Atascadero Student Receives Recognition at UW

Andy J. Kulikowski II, a biology major from Atascadero, Calif., was among the seven finalists for the 2015 Tobin Memorial Award as the University of Wyoming’s (UW) outstanding graduating man.

Cheyenne’s Joshua Messer was the recipient for this year’s Tobin Memorial Award. Callie Berman, of Boulder, Colo., received the Rosemarie Martha Spitaleri Award as UW's outstanding graduating woman.

The annual Tobin award is based on academic excellence and achievement, service to the university, participation and leadership in the community and campus activities, and citizenship qualities. Other finalists were Kyle Bochanski, Fairfax, Vt.; Christian Bopp, Waikoloa, Hawaii; Stanley DeVore, Casper; Mathias McCormick, Laramie; and Jose Rivas, Gillette. Students were honored at a recent luncheon.

To be considered for the Spitaleri and Tobin awards, students were judged on academic excellence and achievement; contributions and service to UW; participation and leadership in co-curricular activities; and demonstrated character and citizenship.

“While science has been the recent driving force in my life, I have also worked to engage the community by both my previous career and musical endeavors. My teaching, coursework and research experiences at UW-Casper have strongly shaped my future goals and aspirations,” Kulikowski says. “With the guidance and support of the outstanding faculty, peers and community of Casper, I’ve achieved more than I ever thought possible and am excited to move forward with my career.”

Nominators wrote letters of support for each of the students.

“In all my interactions with Andy, I have found him to be a highly committed, thoughtful and an engaging student and researcher as well as a good citizen,” wrote one nominator. “Andy’s ability to dialogue with his colleagues in a critical but friendly way has greatly enhanced the research culture and intellectual discourse we try to facilitate.”

Another professor added, “He is a tremendous scholar in life sciences with a record of research, publication, presentations and teaching that seems more apt for a new faculty member rather than an undergraduate. Andy has it all: top scholarly work, a record of service, diverse interests in humanities and arts, a winning personality and calm confidence in his future.”