UF Physics Beyond Physics
In Memoriam Degree Awarded to Wayne R. Bomstad II
On October 21, 2022, family, friends, and former Physics Department colleagues of Wayne R. Bomstad II gathered at a luncheon celebrating the award of an In Memoriam degree to Wayne, who passed away in September 2007, before completing his Physics Ph.D.
Wayne first enrolled at the University of Florida in the fall 2000 as a graduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering. While earning a master’s degree in that discipline, he took several courses in physics that inspired him to transfer to our department’s doctoral program in fall 2002. For the next five years, Wayne was a hard-working student enrolled in graduate classes, an energetic teaching assistant leading undergraduate recitation sessions, and a dedicated researcher working toward a dissertation in mathematical physics under the guidance of Prof. John Klauder. Wayne also participated with enthusiasm in many aspects of departmental social life, ranging from informal gatherings to participation in organized intramural sports.
After Wayne’s passing, contributions from family and friends made possible the establishment of the Wayne R. Bomstad II Memorial Awards, bestowed annually on two outstanding graduate teaching assistants. Wayne’s mother and stepfather, Henrietta and Thomas Shuminsky, have been generous benefactors of the awards, which now are assured financial support in perpetuity. Mr. and Mrs. Shuminsky have traveled to Gainesville on many occasions to present the awards and meet the recipients.
The October 21 event was attended by, among others, the Shuminskys, Ethan Siegel — a 2006 PhD graduate from the department and Wayne’s closest friend at the university — and UF Physics faculty. Several faculty members shared their fond memories of Wayne. Department chair Steve Hagen presented Henrietta and Tom Shuminsky with an In Memoriam degree, awarded to Wayne on the recommendation of the Physics Department and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). The degree recognizes Wayne’s many positive contributions to the University of Florida.
This event was organized by Beverly Sanders and Rachel Dorman, CLAS Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs.
Advancing the mentorship program
Written Davis Chen and Antonios Kyriazis
Photo Credit: Don George
For newly enrolled graduate students, the transition to a new environment, along with demanding responsibilities, can be quite overwhelming. To help alleviate these challenges, the Physics graduate students established a Physics Graduate Community (PGC), whose main goal is to form its namesake, a community. A founding pillar of the PGC is its peer mentorship program: senior graduate students guide incoming students through the tribulations of their first year. Throughout its inception, the mentorship program has matched 55 students, with 5 new mentor-mentee pairs this fall.
After being matched, pairs are encouraged to meet independently from the influence of the PGC. This works relatively well, but as people become busier during the year, meetups become more infrequent. Thus, the PGC hosts formal events to foster more interaction between the pairs and for the general Physics community to come and socialize.
The most recent social event was a tailgate gathering, organized by members of the Physics Inclusion Diversity and Equity Alliance (IDEA) and the PGC, along with the Chemistry department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee. This tailgate prefaced one of the biggest football rivalry games of the season, the Florida Gators vs the LSU Tigers. What could bond people more than a mutually shared feeling of team camaraderie? Thus, on Oct. 15th, dozens of people from both departments convened in the Plaza of the Americas to feast on food and drink and to socialize. The mentor-mentee pairs from both departments were among those invited to partake in the festivities and games. The resounding success of this event paves the way for future opportunities to expand our mentorship program further.
