Congratulations to Gabriela Basel, Michael Beckinghausen, Sam Bunke & Gaurav Kamat: 2022 Chemical Engineering Service Award Winners

Congratulations to Gabriela Basel, Michael Beckinghausen, Sam Bunke & Gaurav Kamat for winning 2022 Chemical Engineering Service Awards!

The Chemical Engineering department has been fortunate to have a graduate student population that is involved and engaged as well as invested in the department’s culture, direction and future. This award honors and recognizes these significant contributions to the department - going above and beyond the scope of their normal research and studies to help ensure our community thrives.

Gabriela Basel – Chemical Engineering Service Award

Gabriela ‘strongly advocates for students and goes to great lengths to implement both her ideas and the ideas of others. One example is her service to the ChemE Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, where she spearheaded community listening sessions to gain input from the community, and also her incredible work on the task force to find a system for a DEI counselor that students can rely on.’ Additionally, she has ‘gone to great lengths to make sure that students in the department can be compensated for their efforts to support the department.’ 

Michael Beckinghausen – Chemical Engineering Service Award

Mike has been ‘active in GSAC as a social chair for two years, flawlessly organizing community events for graduate students and making sure everyone is not only enjoying the event but also feels welcome and valued. He kept the ChemE department together with a sense of unparalleled unity throughout the pandemic with virtual events, then transitioning to even greater in-person events. His efforts demonstrate strong student leadership qualities and a kind heart for those around him.’ He has also contributed greatly to ‘keeping our community together through a difficult time.’ 

Sam Bunke - Chemical Engineering Service Award

Sam has gone above and beyond to support the ChemE community. ‘First, as the chair of the Student Trust DEI task force, Sam made great efforts to improve the climate of trust between students and faculty in the department. Her leadership on this important issue resulted in a number of improvements.’. Additionally, ‘Sam is an asset to the ChemE EDGE community.’ She has ‘extended her DEI leadership into DGSAC, where she has continued to see Student Trust through with a vision toward improving school-wide practices across SoE. In my group Sam has given workshops on allyship for the LGBTQIA+ community and environmental justice. She has also participated in a waste-focused internship with Stanford Land, Buildings, and Real Estate (LBRE), and met with dozens of campus leaders on the future of waste management at Stanford.’

Gaurav Kamat - Chemical Engineering Service Award

Gaurav plays an active role in the department recruitment and mentoring. ‘He is dedicated to supporting the community and making sure that everyone around him feels comfortable and welcome, serving in the lab DEI committee and constantly taking time to evaluate situations to improve inclusion. He has participated in recruitment and planning both years he has been at Stanford. Not only creating a welcoming and positive environment for the possible incoming students, but also serving as a point of contact and as a mentor when they arrive on campus. He also has co-mentored three rotation students in less than 1 year of being officially part of the lab. Gaurav spends much of his time volunteering for department-wide events and constantly helping our group find more ways to improve (e.g. helping the group participate in a STEMM workshop team building and mentorship).’