Katherine “Katie” Gifford awarded 2021 SPS Outstanding Service Award

About the Recipient

Zone and Chapter: Adelphi University

“for being a true leader in the physics department at Adelphi University”

Katie is a junior physics major and the president of our physics club chapter. I can’t tell you how awesome she has been for department over the last year. Not only has she managed to keep our physics club thriving despite a pandemic and high levels of stress, she also has found the time to innovate. She has been a big help in our outreach efforts putting together material for advertisement and preparing for virtual meetings with high school students. She has also managed to make real long term necessary changes to our department, especially in the area of DEI. She has been an instrumental in coordinating the discussion between faculty and students. She was part of our delegation at the TEAM-UP workshop this year.

Katie is the type of leader that throws herself into difficult situations and finds a way to be helpful and caring. I am proud to be her mentor and to watch how she helps all of the other students in the department. I strongly recommend that she wins the SPS Service Award.