Bolon (right) accepting the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from M. Katherine Banks, vice chancellor and dean of engineering.
Amy Bolon, graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSEN) at Texas A&M University, recently received the college of engineering’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award, which recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated excellence in their field of study.
Bolon was one of two students to receive the honor. The college established the award in 2012 to recognize nominated graduate students in good academic standing, scheduled to graduate in the next year.
Since 2014, Bolon has been the president of the Materials Advantage Student Chapter at Texas A&M, and co-founder of Women in Materials Science, a student organization in the department. She served as the recruitment chair for the President’s Council of Student Advisers for the American Ceramic Society for two years and has been active in several other organizations within the college of engineering and the college of science.
Bolon also received the Buck Weirus Spirit Award that recognizes Aggies who demonstrate high involvement, create positive experiences throughout the Aggie community, impact student life at Texas A&M and enhance the Aggie spirit.
Additionally, Bolon received the MSEN Excellence in Outreach Award for her community service and outreach activities in materials science and engineering.
“I have been extremely fortunate to serve as Amy’s graduate adviser,” said Dr. Miladin Radovic, associate professor and associate department head in materials science and engineering. “Not only because she has proved herself as an excellent researcher, but also as an exceptional leader who was always ready the help other graduate and undergraduate students in their professional endeavors”.
Bolon has devoted her graduate research to studying the mechanical behavior of oxide ceramics for solid oxide fuel cells. She has published six peer-reviewed articles during her time at Texas A&M.
“This is such a great honor and I’m glad I’m able to represent the MSEN department,” said Bolon. “I owe a lot to the department for their support and encouragement, especially my adviser, Dr. Miladin Radovic, He encouraged me to go beyond my comfort zone to start participating in these activities and eventually take on leadership roles.”