An endowment fund established by Janet Van Blerkom. The purpose of the fund is to endow undergraduate research scholarships in the Department of Astronomy in memory of her husband, David J. Van Blerkom, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Massachusetts. Professor Van Blerkom came to UMass as a Postdoctoral Fellow in 1969, joined the faculty in 1970, served as Chair of the Astronomy Program from 1980-1999, and then continued on the faculty until 2001. This scholarship fund is awarded based on academic excellence to a University of Massachusetts undergraduate and supports a research internship for that undergraduate.

AWARD WINNERS:

2009 Mary MacDonald & Aaron Meyer
2008 Daniel Moriarty & Shaina Rogstad
2007 Jared Rand
2006 Kimberly McKee
2005 Patrick Dragon
2004 Teresa Liberatore
2003 Christopher Duston

This prize is established through a gift from the Irvine Family to the Five College Astronomy Department in memory of Mary Dailey Irvine (Smith College 1922). This prize exists to encourage and honor excellent undergraduate research in astronomy and astrophysics. The prize is awarded to a graduating senior from one of the Five College institutions for an outstanding senior thesis or research paper presented to the department on an astronomical or astrophysical topic.

AWARD WINNERS:

2009 Jonathan Tucker, Amherst College
"Calibrating Chemcam: Preparing to Probe the Red Planet"

2008 Coleman Mason Krawczyk, University of Massachusetts
"Properties of Ambient Molecular Cloud Emission on the Regions of Methanol Masers"

2007 Catherine C. Walker, Mount Holyoke College
"Variation of Solar Wind Parameters over a Solar Cycle: Expectations for NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) Mission"

2006 Tiffany Picard, Mount Holyoke College
"Rotational Properties and Radii of the Stars in NGC2264: Extending the Timeline of Angular Momentum Evolution"

2005 Selby Cull, Hampshire College
"A Dynamic Digital Map of Mars"

Katherine Whitaker, University of Massachusetts
"An XMM-Newton Study of IC 10 and the Variable X-Ray Source X-1"

2004 Sam Singer, Hampshire College
"Creation of the H.A.R.P. Observatory and Time-Series Differential Photometry of Ursae Majoris"

2003 Adria Updike, Smith College
"How Twisted is the Sun: Calculation of Magnetic Helicity in a Force-Free Field"

2002 Julie Nantais, University of Massachusetts
"Radio-FIR Correlation for Galactic HII Regions"

Jay Dickson, Hampshire College
"Water on Mars: A Synthesis of the Hydrologic Features on the Surface of Mars"

Kathryn M. Peek, Mount Holyoke College
"The Disruption of an Icy Satellite and the Evolution of the Resulting Debris Ring: A Formation Scenario for Saturn's Rings"

2001 None

2000 Jessica Bonjorni, Smith College
"Classification of the Enigmatic Variable XX Sct"

This award is given once a year to an undergraduate student for academic excellence. The student being recognized for 2004 for her excellent academic achievement is Katherine Whitaker. The College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics hosted its first Awards Ceremony in honor of the students, faculty, and alumni who exemplify excellence on Wednesday, April 13, 2005.