Awards & Honors
GPPA Medical Scholars Program
Since 1950, the Activities Honorary Society (AHS) has recognized undergraduate students whose leadership in a variety of
student organizations has contributed to a better University of Illinois at Chicago community. The Activities Honorary Society
was founded by student leaders at the University of Illinois Undergraduate Division at Navy Pier and weathered the transition to
the Chicago Circle Campus. It is one of only two active traditions still remaining from the Navy Pier Campus.
2019 – Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
The Avery Brundage Scholarship Fund is an endowment fund established by an agreement between the Avery Brundage
Foundation and the University of Illinois Foundation. The scholarship is for University of Illinois students “who are both gifted
students and exceptional athletes, for their combined physical and mental development.”
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
Awarded to one outstanding senior-level student in Chemistry each year by the UIC Chemistry department.
2019 – Mitchell Sun
The Eugertha Bates Memorial Award (EBMA) honors a student whose volunteer activities in a campus or community setting
demonstrate an outstanding degree of caring dedication, selfless commitment, and a truly exceptional humanitarian
contribution to the needs of others.
2019 – Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
Scholarship that recognizes and supports selected Chinese American undergraduate students.
2019 – Mitchell Sun
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation was established by Congress in 1986 to serve as a living
memorial to honor the lifetime work of Senator Barry Goldwater, who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and
statesman, including 30 years in the U.S. Senate. By providing scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to
pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering, the Goldwater Foundation is helping ensure that
the U.S. is producing the number of highly-qualified professionals the Nation needs in these critical fields.
2018 – Mitchell Sun (Honorable Mention)
A scholarship awarded for a continuing, full-time student majoring in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry, or Neuroscience at UIC
who displays academic excellence and has a minimum GPA of 3.50.
2017 – Mark Perkowski
The Honors College offers undergraduate grants-in-aid for travel to professional meetings for presentations/participation for
Honors Capstone projects and other academic activities.
2019-Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
2019-Kailash Panchapakesan
2019-Vish Vijayakumar
Awarded to students with a demonstrated interest in questions of value and meaning in contemporary life. To qualify, students
must be full-time with a 3.0 GPA in any UIC undergraduate college. The application will consist of a letter of recommendation
from a current UIC faculty member; a transcript; and an essay that demonstrates an ability to think carefully and write clearly
about perennial questions.
2018 – Mark Perkowski
The Honors College research grants are given each semester to support excellent undergraduate research by Honors College
students, including, but not limited to, Honors Capstone projects.
2019 – Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
The Honors Council, the College executive committee, recognizes outstanding students each year. These awards are given to
students nominated by their Fellows on the basis of their honors work.
2019 – Vidya Babu
The John Curtis Johnson award is given to the most outstanding first-year student in an Honors core course.
2019 – Vidya Babu
Merit-based scholarship awarded by the UIC Honors College to outstanding first-year students.
2018 – Alivya Dantuluri
The Liberal Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative (LASURI) encourages students to develop their research skills by
providing financial support to undergraduates in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and their faculty mentors for one- or
two-semester research projects. Students work closely with a faculty member to develop research skills and learn to use
appropriate methods for inquiry and analysis in their chosen field of study.
2019 – Sneh Patel
2018 – Mitchell Sun
Awarded to graduating students whose UIC GPA falls within 3.75 to 3.89.
2019 – Suffia Alvi
2019 – Thomas Brennan
Awarded for an outstanding performance in the undergraduate chemistry courses.
2019 – Elvis Quiroz (General and Analytical Chemistry)
2018 – Sneh Patel (General Chemistry)
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society, inviting into membership outstanding seniors
who have attained a liberal arts education with demonstrated breadth and depth. New student members of Phi Beta Kappa are
accomplished students (minimum 3.7 GPA) with advanced standing and are elected by faculty and university staff who
themselves are members.
2019 – Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
2019 – Suffia Alvi
2019 – Kevin Cao
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for college freshmen. Their goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence
among first year students in institutions of higher learning. The oldest and largest freshman honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was
founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. They now have more than 300 chapters throughout the United States
and more than 625,000 inducted members.
2019 – Alivya Dantuluri
Awarded at the Harvard Medical School NESS Conference to recognize participants who deliver outstanding oral presentations
and create exceptional scientific posters.
2019 – Deborah Okoli
The Society of Future Physicians is an undergraduate Honors College affiliated student organization at The University of Illinois
at Chicago dedicated to informing members about all there is to being a pre-medical student. Each year, one member is
awarded the SFP scholarship.
2017 – Mark Perkowski
Awarded to graduating students whose UIC GPA is 3.90 and above.
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
The Thomas Beckham Memorial Scholarship was established in 1996 and honors Thomas Beckham, who served as the first Vice
Chancellor for Student Affairs from 1983 to 1991. He provided unprecedented leadership which enhanced the quality of campus
life. Moreover, Beckham was instrumental in establishing the foundation for UIC Athletics and its importance on campus. It is
awarded to full-time undergraduate students enrolled at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) who are members of an
intercollegiate athletic team.
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
Scholarship awarded from the UIC Chancellor’s Scholarship and Fellowship fund for excellent academic and disciplinary
standing.
2018 – Raj Gurtatta
The Chancellor’s Student Service Award honors students who have made an outstanding contribution to the University through
service to campus and the UIC community. Student nominees must have dedicated a significant amount of time, effort, and
creativity to one or more campus- or community-based service project(s).
2019 – Ummesalmah Abdulbaseer
2019 – Kevin Cao
2019 – Alivya Dantuluri
2019 – Vish Vijayakumar
Annual concerto competition held by UIC music department. Winners are selected and featured in the final UIC Orchestra
concert.
2019 – Amy Lian (1st Place, Piano)
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship sponsored by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs is awarded to
students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and a commitment of well-being of others through
community and campus service.
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
2019 – Mark Perkowski
Presentations at UIC Impact day represents the highest level of engagement in high impact practices because students prove
they are able to concisely convey the meaning of their experience. Because of this, students who engage in a UIC Impact student
engagement experience and successfully present a capstone project during Impact Day will earn toward the designation of a UIC
Impact Scholar.
2019 – Kailash Panchapakesan
The UIC Impact and Research Day (IRD) is an event in which the campus celebrates the wealth of research and engagements
across all disciplines by the dedicated undergraduate, graduate and professional students of this campus. The IRD provides a
venue for students at UIC to present their research and other scholarly pursuits in a variety of formats, and discuss the impact
of those experiences. Each format is judged for excellence by a mix of faculty and alumni judges.
2017 – Raj Gurtatta (2nd Place)
The Undergraduate Winifred Geldard Memorial Award is given in honor of the late professor, Winifred Geldard, who taught for
many years in the Economics Department. This award is given to an outstanding junior or senior in the Undergraduate Economics
Program.
2019 – Zayd Ahmed
Awarded by Congressman Danny K. Davis through the Multiethnic Advisory Task Force to an individual who has excelled in his or
her field and who has made a difference in people’s lives.
2017 – Aishwarya Katiki