The Ann S. Tuttle Citizenship, Engagement, and Outreach Prize recognizes the tremendous efforts of grad students to engage the public and community. This prize is given to a current graduate student for exceptional effort and impact in outreach, public engagement, or service to our field, University, or Department. The award was endowed by the estate of Ann Tuttle. Ms. Tuttle set up the fund to show her appreciation for the kindness shown her by Ann and Gerald Newsom (Gerald is a long-time professor and former chair of the department). 

 

This year, we award the Ann S. Tuttle Citizenship, Engagement, and Outreach Award to Kaz Gary. Kaz has led and contributed multiple activities to promote engagement and outreach. He developed a new planetarium show on exoplanet detection premiered in September 2024. He led a successful NASA SCOPE seed grant proposal to develop another planetarium show on biosignatures. Kaz has participated in exhibits as COSI and is an active writer of astrobites. He presented several times at our department's DJC, and has served as secretary of the Council of Graduate Students at OSU.