Spring 2026 graduate Tessa Sprague has been named this year’s recipient of the Kathryn Thomasson Award. This award is for excellence in chemistry by a student who is in the first generation of her family to attend college, and is given by Iota Sigma Pi, the National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry.
Iota Sigma Pi works to promote the advancement of women in chemistry by granting recognition to women who have demonstrated superior scholastic achievement and high professional competence.
Sprague embodies those attributes. She is a summa cum laude graduate of Boise State, earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a biology minor and a data science certificate in May. Previously recognized as both the General and Physical Chemistry Student of the Year, Sprague was named the top graduating senior of Boise State’s 2026 chemistry cohort.
Driven by a passion for complex problem-solving, Sprague spent three years conducting undergraduate research on cold atmospheric pressure plasma and its applications for viral decontamination in vitro and ex vivo. This interdisciplinary work — merging biochemistry, physics and medicine — earned Sprague two prestigious research fellowships and the opportunity to present at over ten scientific conferences nationwide.
As a first generation college student, Sprague has been particularly inspired by community involvement. She has worked to inspire younger generations of scientists through mentorship, tutoring, and outreach at Boise State.
She will return to Boise State this fall to pursue a master’s degree in chemistry, where she will continue to explore biophysical chemistry and its applications in cryopreservation.