The student-selected Super Heroes Awards for Excellence at the Student Interface are much coveted honors in the department, and most recipients are extremely reluctant to part with their statuettes when their award year comes to an end. See footnote* for Historical Changes to the roster of awards. The inaugural awards (Aqua Man) were made in 2000. The Aqua Man/Aqua Woman awards were retired in 2022-2023.
Current Awards
- Captain Planet (Turner/DIC Entertainment) for the most outstanding faculty member/instructor in the broad Earth sciences
- Storm (X-Men) for the most outstanding faculty member/instructor in the field of atmospheric science/meteorology
- Atlas for the most outstanding staff member
Retired/Special Awards
- Aqua Man (DC Justice League) Retired after 2022-2023
- Super Woman (DC) Special award for 2022
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2025, Storm to Ave Arellano, Captain Planet to Andrew Bennett, and Atlas to Erma Santander
2024, Storm to Eyad Atallah, Captain Planet to Jen McIntosh, and Atlas to Tim Corley
2023, Awardees to be announced
2022, Storm to Eyad Atallah, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré, Captain Planet to Laura Condon, Atlas to Tim Corley, and Super Woman to Brittany Ciancarelli
2021, No awards were made this year due to the pandemic
2020, No awards were made this year due to the pandemic
2019, Storm to Brittany Ciancarelli, Aqua Man to Hoshin Gupta, Captain Planet to Larry Winter, Atlas to Sarah Warren
2018, Storm to Tom Galarneau, Aqua Man to Martha Whitaker, Captain Planet to Ty Ferré, Atlas to Erma Santander
2017, Storm to Jennifer McIntosh, Aqua Man to Tom Meixner, and Captain Planet to Ave Arellano
2016. Aqua Woman to Martha Whitaker in Hydrology; Aqua Man to Christopher Castro and Tom Gallerneau in Atmospheric Sciences (a tie!)
2015, Aqua Woman to Martha Whitaker (undergraduate) and Aqua Man to Ty Ferré (graduate)
2014, Aqua Woman to Martha Whitaker (undergraduate) and Aqua Man to Jim Yeh (graduate)
2013, Aqua Woman to Jennifer McIntosh and Aqua Man to Ty Ferré
2012, Aqua Man to Tom Meixner and Ty Ferré
2011, Aqua Woman to Jennifer McIntosh and Aqua Man Peter Troch
2010, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré and Hoshin Gupta
2009, Aqua Woman to Jennifer McIntosh and Aqua Man to Hoshin Gupta
2008, Aqua Man to Tom Meixner and Hoshin Gupta
2007, Aqua Man to Tom Meixner and Hoshin Gupta
2006, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré and Hoshin Gupta & Shlomo Neuman (a tie!)
2005, Unknown
2004, Unknown
2003, Aqua Man to Bart Nijssen and Jim Yeh
2002, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré and Senior Faculty Unknown
2001, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré and Senior Faculty Unknown
2000, Aqua Man to Ty Ferré and Randy Bassett
*Historical Changes
- In 2023-24, selection and presentation of the Super Heroes awards resumed during the annual student symposium (El Día).
- In 2022, a special Super Woman award was made.
- From 2019-202x, the Super Heroes awards were made at the annual spring picnic organized and hosted by HASSA. Prior to 2019, the statuettes were awarded during the annual student research symposium (El Día).
- No awards were made during 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
- From 2000 through 2022, Aqua Man and/or Aqua Woman Awards were made to outstanding faculty. They were retired after AY2022-23.
- In 2018, the Atlas Award for the most outstanding staff member was added to the roster.
- In 2017, after the merger of the Departments of Hydrology and Water Resources and Atmospheric Sciences, Storm and Captain Planet awards for outstanding faculty were added to the roster to reflect the more diverse areas of faculty expertise.
- From 2000 through 2017, Aqua Man and/or Aqua Woman awards were made to outstanding faculty instructors regardless of rank.
- Prior to 2016, students voted for the most outstanding undergraduate and graduate instructors.
- Prior to 2014, students voted for the most outstanding faculty instructors at the junior level (Assistant-Associate rank) and senior level (Professor rank).