Honors Day 2025

Students and faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy gathered on April 28, 2025, to recognize and honor student achievements, particularly those of the Class of 2025.

Students make significant contributions to the department, including peer-to-peer mentoring, research, organization of social gatherings, and community outreach. The evening included dinner, awards, honors, and an SPS-led trivia contest.

Honors Day guest speaker

Robert Wyllie ’04, is the principal research scientist and the head of the Quantum Systems Division at the Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta, Georgia.

Induction into Phi Beta Kappa

• Henry Kline ’25
• Niranjan Reji ’25

Induction into Sigma Pi Sigma (SPS)

• Aaron Bachman ’26
• Donald Keough ’27
• Yize Li ’26
• Charlotte Magnell ’27
• Olivia Morse ’27
• Renée Steiner ’27
• Anabela Vivero ’27

Introductory Physics Awards

Award for Excellence in Introductory Physics 121-122

• Dea Brahimaj ’26
• Viola Day ’26
• Nickawn Namdar ’26
• Charlotte Nguyen ’26
• Lewis Nguyen ’26
• Ellie Song ’26

Award for Excellence in Introductory Physics 125-126

• Antonio Cambraia ’28
• Emily Lessard ’28
• Eric Ott ’28
• Fahin Sabit ’28
• Yugen Somiya ’28

Published and presented research

Brenden Riblett ’26 and Charlotte Magnell ’27 presented Exploring Yttrium Laser Cooling for Quantum Metrology, at the AirTalent Symposium in Maryland on April 24, 2025. They also received the Most Innovative Award for their research at the conference.

Denison Society of Physics Student Leadership Award

The award recognizes students’ excellent leadership and strong organizational skills within Denison’s SPS Chapter.

• Junaid Imran ’26
• Henry Kline ’25

Ben Leslie Experimentalist Fellow

The award, named in memory of Ben Leslie ’99, is given to a student who demonstrates superb ability and potential as an experimentalist.

• Brenden Riblett ’26
• Daniel Ziabicki ’26

Roderick M. Grant Physics Education Award

The award recognizes intellectual ability and a keen interest in the teaching of physics.

• Maggie Hausman ’25

Samuel C. Wheeler Award in Physics

The award is given for excellence in the understanding of physics, combined with leadership in the department.

• Henry Kline ’25

Ron Winters Award in Physics

Established in 1999, the award recognizes the recipient’s intellectual horsepower, ability to do and understand physics, dedication to the study of physics, and leadership in the department.

• Niranjan Reji ’25