“The engine of research. That’s what actually drives this institution to excellence,” said Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan, executive vice president of ASU Knowledge Enterprise, while commending Arizona State University graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students for their work at Celebrating Excellence on March 21.

Celebrating Excellence is a luncheon hosted by the Graduate College recognizing graduate student recipients of fellowships and scholarships. In a room packed with 100 people, more than half received funding associated with both internal and external awards programs in the Graduate College, including Ford Foundation, Fulbright, National Science Foundation and Graduate College sponsored awards. Sethuraman "Panch" Panchanathan addresses attendees at the Graduate College's Celebrating Excellence event on March 21. Photo by Anikka Abbott Download Full Image

In total, almost 500 students received these scholarships, fellowships and awards for the 2018–2019 school year.

Graduate College funding recipient Tari Wager expressed gratitude for the Graduate College’s help in getting her award.

“On top of working and being newly married, and other things going on, it was just peace of mind,” she said.

Wager is finishing her master’s degree in the sustainability solutions program. With an undergraduate degree in interior design, she plans to bring sustainability into architecture and design.

Other recipients also shared how the Graduate College’s awards programs help them to focus on their studies exclusively, instead of dividing their lives between a day job and their research, allowing them to maximize their innovation and creativity.

Stephen Schaefer, an Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) recipient, is a third-year electrical engineering PhD student, researching semiconductor materials operating the mid- and long-wave infrared.

Schafer’s goals are to “grow, characterize and understand the physics of the materials that form the core of technology,” like biomedical imaging devices, vehicle and missile guidance, and greenhouse gas spectroscopy.

Students like Wager and Schaefer help foster ASU’s reputation as the No. 1 school in the U.S. for innovation.

Panchanathan considers ASU’s success in research and innovation to be its highest responsibility.

“We are causing significant impact, positive impact in terms of what we do regionally, nationally and globally,” he said.