented their creative work, research, and entrepreneurship while competing for nearly $21,000 in scholarships during the 2023 GradShow on Nov. 15. Participants represented special academic units and all eight colleges.
Award winners were announced by the Graduate School and the Office of the Vice President for Research at a reception following a day of presentations, live performances, and a keynote address by science communicator and comedian Kasha Patel.
The GradShow would not be possible without the time, and financial support of sponsors and more than 120 judges.
Award winners
Distinction in Creativity
1st Place for $250
Seojung Lee, Art and Art History
2nd Place for $150
Sumanma Wadhwa, Art and Art History
Honorable Mention for $150
Lauren Furman, English
Great Minds in Research
1st Place for $250
Jeonghun Lee, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
2nd Place for $150
Jui Hsiang Lo, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Honorable Mention for $100 each
Chinecherem Chime, Physics
Tymofiy Lutsiv, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Daniel Sanchez, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Yayo Virgen, Chemistry
Rachel Brady, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Karla Cureno Hernandez, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
Elliot Ferrell-Carretey, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Suraj Khanal, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Josie Otto, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Erin Snyder, Chemistry
Business For a Better World Award
1st Place for $500
Abisola Adedigba, College of Business
Drivers of Innovation – CSU STRATA
Award for $500
Andrea Selkow, Chemistry
One Health Institute’s Award for Research Excellence
Research Excellence Award for $500
Diana Lowe, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
Global Impact Award
Awards for $400 each
Katherine Stevick, Sociology
Emilia Ravetta, Sociology
Rose Parham, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Graduate Student Council – New Graduate Student Award
Research Top Scholar Award for $300
Justin Hudson, Atmospheric Science
Krishnavamsi Gujju, Computer Science
Monika Perez, Chemistry
Makenna Juergens, Biology
Walter Jordan, Mechanical Engineering
CSU Writes – Written Excellence Award
Written Excellence Award for $500
Ghyslaine Ramirez, Biomedical Sciences
Top Scholars for University-Wide Graduate Programs
1st Place for $500
Erin Jackson, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
2nd Place for $300
Melody Zarria-Samanamud, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
Honorable Mention for $250
Sam Brill, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program
College specific awards
College of Agricultural Sciences – Top Scholar
Awards for $500
Henrique Vieira, Agricultural Biology
Eliza Gross, Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Afrin Jannat, Animal Sciences
College of Business – Dean’s Award for Research Excellence
Awards for $500
McKenna Petri, College of Business
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering – Excellence in Research Award
Awards for $500
Kyler Howard, School of Biomedical Engineering
Sarah Hernandez, Systems Engineering
Emmanuel Ezika, Chemical and Biological Engineering
College of Health and Human Sciences – Excellence in Research and Scholarship
Awards for $250 each
Bri Risk, Food Science and Human Nutrition
Scott Wrigley, Food Science and Human Nutrition
Chris Patrick, Health and Exercise Science
Matthew Bomar, Health and Exercise Science
Darby Easterday, Health and Exercise Science
College of Liberal Arts – Highest Achievement
Creative and Performing Arts Top Scholar Award for $500
Nikoo Monem, Art and Art History
Liz Ramirez, English
Scholarly/Research-Based Presentation Top Scholar Award for $500 each
Tewabe Kassaw, Anthropology and Geography
Sarah Kubiak, Journalism and Media Communication
Sarai Benitez, Political Science
College of Natural Sciences – Outstanding Scholar Award
Awards for $500 each
Chris Stubbs, Chemistry
Paahuni Khandelwal, Computer Science
Rose Rossell, Chemistry
Jacob VanderRoest, Chemistry
College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences – Top Scholar
Awards for $500 each
Oshani Ratnayake, Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology
Kate Williams, Clinical Sciences
Hannah Braun, Biomedical Sciences
Alissa Threatt, Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences
Jacob Lewey, Biomedical Sciences
Warner College Of Natural Resources – Graduate Student Achievement
Awards for $500 each
Becca Windell, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
Jacob Ney, Forest and Rangeland Stewardship
Cassandre Venumiere-Lefebvre, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology
