Entomology & INHS award winners

Entomology Undergraduate Research Award

It is a long-standing priority of the Department of Entomology to provide high-quality research experiences to undergraduates. This annual award recognizes outstanding achievement in undergraduate research.

Awardees: Janaya Wilder and Katharine Vanker

Jenaya Wilder

Herbert Holdsworth Ross Memorial Award

Herbert H. Ross, BS University of British Columbia 1927, MS and PhD UIUC 1929 and 1933. He married Jean Alexander in 1932, and she assisted him throughout his life with his research. Ross was at the Natural History Survey from 1931 until he retired in 1969. He was a brilliant systematist who generously shared his passion and wisdom with generations of students. Funding for this award is possible due to the generous donation of Dr. Charles Alexander Ross and his wife Dr. June Ross, son and daughter-in-law of Herbert and Jean Ross.

Awardees: Ember Clodfelter, John Hodge, Sumashini Pagaldevatti, Johanna Schwartz, Wilfred Tang, & Valeria Trivellone

Ember Clodfelter

John Hodge

Sumashini Pagaldevatti

Johanna Schwartz

Wilfred Tang

Valeria Trivellone

Philip W. Smith Memorial Award

The Smith Memorial was established by Dorothy M. Smith and friends in honor of her husband. Dr. Smith was a renowned herpetologist and ichthyologist. He was intensely interested in the taxonomy, natural history, and distributions of animals. After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, he spent his entire career at the Illinois Natural History Survey, retiring in 1979. He served as curator of the fish, reptile, and amphibian collections, as a researcher, and administrator. For the last 14 years of his career, he also served as a Professor of Zoology at the University of Illinois. He produced over 100 scientific publications. He is probably best known for his two authoritative monographs, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois (1961) and The Fishes of Illinois (1979).

Awardees: Anne Aka, Tara Beveroth, & Anastasia Rahlin

Anne Aka

Tara Beveroth

Anastasia Rahlin

Fred H. Schmidt Summer Scholar

The Fred H. Schmidt summer award, endowed by his niece and nephew Margaret and Ed Larsen, commemorates alumnus Fred H. Schmidt, who received a BS degree in 1957 and a master’s degree in entomology here in 1959 and spent many years at the USDA Forest Service Laboratory in Corvallis, OR. In accordance with his wishes, the Schmidt Summer Award is used to support recruitment and retention of students during the summer months.

Awardees: Elizabeth Bello, Satinderpal Kaur, Luke Settles, & Timo Wayman

Elizabeth Bello

Satinderpal Kaur

Luke Settles

Timo Wayman

Entomology Summer Block Grant

The Entomology Summer Block Grant provides summer support for graduate students in Entomology to enable them to continue to make progress in their thesis research.

Awardees: Yutao Chen, Erinn Dady, Anugerah Fajar

Yutao Chen

Erinn Dady

Anugerah Fajar

Siti Fauziyah

Satinderpal Kaur

Chan Liu

Vincent Prayugo

Minxing Zhu

Dr. Ting H. Hsiao and Catherine T. Hsiao Fellowship Fund

Made possible by a generous donation by Dr. Ting H. Hsiao and Catherine T. Hsiao for graduate students.

Awardees: Johanna Schwartz & Wen-Yen Yu

Johanna Schwartz

Stewart H. Berlocher Graduate Student Research Support Award

Professor emeritus, who conducted research on speciation and evolution of insects including flies in the genus Rhagoletis. This award provides funding for field research in entomology.

Awardees: Theodore Cook, Anugerah Fajar, Siti Fauziyah

Theodore Cook

Anugerah Fajar

Siti Fauziyah

Ellis MacLeod/Metcalf Award for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Student in the Department of Entomology

Ellis G. MacLeod joined the faculty in the Department of Entomology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in 1966, after completing his dissertation research and postdoctoral position at Harvard University. Although his own research interests were focused primarily on systematics and evolution of species in the order Neuroptera, his knowledge of Class Insecta was famously encyclopedic. His greatest contribution to the discipline of entomology was his exemplary teaching, particularly in the core course, required of all graduate students, in insect systematics. In recognition of his classroom teaching, he received the William F. Prokasy Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1989; his influence, however, exceeded the boundaries of the classroom and he was extraordinarily generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge with anyone who sought him out. The Department accordingly named its award for outstanding teaching by an entomology graduate student in his honor.

Awardee: Annaliese Wargin

A photo of Annaliese Wargin standing in a field of flowers

I am a PhD candidate in the Harmon-Threatt Lab studying native bees and their parasites through a community lens to evaluate how species interactions are affected by anthropogenic change. I also have a strong passion for teaching here at UIUC, and it is an honor to receive the MacLeod/Metcalf Award this year. I look forward to TAing another SIB class in the Fall!