El Dia Awards and Prizes

El Dia Awards and Prizes

Awards, donors, and recipients

At El Día del Agua y la Atmósfera, the annual student research symposium, students are recognized by juried committees for superior achievement in oral and poster presentations, community service, or other student-related activities. 

Awards and prizes are sponsored by HAS alumni and legacy donors to honor past faculty members and corporate and government agency donors who employ HAS undergraduate and graduate students upon graduation. For a list of award recipients, click on the Award or Prize name below. 

If you'd like to read about the student-selected Super Heroes Awards made to Outstanding Faculty Instructors and Staff, go here

Note: ≠ indicates no award made during current year.

Legacy Awards

Donald R. Davis Undergraduate Distinction Award

Award for best undergraduate poster to recognize a student who has demonstrated excellence in writing, speaking, and visual poster presentation skills OR has demonstrated attributes of superior achievement, academic excellence, or distinctive service:  Certificate and Award of $500

Stanley N. Davis Award

Award for best poster presentation in the area of Hydrogeology: Certificate and award of $500

HAS Alum, Dr. Peter Mock, sponsors this award. 

Hargis Awards ≠

Awards for best posters (First and Second Place): Certificate and Award of $1,000 and $400 respectively

HAS Alum, Dr. David Hargis, sponsors the awards.

Benjamin Herman Award

Award for best oral presentation in the area of Atmospheric Sciences (excluding Krider Award):  Certificate and Award of $1,000

The Benjamin Herman Award is sponsored by the Benjamin M. Herman Endowment

Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Award of Excellence-Oral

Award for best oral presentation (excluding Montgomery Prize):  Certificate and Award of $500

Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Award of Excellence-Poster

Award for best poster presentation (excluding Hargis Awards):  Certificate and Award of $500

E. Philip Krider Award

Award for best oral presentation in the area of Atmospheric Sciences: Certificate and Award of $2,500

Spirit of Tom Meixner Award

Award to recognize community spirit and collaborative efforts: Certificate and Award of $500

The Salt River Project created The Spirit of Tom Meixner Award in 2023 to honor the memory of the late Dr. Tom Meixner. 

Montgomery Prize

Award for the best oral presentation in the area of Hydrology and Water Resources:  Certificate and Award of $2,500

HAS Alum, Dr. Errol L. Montgomery, created the prize, and the company, Montgomery & Associates, continues to sponsor the award. 

Eugene S. Simpson Undergraduate Prize

Award for the best undergraduate poster with a priority in the areas of Hydrogeology or Subsurface Hydrology:  Certificate and Award of $500

The Simpson Undergraduate Prize is sponsored by the Eugene S. Simpson Endowment to the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences.

Corporate and Government Donors

Arizona Hydrological Society - Tucson Chapter Award

Award for the best oral presentation in Hydrological Science (excluding Montgomery Prize and HAS Award of Excellence): Certificate and Award of $1,000 

Geosystems Analysis, Inc. Award

Award for the best poster presentation in Applied Subsurface Hydrology: Certificate and Award of $500

Matrix New World Engineering, Inc. Award

Award for the best oral presentation in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Award of $500

Pima County Environmental Quality Oral Award

Award for the best oral presentations in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Awards of $200

Pima County Environmental Quality Poster Award

Award for the best poster presentations in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Awards of $200

Pima County Flood Control District Award

Award for the best poster presentation  in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Awards of $500

Salt River Project Award

Award for best poster presentation in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Award of $500

Tucson Water Award

Award for best poster presentation in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and Award of $500

Vaisala, Inc. Award ≠

Award for best poster presentation in scientific areas of interest to donor: Certificate and award of $200-500