Awards/Professional Activities

Awards

2024

  • Chandima Wekumbura: NRES graduate fellowship for Fall 2024
  • Nishadi Dodampe Mudiyanselage: The International Leadership award from K-State Alumni Association

2023

  • Chandima Wekumbura: Soils best photo contest winner at ASA, CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Outstanding scientist award by Sigma Xi
  • Chandima Wekumbura: Dr. Neal F. and Florence E. Morehouse Agronomy Research and Scholarship, The Raymond V. and Jean S. Olson Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Eduardo Gutierrez Brito: Dr. Neal F. and Florence E. Morehouse Agronomy Research and Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Nishadi Dodampe Mudiyanselage: George W. Wright Scholarship, Dr. Neal F. and Florence E. Morehouse Agronomy Research and Scholarship, Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Amila Mudiyanselage: The Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Soil Science Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Eduardo Gutierrez Brito: 2023 Alumni Association's International Student Scholarship, Kansas State University

2022

  • Amila Mudiyanselage: Third Place in Oral Category in SSSA-Soil Chemistry Division at ASA, CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD
  • Chandima Wekumbura: North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Graduate Student Teaching Award
  • Sevendeep Kaur: North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) Graduate Student Teaching Award
  • Chandima Wekumbura: Alumni Association Scholarship, Kansas State University
  • Kasuni Gamage: Ray Lamond Memorial Graduate Scholarship, The Raymond V. and Jean S. Olson Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Chandima Wekumbura: Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Eduardo Gutierrez Brito: GSC Travel Award
  • Nishadi Dodampe Mudiyanselage: Schrader/ Massier graduate excellence fund in Agronomy, Kansas State University & GSC Travel Award
  • Amila Mudiyanselage: GSC Travel Award

2021

  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Soil Sience Society of America 2021 Fellow
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award
  • Chandima Wekumbura: First Place in the Oral Category of Urban and Anthropogenic Soil (UAS) Division at ASA,CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Manjot Rekhi: Third Place in Oral Category in SSSA-Soil Chemistry division at ASA,CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Manjot Rekhi: Second Place in Poster Category in SSSA-Soil Chemistry division at ASA,CSSA & SSSA International Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
  • Manjot Rekhi: First Place in 3MT Competition, Kansas State University

2020

  • Manjot Rekhi: Winner at "Research and the State" Kansas State University, Graduate Student Council virtual poster event
  • Kasuni Gamage: Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship & Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Chandima Wekumbura : Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

2019

  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: American Society of Agronomy Fellow
  • Mohammad Almutari : Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Zafer Alasmary: Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship & George W. Wright Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Kasuni Gamage : Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

2018

  • Mohammad Almutari : Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Zafer Alasmary: Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Kasuni Gamage : The Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Soil Science Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

2017

  • Jay weeks: International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) 2017 Scholar Award
  • Jay weeks: American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America Future Leaders in Science Award
  • Mohammad Almutari : Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Zafer Alasmary: Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Kasuni Gamage : Dr. Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

2016

2015

  • Dorothy Menefee: 3rd place in the student presentations competition, 12th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Manhattan, KS
  • Jay Weeks: 2nd place in the student presentations competition, 12th International Phytotechnologies Conference, Manhattan, KS
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: 2nd place in Interdisciplinary Research category (poster session), 20th Annual K-State Research Forum, Kansas State University

2014

  • Ranju Karna: Oakridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) post doctoral Fellowship award
  • Buddhika Galkaduwa: Raymond V. Olson Scholarship, Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, and Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: The Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Soil Science Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University

2013

  • Buddhika Galkaduwa: The Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Soil Science Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Chammi Attanayake:R.I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Kansas State University
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Teacher Fellow Award
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Kansas State University Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Faculty Research Award
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: 3rd place, Graduate student oral competition, ASA-CSSA-SSSA National Conference, Tampa, FL
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: 2nd place, Graduate student poster competition, ASA-CSSA-SSSA National Conference, Tampa, FL
  • Chammi Attanayake: The Roscoe Ellis, Jr. Soil Science Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Buddhika Galkaduwa: Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: Throckmorton Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Dorothy Menefee, Summa Cum Laude graduation
  • Dorothy Menefee, 8th place in regional soil judging competition
  • Ranju Karna: Weber (Deane F) Scholarship at Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS

2012

  • Buddhika Galkaduwa: Ray I. Throckmorton Scholarship & George W. Wright Scholarship, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: NSF ADVANCE Speaker Awards (3), Hosted Drs. Dean Hesterberg at North Carolina State University, Rufus Chaney at USDA-ARS, and Scott Fendorf at Stanford University-(2012-2008)
  • Phillip Defoe: Alternate Presenter–Capitol Graduate Research Summit, Topeka, KS
  • Pavithra Pitumpe Arachchige: 3rd place, Graduate student oral competition, ASA-CSSA-SSSA National Conference, Cinccinatti , OH
  • Chammi Attanayake: Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Kansas State University
  • Dorothy Menefee, Roger and Ruth Wolfe International Scholarship
  • Dorothy, Menefee, JD Carroll Memorial Scholarship
  • Dorothy Menefee, Gamma Sigma Delta-Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research
  • Ranju Karna: Moore House Scholarship at Kansas State University

2011

  • Chammi Attanayake: International Coordinating Council Scholarship
  • Phillip Defoe: 1st place – Diversity poster competition ASA-CSSA-SSSA National Conference, San Antonio, TX
  • Chammi Attanayake: Neal and Florence E. Morehouse Graduate Scholarship, Kansas State University
  • Ranju Karna: Schrader/Massier Graduate Exc. Fund Scholarship at Kansas State University

2010

  • Ranju Karna: Moore House Scholarship at Kansas State University

2009

  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: NSF ADANCE Travel Award to travel to 10th International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements, Chihuahua, Mexico, July

2000-2008

  • Ranju Karna: Research Grant for Graduate Students award at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
  • Chammi Attanayake : Prof. F.S.C.P. Kalpage Gold Medal for Academic Excellence in Soil Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka-(2007)
  • Chammi Attanayake :S.F.H. Perera Memorial Prize for the greatest competence at the 4000 series (final year in B.Sc.) examination, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka-(2007)
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Fellowship, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia-(2004- 2007)
  • Pierzynski, G.M., and G.M. Hettiarachchi. 2002. Method for in-situ immobilization and reduction of metal bioavailability in contaminated soils, sediments, and wastes. Granted 05/07/02. U.S. Patent No. 6,383,128
  • Ganga Hettiarachchi: Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE) Postdoctoral Fellowship, US-Environmental Protection Agency’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Cincinnati, OH-(2000-2003)

Professional Activities

Ganga Hettiarachchi

  • Chair of Commission 4.2 Soils, Food Security and Human Health of the International Union of Soil Sciences -(2014-2018)
  • Technical Editor, Journal of Environmental Quality -(2014-2017)
  • Section Editor, Land Pollution Section, Current Pollution Reports Journal, Springer-(2014-current)
  • Secretary, Multistate Research Project, The Chemical and Physical Nature of Particulate Matter Affecting Air, Water and Soil Quality (NC1187)-(2013-current)
  • Vice Chair, Multistate Research Project, Soil-Based Use of Residuals, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water (W2170)-(2013-current)
  • Secretary, Multistate Research Project, Soil-Based Use of Residuals, Wastewater and Reclaimed Water (W2170)-(2010-2013)
  • Guest Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Quality- (2010)
  • International Committee- International Conference on Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements-(2009- 2015)
  • President, Australian Soil Science Society- South Australia Branch- (2007-2008)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Environmental Quality- (2003-2005)