Melba Newell Phillips Medal

Established in 1981

The Melba Newell Phillips Medal is presented to AAPT leaders who, like Melba Newell Phillips after whom the medal is named, have provided creative leadership and dedicated service that resulted in exceptional contributions to AAPT. The recipient, who must be an AAPT member, delivers an address at the AAPT Meeting at which the medal is presented and receives a monetary award, the Melba Newell Phillips Medal, an Award Certificate, and travel expenses to the meeting.The medal is presented only occasionally. Self-nomination is not appropriate for this award.

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Award Winners

Listed below are previous Melba Newell Phillips Medal awardees and, if applicable, the title and citation information of their talk.

2025

Karen Jo, Matsler, University of Texas, Arlington, TX

2020

Richard W. Peterson, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
“Changed . . . by a high and humbling calling”

2019

Jack Hehn, AAPT, College Park, MD
"May the Work I Have Done Speak for Me"

2015

Thomas L. O'Kuma, Lee College, Baytown, TX
"Growing with AAPT"

2013

Lillian Christie McDermott, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

"DBER - A View from Physics"

2010

Mary Beth Monroe, Southwest Texas Junior College, Uvalde, TX
"The Faces of AAPT"

2008

Judy R. Franz, American Physical Society

2007

Clifford Swartz, Stony Brook University, Emeritus

2004

Robert B. Clark, Brigham Young University
"Some Lessons Learned"

1999

Howard G. Voss, Arizona State University
"Looking Back and Looking Forward", Am. J. Phys. 68, 12 (2000).

1998

John W. Layman, University of Maryland
"AAPT Toward the End of Our Century: Spheres of Influence", Phys. Teach.37, 136 (1998).

1996

Reuben E. Alley, U. S. Naval Academy

Phys. Teach.34, 471 (1996)

1993

Anthony P. French, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Am. J. Phys.61, 681 (1993)

1990

Albert A. Bartlett, University of Colorado at Boulder

Am. J. Phys.59, 15 (1991)

1988

H. Richard Crane, University of Michigan

Am. J. Phys.56, 967 (1988).

1985

E. Leonard Jossem, Ohio State University

Am. J. Phys.53, 1136 (1985)

1982

Melba Newell Phillips, University of Chicago, Emeritus Professor

Am. J. Phys.51, 495 (1983)