Outstanding TA and RA Awards

Each year outstanding Teaching Assistants (TA) and Research Assistants (RA) are recognized at the Voiland College Student Excellence Awards.

Lead: Associate Dean of Student Success (S. Pressley) and Associate Dean of Research (H. Beyenal)

Nomination Guidelines and Eligibility

Outstanding Teaching Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA) awards recognize students who have demonstrated exceptional contributions in teaching and research roles. 

Important:

Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant awards follow different nomination processes and require different submission materials. Please review the appropriate section below before submitting a nomination.

Teaching Assistant awards recognize graduate or undergraduate students who have gone above and beyond the expectations of a typical TA.

Each department or school will be contacted individually regarding the number of TA nominations it may submit, based on current enrollment.

TA nominations are submitted in two distinct categories.


TA — Grading / Office Hour Support

This category recognizes TAs whose primary responsibilities include grading and/or holding office hours to support student learning in a course.

Eligibility
  • Graduate or undergraduate Teaching Assistants
Required materials
  • Nominee name
  • Letter of support

TA — Teaching / Instruction

This category recognizes TAs who provide more formal instruction, such as teaching or instructing during a laboratory section or class.

Eligibility
  • Graduate or undergraduate Teaching Assistants
Required materials
  • Nominee name
  • Letter of support

The Research Assistant Award recognizes a graduate student who has demonstrated exceptional research achievement over the past year through creative and scholarly work.

Each department or school will be contacted individually regarding the number of RA nominations it may submit, based on current Ph.D. enrollment.

Eligibility

  • Graduate students in good standing (typically Ph.D. students)

Required materials

  • Current CV highlighting research, publications, presentations, measures of impact, and awards
  • Current GPA standing
  • Strictly one-page letter of support from the student’s advisor

Previous Award Recipients

YearNameMajor
2025Gaurav NarangElectrical and Computer Engineering
2024Ali MahmoodigahroueiCivil Engineering
2023Taha BelkhoujaComputer Science
2022Aryan DeshwalComputer Science
2021Cody CockrehamChemical Engineering

YearNameMajor
2025Azza FadhelComputer Science
2024Kutay SesliChemical Engineering

YearNameMajor
2025Funso OjeComputer Science
2024Chris PereydaComputer Science

This award was retired in 2023 and divided into two new awards in 2024: Outstanding TA for Grading and Office Hours, and Outstanding TA for Teaching and Instruction.

YearNameMajor
2023Naseeha Cardwell Chemical Engineering
2022Emma Hein (teaching/instruction)Civil Engineering
2022Alaleh Ahmadian (grading/office hour support)Computer Science
2021Ayumi ManawaduCivil Engineering
2020Sachinthani PathiranaCivil Engineering
2019Ashley VuMechanical Engineering

Questions?

If you have questions about the award criteria and nomination process, please contact: