A variety of competitive awards in support of research, service, teaching, mentoring, and advising are presented annually to faculty within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Awards are presented at the Wilson Awards Banquet, the college’s annual celebration of faculty and student accomplishments.
Nominations are solicited from departments and institutes (typically there is a limit of one nomination per category per department or institute; see the Nomination Procedure guidance under each award). Department heads and institute directors are able to provide new nominations or request reconsideration of last year’s nominees. A selection committee, comprising the deans of the college, reviews and discusses the nominations and selects the recipient in each category.
The Wilson Awards Banquet is named in honor of Matthew and Anne Wilson, who, through their bequests are the major benefactors of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. Their endowment provides the college with support for its well-known student loan program and a number of faculty and student awards and scholarships. Matthew Wilson graduated from Penn State in 1918 with a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering.
Teaching Excellence Awards
- Wilson Award for Excellence in Teaching
- G. Montgomery and Marion Hall Mitchell Award for Innovative Teaching
Service, Mentoring, and Advising Excellence Awards
Research Excellence Awards
- Paul F. Robertson Award for Research Breakthrough of the Year
- Wilson Award for Excellence in Research