8:50 a.m., May 17, 2010----The University of Delaware Office of Equity and Inclusion hosted the Mae Carter and Bessie B. Collins award luncheon on Monday, May 10, during which nominees for these two awards received certificates of appreciation and monetary prizes for their exceptional academic, professional, and personal achievements.

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The Mae Carter Award is given annually to an undergraduate woman student that has worked towards the equity of women at the University. Two undergraduate students, Meredith Ambrose and Meghan Wallace, received this year's award because of their dedication to the advancement of women at the University.

Ambrose was nominated by Margaret D. Stetz, Mae and Robert Carter Professor of Women's Studies and professor of humanities. Stetz wrote about Ambrose's superior work ethic, exceptional analytical and writing skills, and her determination to succeed even when facing adversity.

She added that Ambrose “is precisely the sort of feminist worker for justice whom Mae Carter would love to support and encourage.”

Wallace was nominated by Alvina Quintana, associate professor in the Women's Studies, Black American Studies and Latin American Studies programs. In the nomination, Quintana referred to Wallace's ability to lead multiple projects with a drive incomparable to her peers while still maintaining an excellent academic record.

She said Wallace is an inspirational student and that she was exceedingly “impressed with Meghan's level of commitment to women's studies -- and her background, commitment, and future career plans make her the ideal candidate for recognition.”

The Bessie B. Collins Award is given annually to a woman graduate student that maintained academic and civic excellence while overcoming special difficulties. This year's award recipient is Carissa Young, who returned to graduate school after an academic hiatus to pursue a degree in engineering.

Anna Skaja Robinson, professor of chemical engineering, nominated Young, noting letter that a very small percentage of students come back to graduate school for engineering after leaving for an extended period of time, and that this transition is often quite difficult. However, Young's drive to learn made a major impression on Robinson, who she said that Young “has an innate curiosity and willingness to question dogma that is unmatched by most of my current and former students and leads her in many interesting and novel research directions.”