Outstanding graduate students were recognized with Teaching and Research Excellence Awards by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research/Graduate Dean and the Graduate Student Senate this month.

The awards, 76 in all, were given for the 1998 spring and summer semesters.

Dorothy Pimlott, administrative assistant for the Office of the Vice Provost and coordinator of much of the program this year, said the program has been a combined effort between the vice provost’s office and the Graduate Student Senate since the late 1980s.

She said students are nominated for teaching awards by their supervising teachers or committees and for research awards by their major professors. Each department at the university has the opportunity to choose graduate students who have excelled in either research or in teaching.

Outstanding graduate students also rank in the top percentages of their departments.

Pimlott said the number of students nominated depends on the number of students in each department.

“In a case of research, it would be an outstanding thesis or dissertation,” Pimlott said. “The major professor has been impressed, saying, ‘This is one of the best I’ve ever seen.'”

Daniel Ressler, graduate student in agronomy, received a Research Excellence Award for Spring 1998.

Ressler designed and tested a new nitrogen fertilizer injector for use with corn crops.

“Our method had never been used before,” he said. “The injector covers the fertilizer with a mound of soil. The soil is compacted to limit the flow of water to reduce leaching.”

A patent is currently under review for Ressler’s nitrogen injector. Ressler said he would like to stay at ISU to work in a new program, the Masters of Science and Agronomy.

Elizabeth Jensen, graduate student in chemistry, received recognition for excellence in teaching. Jensen taught for major and non-major students. She said she enjoyed her Chemistry 160 class, where she helped with demonstrations for non-majors.

“I would get questions, and when students really understood what I was talking about … that was really gratifying,” Jensen said.

Jensen added that she would like to continue her teaching career at a four-year undergraduate college.

Each recipient of the outstanding graduate awards received a letter from President Martin Jischke, a certificate from the vice provost for Research/Graduate Dean, and a note on his or her transcript.

Recipients also are recognized upon graduation from ISU by a note in the commencement program and by wearing red and gold honor cords with their robes.