The Department, College, and University recognizes student excellence through a number of awards and prizes; physics and astronomy students also regularly win prestigious external awards.
Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS)
The ARCS Foundation provides scholarships (currently $10,000) to academically outstanding United States citizens studying to complete their degrees in science, medicine and engineering.
- 2022: Ken Luu
- 2021: Ken Luu
- 2020: Jessica Agnos
- 2019: Caitlin Kepple
- 2017: Wendy Crumrine
- 2016: Shervin Sahba
- 2015: Shervin Sahba
- 2013: Arthur Adams
- 2011: Scott Shermer
- 2010: Patrick Dunn
- 2009: Greg Bolloten
- 2008: Greg Bolloten and Kelsey Clubb
- 2007: Faustin Carter
- 2006: Aisha Hunte, Liliana Lopez, and Jack Young
Robert William Maxwell Memorial Scholarships
Maxwell scholarships are awarded to graduate students in the College of Science & Engineering.
- 2021: Lauren Little
- 2019: Sojin Han & Viviane Costa
- 2017: Sauraj Jha
- 2014: Bruce Laughlin
- 2013: Bruce Laughlin and Victor Rodriguez
- 2012: Ali Shayegan and Diana Madera
- 2011: Casey Moore
Michael and Greta McKinney Physics & Astronomy Scholarship
This departmental scholarship (currently $2000-$5000 depending on the number of awards) is awarded annually to a rising undergraduate senior in Physics & Astronomy.
- 2022: Hal France, Hind Zeitohn
- 2021: Carissa Avina-Beltran, Hollywood Banayad, Aidan Morson
- 2020: Dominic Hernandez
- 2019: Kevin Fillhouer, Katelyn Hernandez
- 2018: Hari Bhatt, Jeirus Jose, Michael Scalzi
- 2017: Brandon Gunn
- 2016: Megan Tangonan
- 2015: Ryan Vaught
Dennis Bennett Scholarship in Physics & Astronomy
This departmental scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student majoring in Physics & Astronomy.
- 2021: Donavon Evans, Hal France
Department Research Fellowship
This departmental fellowship recognizes graduate excellence in research in Physics & Astronomy, and is awarded annually.
- 2015: Kristian Chung and Justin Wittrock ($1000 each)
Peter Chau Fellowship
This one-time fellowship ($1000) honors the memory of Peter Chau, and recognizes graduate excellence in research in Physics & Astronomy.
- 2015: Manavjot Singh
Marcy Research Fellowship
This departmental fellowship recognized graduate excellence in research in Physics & Astronomy, and was awarded annually (discontinued after 2015).
- 2014: Peter Chau
- 2013: Geev Nahal
- 2012: Sam Tsitrin
- 2011: no award
- 2010: Samy Kamal and Srikar Srinath
- 2009: Kim Litwin and James Osborne
- 2008: John Brewer
- 2007: Matt Giguere
Eden Academic Excellence Award
The Eden Award recognizes and rewards B.S. Chemistry and B.S. Physics majors for excellent performance in upper-division or advanced courses required in the major program.
- Fall 2021: Hollywood Banayad, Aidan Morson
- Fall 2020: Darren Brodowy, Aminatou Dabokemp, Alexander Del Rio, Dominic Hernandez, Noel Ibarra, Stephan O'Brian, Stanislav Osipov, Collin Richardson, Ryan Robinson, Arstanbek Tulekeyev, Imani Ware
- Fall 2019: Kevin Fillhouer, Andrew Garcia, Katelyn Hernandez, Vincent Hoey, Hamzah Kahn, Nicolas Provenzano, Michael Sanchez, Lily Traktman
- Fall 2018: Miguel Mancillas
- Fall 2017: Cameron Wong, Brandon Gunn
- Fall 2016: Brandon Gunn
- Spring 2016: Catherine Alviar, Christopher Batters, Eduardo Palacios, Bowen Yu
- Fall 2015: Sean Barulich, Noah Scandrette, Roy Sfadia
- Spring 2015: Ho Chan, Conrad Nowak, Dylan Pounds, Daniel Steckhahn, Ryan Vaught, Jiangyan Wu
- Fall 2014: Javier Barahona, Amirfarhad Izadi, Connor Poland, David Robinson, Graham Siggins, Jiangyan Wu
- Spring 2014: William Conley, Trevor Kelly, Colton Martin, Stephen Nenni, Connor Poland, David Robinson, Graham Siggins, Darius Visher
- Fall 2013: Javier Barahona, Drew Bischel, Amirfarhad Izadi, Jordan Jo, Stephen Nenni, Erik Norman, Darius Visher
- Spring 2013: Drew Bischel, Timothy Gushue, Stephanie Lauber, Nicholas Mathis, Erik Norman, Kathleen Shreve, Taylor Womble-Dahl
- Fall 2012: Seth Gossage, Timothy Gushue, Christian Hansen, Brian Leung, Wu Li Leung, Nicholas Mathis, Kathleen Shreve
- Spring 2012: Seth Gossage, Christian Hansen, Zachary Johnson, Brian Leung
- Fall 2011: Philip Cala, Drake Cannan, Yingquan He, Mayra Lopez-Thibodeaux, Yann Ly, Victor Rodriguez, Sebastian Rozo
- Spring 2011: Drake Cannan, Daniel Cuneo, Victor Rodriguez
- Fall 2010: Alex Miller, Howard Nguyen, Matthew Salazar
- Spring 2010: Daniel Cuneo, Alex Miller, Howard Nguyen, Steve Pehrson, Matthew Salazar
- Fall 2009: Mary Rose Marcaida, Kazue Matsuyama
- Spring 2009: Raymundo Becerra, Kazue Matsuyama, Steve Pehrson, Karina Roitman, and Masimi Yoshihara
- Fall 2008: Karina Roitman, Jason Smith, and Masimi Yoshihara
- Spring 2008: Daniel Shuldman and Elliot Fuller
- Fall 2007: Bart Gasiewski, Elliot Fuller, Fred Bates, Jamie Molaro
AAPT Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards
The award is for a free membership in AAPT for one year.
- 2016: Jack Dillon, Justin Wittrock
- 2015: Daniel McKeown, Manavjot Singh
- 2014: Priyanjoli Mukherjee
- 2012: Scott Shermer
- 2011: Greg Romine
- 2010: Patrick Dunn, Andrew Fittingoff, Darrel Lim
- 2009: Kim Litwin, Polin Yadak
- 2008: Michelle Krok
Provost's Scholarship
The Provost's Scholarship reduces the out-of-state tuition/fees to the in-state tuition/fees for one year for outstanding new graduate students.
- 2012: Eric Sansone
- 2011: Riley Williams