Sky Beard is the recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award for Spring 2014. Sky earned the award for his work as a GTA for Dr. Tamara Rogers' PTYS/ASTR 170B2 course. He is a third-year graduate student working with Professor Timothy Swindle.

Sky received several nominations from the undergraduate students in the class, each emphasizing the time, patience, and dedication that he took to meet with students outside of class and outside his office hours. One student credited Sky with grade improvement from a D to an A. To quote from one of the nomination forms, "Sky…puts his students before himself and truly wants to see his students progress in the course. He is a true inspiration for any undergraduate….”

Recipients of the Outstanding GTA Award receive funds of up to $1,000 to support travel to a professional meeting of their choice.