Contact: Leah Barbour

STARKVILLE, Miss.--Mississippi State University is offering recognition programs and social activities for graduate students as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week, April 6-10.

The festivities began at the beginning of the month with the 13th annual Graduate Student Association Awards Banquet, where 30 students were recognized. They include, by hometown:

BANGLEDESH--Tanmay Bhowmik, a doctoral student in computer science and engineering, was named the Donald Zacharias Ph.D. Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. [Parent information is not available.]

BOILING SPRINGS, South Carolina--Lauren Bright, a doctoral student in veterinary medical science, was named the Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. She is the daughter of Bruce and Laura Bright.

CHINA--Tianyu Li, a doctoral student in earth and atmospheric sciences, won second place in the Arts and Humanities Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Lishan and Hong Li.

CHINA--Laibao Zhang, a master's student in chemical engineering, won first place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. [Parent information is not available.]

CORDOVA, Tennessee--Elizabeth L. Griswold, a doctoral student in food science, nutrition and health promotion, was named the Ph.D. Graduate Service Assistant of the Year. She is the daughter of Philip and Kelly Griswold.

CORDOVA, Tennessee--Matthew A. Timmins, a doctoral student in clinical psychology, won third place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Robert and Karen Timmins.

COUPEVILLE, Washington--Amanda J. Sterling, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, won second place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Thomas and Mary Alice Sterling.

GEORGIA--MacKenzie D. Sidwell, a doctoral student in school psychology, won second place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Mark and Pamela Sidwell.

GULFPORT--Christina M. Ramazani, a master's student in applied anthropology, won first place in the Arts and Humanities Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Regina Ramazani.

INDIA --Mukti Patel, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, was the Grand Champion of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition. She is the daughter of Umesh and Geeta Patel.

IRAN--Ashkan Khalili, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering, won first place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Ebrahim Khalili and Aatifeh Taghinezhad.

IRAN--Bahareh Kokabian, a doctoral student in civil and environmental engineering, won first place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Mohammad S. Kokobian and Shahnaz Amanati.

KILN--Jillian L. Harris, a master's student in biological sciences, won third place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Autamus and Deborah Harris.

LIVERMORE, California--Katherine M. Graham, a master's student in animal physiology, won second place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. Her parent information is not available.

LUTZ, Florida--Hallie Smith, a doctoral student in educational psychology, won first place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Donald and Cheryl Smith.

MADISON--Winston E. Jones, a doctoral student in cognitive science, won third place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Winston E. Jones of Bentonia and Mina S. Jones of Ridgeland.

MARTIN, Tennessee--Jonathan D. Richwine, a master's student in plant and soil science, was named the Master's Graduate Research Assistant of the Year. He is the son of James and Mary Frances Richwine.

MARYLAND--Sandra Schachat, a master's student in agriculture life sciences concentrating in entomology, was named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. [Parent information is not available.]

MEADVILLE--Gabe Monroe, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, won second place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Johnny and Patricia Monroe.

MONROE, Wisconsin--John T. Buol, a master's student in agronomy-weed science, won first place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. [Parent information is not available.]

NEPAL--Rakish Shrestha, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, won third place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. He is the son of Shanta and Rati Shrestha.

NEW ORLEANS--Jamel H. Alexander, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, won third place in the Physics and Computations Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. [Parent information is not available.]

NIGERIA--Opeyemi "Yemi" Olojede, a master's student in poultry science, won third place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Ademola and Modupe Olojede.

OCEAN SPRINGS--Kevin Bennett, a doctoral student in biomedical engineering, was named a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. He is the son of Kenneth N. Bennet of Biloxi and Suzanne Bennett of Ocean Springs.

PORTERVILLE--Sara A. Fast, a master's student in civil engineering, won the People's Choice Award in the 3-Minute Thesis Competition. She is the daughter of Joseph and Michelle Fast.

RIDGELAND--Tanner M. Lee, a master's student in kinesiology, was named the Donald Zacharias Master's Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Year. He is the son of Mike and Cindy Lee.

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana--Sara Shields-Menard, a doctoral student in agricultural science, won second place in the Life and Biomedical Sciences and Engineering Poster Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Troy and Michelle Menard.

STARKVILLE--Shelby L. McGrew, a doctoral student in educational psychology, won first place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. [Parent information is not available.]

WASHINGTON--Alexis E. Jones, a doctoral student in cognitive science, won second place in the Social and Behavioral Sciences Oral Presentations category at the Graduate Research Symposium. She is the daughter of Steve Jones and Elizabeth Jones of Greenville.

WIGGINS--Alyssa M. Barrett, a master's student in agricultural and Extension education, was the Grand Champion Runner Up in the 3-Minute Thesis Competition. She is the daughter of William and Nancy Barrett.

In addition to recognizing all 30 of the award winners, MSU's Office of the Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association are sponsoring a variety of activities during Graduate Student Appreciation Week. The full schedule is available at www.grad.msstate.edu.

MSU, Mississippi's flagship research institution, is online at www.msstate.edu, meridian.msstate.edu, facebook.com/msstate, instagram.com/msstate, pinterest.com/msstate and twitter.com/msstate.