Special honors were presented to a number of members of the School of Information Studies (iSchool) 2019 master’s and doctoral-degree graduates Saturday afternoon, recognizing achievements in scholastic records and contributions to the iSchool and the academic community.  

Presented with these awards were the following graduates:

  • Brian Dobreski was presented the Doctoral Prize, recognizing the outstanding academic contributions of a Ph.D. student. The recipient is selected each year by the faculty, who award the prize based on the demonstration of academic excellence in intellectual contributions, distinction in the classroom, and preparation to thrive in scholarly pursuits.

The award was presented to Dobreski by his advisor, Barbara Kwasnik, who retired in 2018 as a longtime faculty member of the iSchool. During the ceremonies, it was noted that Dobreski is Kwasnik’s 50th and final doctoral advisee.

Each year, one student in each of the graduate programs is recognized for exemplifying excellence in their studies through class projects, research and other forms of scholarship at the master’s-degree level. These are the Class of 2019 Master’s Degree Awards recipients:

  • Deep Mehta, M.S. in Information Management program
  • Ankita Kalita, M.S. in Enterprise Data Systems program
  • Ziwei Pi, M.S. in Applied Data Science
  • Jai Hyun Park, M.S. in Library and Information Science
  • Nathan Keefe, M.S. in Library and Information Science – School Media Specialization.

Additional recognitions were presented as follows:

  • Andy Li was recognized with the Graduate Leadership Award. The honor is the most prestigious award presented by the iSchool to a graduate-level student. It recognizes an outstanding student who demonstrates all-around excellence, who has contributed to the school through service on committees or in student organizations, and who serves as a role model for other students.
  • Smirity Kaushik was presented the John Weitzel Award for Information Systems, an award recognizing students who exhibit excellence in information systems through coursework or research projects. The honor is in memory of former faculty member John Weitzel.
  • Lynn King was recognized with the Angela DeSilva Inspirational Achievement Award. The honor recognizes a library school media graduate who has overcome obstacles and has persisted to achieve his or her degree, and who shares Angela’s determination and resilience.
  • Tori Jennell Ward was honored with the Antje Lemke Book Award. The recognition is named for Professor Emerita Antje Lemke, and it recognizes an outstanding student in the master’s Library and Information Science program who exhibits a passion for learning and dedication to service.
  • Charlotte Price was awarded the Amy Everett Memorial Award for Ethics in Information Management. The honor is in memory of Amy Everett, ’85, who was dedicated to the ethical use of information in donor research. It recognizes an outstanding student on the basis of a paper that addresses ethical issues in information management.