Deegan Bator was named the 2026 Outstanding Senior for the Department of Physics & Astronomy. Awarded annually, the Outstanding Senior goes to an undergraduate student who excels in academics, research, and collegiality. In the autumn of 2025 he earned his Reactor Operator License and completed his senior dissertation in the area of reactor operations. His work is crucial to planned upgrades to the campus reactor over the next several years. He was an active member of Physics Club, which won numerous awards from the National Society of Physics Students in his time. In his nomination letter Deegan was cited for “exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical reasoning, and a mature respect for laboratory safety.” Deegan will complete the BS Physics degree in summer 2026 and plans to pursue nuclear physics / engineering in the future. Congratulations Deegan!
In the image standing left to right: Courtney Meehan (Dean, College of Arts & Sciences), Deegan Bator (2026 Outstanding Senior), Corey Hines (Director, Nuclear Science Center), and Michael Allen (Professor, Career Track, Dept of Physics & Astronomy). Photo credit: Robert Hubner / WSU Photo Services / University Marketing and Communications.