Three Eberly graduate students awarded Outstanding Teaching Award
Three Eberly College of Science graduate students, Kristen Aviles, Pranav Diwakar, and Edward Hilvano have been awarded the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award. This award is sponsored jointly by the J. Jeffery and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, through the Harold F. Martin Graduate Assistant Outstanding Teaching Award endowment, and the Office of the Vice President and Dean for Undergraduate Education.
This award recognizes students who have served as graduate teaching assistants for at least two semesters within the last two years. These students, in their time as graduate teaching assistants, have demonstrated outstanding teaching performance and were nominated by a faculty or staff member for their excellence.
Kristen Aviles
Aviles is a graduate student in chemistry in the lab of Benjamin Lear, professor of chemistry and associate department head for facilities. She has served as a TA for five courses over seven semesters. Additionally, Aviles was a recipient of the 4k TA Award for developing recitation materials for CHEM 112. In the spring of 2024, Aviles developed a pilot course, Inorganic Compounds and Reactions, which she led in the fall of 2024.
“Kristen was always such a kind presence in both lecture, recitation, and office hours and it was clear she actually wanted us to learn and understand the material,” said an undergraduate student in a teaching evaluation.
Beyond her work as a TA, Aviles has also taken to mentoring undergraduate learning assistants. “Kristen’s role as an educator extends to our undergraduate LAs and is best described as taking them under her wing,” said Lori Stepan, teaching professor of chemistry. “She steps in to help those that are struggling with a question or an explanation, keeps up their energy, and encourages their team spirit.”
“[Kristen] has established herself as one of the most sought-after TAs, with faculty across the department stopping me in the hallways to tell me how much they appreciate her efforts,” said Benjamin Lear in a nomination letter.
Pranav Diwakar
Diwakar is a graduate student in physics in the lab of Radu Roiban, professor of physics. He has served as a TA for five courses over fourteen semesters ranging from the 200 to 500 level. Beyond teaching courses at University Park, Diwakar has also taught Penn State World Campus classes for three semesters.
“Pranav is always willing to answer students’ equations with in-depth explanations in a way that does not put down nor discourage students. He frequently checks in with students to make sure they are understanding the material and relates to them when they are struggling to understand a topic,” said an undergraduate student in a teaching evaluation.
Diwakar has also served as a mentor for fellow graduate students, serving as the TA for two graduate courses.
“[Pranav] is also an outstanding member of the department community, always dedicated to helping others and enhancing other students’ educational experience,” said Irina Mocioiu, associated professor of physics and director of graduate students, in a nomination letter. “Pranav volunteers as a peer mentor for more junior graduate students. He also consistently volunteers to participate in undergraduate physics courses like the first-year seminar or the career options course, where he shares his own experience in an encouraging and inspiring way.”
“Mr. Diwakar has always excelled in the teaching and service duties associated with being a TA. From my interactions with him, Mr. Diwakar is clearly a passionate and dedicated educator,” said Daniel Constantino, teaching professor of physics, in a nomination letter.
Edward Hilvano
Edward Hilvano is a graduate student in chemistry in the lab of Eric Nacsa, assistant professor of chemistry. He has served as a TA for five courses over ten semesters, including two semesters as an instrument room TA. As a TA, Hilvano has received several awards including the Chemistry Graduate Teaching Award in 2022 and the Chemistry Department Teaching Innovation Award in spring of 2024.
“Ed’s talent for teaching and for organic chemistry is truly unmatched, beyond excellent,” said Katherine Masters, teaching professor and assistant department head for undergraduate student engagement, in a nomination letter. “His interactions with students are fun and serious, playful and strict. He has a perfect balance of gaining respect and trust from students while also demanding excellence from them.”
“Ed was extremely helpful in this course,” said an undergraduate student in a teaching evaluation. “He was always willing to answer questions and give thoughtful explanations about the topic. He genuinely cared about us and making sure we were successful in this course. He is outstanding at explaining the material and truly has a passion for the subject. I cannot say enough good things about him and his teaching style.”
Additionally, Hilvano has also served as a mentor for undergraduate and graduate students in his lab.
“More than any other student I have worked with, Ed finds genuine satisfaction in elevating his coworkers and seeing them succeed,” said Nacsa in a nomination letter. Accordingly, he has selflessly been, by far, the most active graduate student in informally mentoring every new class of graduate students who have joined over the past five years. Without this solid transfer of knowledge between cohorts of students, I doubt my lab would be hitting the excellent stride in research we have recently achieved.”