STAR Lab’s Carissma McGee and Abby Lee recognized as MIT Graduate Students of Excellence
STAR Lab students Carissma McGee and Abby Lee ‘25 have been recognized by MIT’s Office of Graduate Education as Graduate Students of Excellence for 2026. The program honors individuals who improve the graduate student experience with support and advocacy for one another and exemplify values of collaboration, care, and shared responsibility in graduate life at the Institute. Each awardee was nominated by their peers.
McGee and Lee join 21 other graduate students as part of this year’s cohort.
From the Office of Graduate Education:
“Nominators describe this year’s Graduate Students of Excellence honorees as trusted peers whose leadership is grounded in thoughtful listening and sustained action. These individuals took the time to carefully hear the concerns of their peers, with one nominator noting that their honoree “guided [fellow students] toward understanding, rather than simply giving away answers.” Through research troubleshooting, exam preparation, informal advising and more, honorees fostered confidence, critical thinking, and a stronger sense of belonging.
In addition to their strong commitment to mentorship, this year’s cohort placed a particular emphasis on advocacy, both for their fellow students and the Institute as a whole. Honorees not only identified challenges, but worked collaboratively to improve them–bridging gaps between graduate students, faculty, and administrators.
“Rather than dwelling on problems,” noted one nominator, the honoree “mobilize[d] others toward collaborative solutions,” working to address areas for improvement head-on.
As a nominator noted of another Graduate Student of Excellence, “when voicing a concern or giving feedback… [they are] always ready with solutions.” For this honoree and others, actions were marked by calm facilitation, thoughtful dialogue, and a focus on resolutions that balanced student needs with institutional realities.
In this way, nomination letters revealed a consistent pattern: whether navigating interpersonal challenges or confronting systemic barriers, students persistently transformed obstacles into opportunities for meaningful change.”
