Department of Physics awards Austin Bartunek as Dean’s Medalist
Arizona State University's Department of Physics has selected Austin Bartunek, an undergraduate studying physics with a minor in mathematics, as this year's Dean's Medalist.
Arizona State University's Department of Physics has selected Austin Bartunek, an undergraduate studying physics with a minor in mathematics, as this year's Dean's Medalist.
Bartunek came to Arizona State University after developing a passion for sciences in early high school.
“I feel like I've just kind of had this insatiable curiosity about the world at large since I was very young. And I was lucky to have that, you know, nurtured and fostered by good teachers, parents, family, friends, professors — and that sort of led to where I'm at now, studying physics in college.”
Originally majoring in astrophysics, Bartunek decided to switch to physics after realizing he enjoyed more physics classes than astrophysics.
“I'm still in the process of applying. I'm going to pursue my PhD with a long-term goal of becoming a professor and researcher somewhere within academia.”
Bartunek said he feels validated after all of the hard work he’s put into his degree.
“It’s quite an honor to be recognized,” Bartunek said. “All that hard work and struggles I put in over the past four years makes it all feel worthwhile to be recognized."
Bartunek and other undergraduate students will be recognized at The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, Dec. 14. For more information, visit the fall 2022 graduation celebrations page.