The Illinois Institute of Technology Chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) was named a distinguished chapter by the SPS National Council, placing it in the top 20 percent of all 772 SPS chapters.

Chapters are reviewed and judged based on their research, public outreach, participation in physics meetings, opportunities for social interaction for chapter members, and participation in SPS regional and national programs.

Recent IIT graduate Matt Otten (PHYS ’13), currently in a Ph.D. program in physics at Cornell University, was president of the IIT SPS chapter during the period covered by the award. Current officers include Rafael Soto (3rd-year PHYS), president; Carl Peterson-Bunker (2nd-year PHYS), vice president; and Carly Ilg (2nd-year PHYS), treasurer.

“This award is well deserved. The student leadership has worked very hard to make the chapter more active on campus,” said Carlo Segre, Duchossois Leadership Professor and IIT SPS chapter adviser. “This is the first time the IIT chapter has received the award since new, more stringent review criteria have been implemented.”

As the professional organization for students within the American Institute of Physics, the SPS seeks to help students transform themselves into contributing members of the professional community by providing opportunities for them to develop their skills in effective communication and personal interactions, leadership, network-building, presentation of scholarly work in professional meetings and journals, and outreach services to the campus and local communities.

View more information about this organization.