Sarah Kish, a senior, is recognized as the Outstanding Undergraduate in the School of Nuclear Engineering. She has interned in Illinois, Michigan and Indianapolis, is a member of the Tau Beta Phi Engineering Honors Society, the Society of Women Engineers and is active in the Women in Engineering – Mentor and Mentee Program. Sarah is also captain of two Purdue intramural softball teams, and participates in the Purdue Women’s Volleyball Club, Purdue Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club and the Purdue Rugby Club. In the Summer 2009 Sarah won the Exelon Innovation Award.

Daniel Rokusek, the Outstanding Graduate Student, and a teaching assistant for the School of Nuclear Engineering since 2007, creates lectures and problem sets for classes and designs interactive in-class group activities to enhance student understanding. He is respectful and talented and is always willing to lend a hand, excels in research and is a gifted speaker, both in class and in giving tours to prospective students, faculty and esteemed visitors. Consistently, Dan performs above and beyond the requirements of his roles as a student and research assistant.

Also a participant of the Nuclear Engineering Graduate Organization, Dan served as Vice President of Internal Affairs, is an inaugural executive board member and collaborated to create an outreach program for prospective graduate students. Dan has received many awards including best paper, best poster, outstanding service, outstanding student, outstanding academic achievement and outstanding research. He has received fellowships throughout his scholastic career. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) invited him to speak at the 2005 Annual Meeting. Dan conceptualizes, designs, and engineers experiments as well as investigates experiments which strengthen existing theories.

Dan also recognizes, appreciates and respects the contributions of his colleagues and mentors, without whom he would not be able to contribute.