Programming and Awards
2025 GPSC Annual Awardees
The Graduate & Professional Student Council at Southern Illinois University is pleased to announce and congratulate the awardees of the 2025 Graduate and Professional Student Awards. These awards honor outstanding achievements in the areas of research, teaching, and service. The council celebrates the hard work, dedication, and exceptional contributions of this year’s recipients.
Teaching Award
The GPSC Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes Graduate Teaching Assistants for their exceptional pedagogical practices and dedication to excellence in teaching at Southern Illinois Universit

- Name
- Samuel Idowu
- Title
- School of English

- Name
- Janice Vega
- Title
- School of Languages and Linguistics

- Name
- Pingping Fu
- Title
- School of Education

- Name
- Folakemi Bakare
- Title
- School of Communication Studies

- Name
- Katherine Parker
- Title
- Department of Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry
Creative Activities and Research Award
<p>The GPSC Creative Activities and Research Award recognizes graduate and professional students who demonstrated outstanding dedication and achievement in their scholarly and creative endeavors within their respective fields.</p>

- Name
- Michael Isaiah Edidem
- Title
- School of Earth Systems and Sustainability

- Name
- Zahid Siraj
- Title
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Sciences

- Name
- Jerome Specht
- Title
- Department of Geology

- Name
- Dauran McNeil
- Title
- School of Education

- Name
- Chetan Singh
- Title
- School of Biological Sciences
Distinguish & Outstanding Service Award
<p>The GPSC Distinguished & Outstanding Service Award recognizes graduate and professional students, groups, organizations, or individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, commitment, and excellence in service. This award honors those whose contributions have significantly advanced the well-being, success, and overall experience of graduate and professional students at SIUC, while furthering the missions of both GPSC and SIUC.</p>

- Name
- Hend Jadalla
- Title
- Health Informatics

- Name
- Irene Lutterodt
- Title
- Communication Studies

- Name
- Anastasia Simms
- Title
- Creative Writing