To quote from the student's nomination letter:

"Dr. Goodenough is one of the most influential people I have ever met. She makes me want to work harder. She makes me want to be a better cinematographer. She pushes me beyond my limits. She is so incredibly passionate about everything that she does. I admire her for how much she cares about everything that she does. It's incredible to work for someone who cares about life as much as I do- who wants to succeed, who wants to be the best she can be, who wants to make a difference. That's the general idea of why I (with the rest of my UROP team) are choosing to nominate Dr. Goodenough for all the amazing things she has done for us.

"Liz has also influenced me to work harder. I know that sounds very cliché, but when I look at her I see a passion for life. A want to be better for herself, her family, her world. She pushes me in the very same way. No one has every expected so much out of me- editing an entire short film in just three weeks is just one example- and though it may not always be the most relaxing, it's exactly what I need. Life isn't meant to be passed by. It's meant to push us, to anger us, to excite us, to make us want to make a difference. Just from looking at Liz all those qualities are ever-present."

This award recognizes the recipients' contributions to the mentorship and development of future young scholars, performers, and researchers.