Arts and Sciences recognizes 2022 graduate students of the year
The College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State University recognized two graduate students -- the Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year and the Graduate Research Assistant of the Year -- at the annual end-of-year Graduate Student Awards program on campus in April.
Angel Jimenez, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Geosciences, and Ernesto Borrego, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, were selected for their diligent work in the classroom and in the research field.
Angel Jimenez
Jimenez received the award for Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. An instructor for multiple sections of GG 1113 Survey of Earth Science, Jimenez said this award is an honor because it “showcases diligent efforts in the classroom.”
“Receiving this recognition validates my hard work and my commitment for excellence in teaching. It is a privilege to share the importance of geology in our daily lives with our students,” Jimenez said.
John C. Rodgers, professor and head of MSU’s Department of Geosciences, said Jimenez is deserving of the recognition because of his dedication to his students, even amid the strains of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Angel goes well above the call of duty to reach out to his students. Even though he teaches large sections of non-majors, he is patient and understanding. But more than all of this, Angel is probably best known for his compassion, and because of this, the classroom has a family-like atmosphere, which has been extremely valuable during the pandemic,” Rodgers said.
Ernesto Borrego
Borrego received the award for Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. He attributes this honor to not only himself, but also to his research team of undergraduate students and postdoctoral researchers who worked alongside him.
“This award validates all the persistent efforts we exert into coordinating with each other and working in a synchronized manner on a daily basis. Working in a team to discover novel solutions to real-world problems, that’s what science is all about!” Borrego said.
During his time as graduate student at MSU, Borrego has produced two publications addressing the topics of organic synthesis, polymer chemistry and materials science.
Professor and Associate Head of the Department of Chemistry, Charles Edwin Webster, believes that Borrego is the perfect fit for this award because of his dedicated efforts in scientific discovery.
“Ernesto is an enthusiastic team player who is willing to explore new areas of chemistry and materials science in efforts to solve real problems in areas such as light emitting polymer films and hypersonic vehicle technology,” Webster said.
MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences includes more than 5,000 students, 325 full-time faculty members, nine doctoral programs, 14 master’s programs, and 27 undergraduate academic majors offered in 14 departments. It also is home to the most diverse units for research and scholarly activities, including natural and physical sciences, social and behavioral sciences, and the humanities. Complete details about the College of Arts and Sciences may be found at www.cas.msstate.edu.
MSU is Mississippi’s leading university, available online at www.msstate.edu.
Amelia Byars | College of Arts and Sciences
