Tom Meixner Spirit Award

Nominations will open on the day of El Día via a QR code located at the event.

The year 2022 was a profoundly difficult one for our HAS community. We lost three cherished members—Jetal Agnihotri in August, Rodrigo Delgado in September, and Thomas Meixner in October. Their absence is deeply felt, and as we come together for El Día, we honor their memory and the lasting impact they had on our community.

In this spirit, we have established the Tom Meixner Spirit Award to honor students who reflect the kindness, generosity, and supportive nature that Tom Meixner exemplified and valued. This award recognizes individuals who help create the welcoming and collaborative environment that defines El Día.

Throughout the event, if you notice someone demonstrating the spirit of El Día—whether by offering constructive feedback, asking insightful questions, bringing humor to the day, or fostering a sense of community—we encourage you to nominate them using the QR code provided. The recipient(s) will be announced during the award ceremony as we celebrate the values that make our department strong.

The inaugural award was made in 2023 with sponsorship from The Salt River Project . This year’s award has been generously sponsored by the Meixner Memorial Fund.

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2024, Patrick Neri

2023, Lauren Cutler, David Morales, Lauren Porter, Hannah Haugen