Each spring, HSL gives the “Sherwood A. Modestino” award to the graduate student or non-staff postdoc who has done the most to contribute to the work and spirit of the HSL. The winners invariably are people who have served as our “gatekeepers”. They focus not only on their own research, but are interested in and knowledgeable about other HSL projects as well, and help other students by volunteering as research subjects, or by serving as internal consultants, offering help solving specialized programming or electromechanical design problems, offering to help edit their student colleagues’ thesis drafts and presentations. They often help to recruit and mentor UROPs, and walk visitors (including prospective graduate or high school students and sometimes reporters) around the lab, and organize tours and graduate student poster sessions, and safety meetings.

The award is named for Sherry Modestino, MVL’s administrator/computer system manager in the 1970s and 80s. Sherry valued these qualities in our students – and possessed them herself. Winners’ names are also on display in 37-219, and each also receives a plaque.