Computer Science Student Awards

The CCGrid Best Paper Awards recognize outstanding research contributions in the field of distributed computing and grid computing. These awards are presented at the IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Cluster, Cloud, and Internet Computing (CCGrid). The winners are selected based on several criteria, including reviewer comments, scientific merits, research impact, and the quality of their in-person presentations. 

• Jacob M. Hope (2020)
• Johana Di Girolamo (2021)

The CRA Outstanding Undergraduate Researcher Award is a prestigious program that honors undergraduate students in North America colleges and universities for their outstanding research potential in computing fields. The award emphasizes excellence in research as the primary criterion, though strong academic records and engagement in service activities such as club leadership, teaching, or peer tutoring are also valued. 

• Jared Coplin (2016)

CSGS sponsors Master's thesis awards, which are given in four different disciplinary categories on a rotating basis: a) Math, Physical Sciences, and Engineering, b) Humanities and Fine Arts, c) Social Sciences, Business, and Education, d) Life Sciences. In addition, CSGS also sponsors the non-traditional thesis/project award (given in any discipline).

• Sepideh Maleki (2017)

Google Maps Platform allows developers to create unique location-based experiences using our APIs & SDKs. During this hackathon, contestants use Google Maps Platform APIs and SDKs to build a unique app. 
Congratulations to CS students winning silver in the Google Maps Platform Hackathon 2025! Nearly 4,000 teams competed from all over the world. Their project, MagiCart, is an innovative tool designed to be a smart grocery assistant, leveraging AI-powered recommendations to personalize suggestions based on diet, allergies, budget, and store proximity. 

• Kelvin Mathew (2025)
• Meidad Troper (2025)
• Vaidic Soni (2025)

The Fulbright Program offers awards to qualified Israeli students who wish to pursue graduate studies in the United States. These awards cover a wide range of opportunities, including Master’s degree programs, dissertation and research fellowships, and specialized awards in areas such as public administration and criminal justice¹

Nader Maray (2021)

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. A goal of the program is to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM.

• Molly O'Neil (2011)
• Samantha Aziz (2020)
• Kristi Belcher (2017)
• Jared Coplin (2017)
• Dillon Lohr (2018) 

Undergraduate Research Fellowships (URF) support undergraduate research and creative projects at Texas State University. Every semester the URF committee awards between 10 and 12 competitive scholarships of up to $1500 to students seeking funding for their projects. Fellowships are awarded for projects such as Honors capstones and independent studies, as well as for original research or scholarly work performed under the supervision of a faculty mentor.  Undergraduates of all majors are eligible. Membership in the Honors College is not required to apply. 

This program is supported by contributions from the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Division of Research, private foundations, and colleges within the university.

• Knowledge Neupane (2026)

The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund provides scholarships to international women pursuing graduate degrees in the U.S. and Canada to foster global peace through education. IPS recipients carry the spirit of P.E.O. back to their home countries where the degrees they have earned positively impact people’s lives around the globe.

• Noushin Azami (2020, 2021) 

The Swift Student Challenge is an annual competition hosted by Apple that recognizes outstanding student work in Swift programming. The Challenge provides students the opportunity to showcase their creativity, coding skills, and problem-solving abilities through app playgrounds that can have real-world impact. Winners are selected based on innovation, technical execution, social impact, and inclusivity. Distinguished winners, a select subset of all winners whose work is truly exceptional, are flown out to Apple Park to present their work during WWDC (Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference).

• Priyanka Karki (2026)
• Kelvin Mathew (2026)

Every year, The Graduate College presents students and faculty with a variety of awards, including the Outstanding Master's Thesis. The Outstanding Master's Thesis awards are in alignment with the Conference of Southern Graduate School's (CSGS) regional competition. Recipients are entered into the CSGS competition, thus earning a chance to win additional funding and to attend the organization's annual conference.

• Sepideh Maleki (2016)

Title:  Convolution Need Registers Too:  HVS-Inspired Dynamic Attention for Video Quality Assessment

Mayesha Maliha Rahman Mithila (2026)