2026 Utah Governor’s Science Medals Award Ceremony
Four recipients of the 2026 Utah Governor's Medal for Science and Technology pose together at the awards ceremony. From left to right: D. Kip Solomon, PhD; Jed Hancock, PhD; Teresa Hislop; and Jennifer Hwu, PhD.
The Nucleus Institute held the 2026 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology award ceremony on April 29th, 2026 at the Utah State Capitol. Lt. Gov. Henderson presented the medals to four individuals who have provided significant contributions and distinguished service to Utah and beyond in the fields of K-12 education, academia/research, industry, and government.
“It’s an honor to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology,” said Linda Cabrales, director of Nucleus Grow. “They each excel in their respective fields and embody the outstanding qualities that foster and continue to drive Utah’s robust science and technology community.”
K-12 Education — Teresa Hislop
Teresa Hislop is a 30-year educator recognized by her colleagues as the most inspiring and committed educator, who invests her heart and soul in STEM education. Described as a master educator, Hislop’s commitment to experiential STEM learning extends far beyond the classroom. She organizes immersive field experiences that bring science to life in unforgettable ways. On a trip to the Oregon Coast, middle schoolers conduct field studies, explore tide pools, and work in professional science facilities. In Newport, they dissect squid in a working science classroom and collaborate in hands-on investigations and robotics work. Students who might never otherwise have seen the ocean become marine biologists for a week.
Beyond her classroom, Hislop is a generous colleague and mentor. She shares resources freely, supports interdisciplinary collaboration, and serves as a beacon of light within the school community. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her standards are rigorous, and her dedication is unwavering. Hislop currently teaches 8th-grade science at the Ogden Preparatory Academy and has been recognized by peers with several awards, including the Air Force Association State Teacher of the Year, Utah State Board of Education Teacher of the Year Runner-up, and the Utah Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. Hislop received degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.
Teresa Hislop — Recipient of 2026 Governor’s Medal | K-12 Education
2026 Governor's Medal recipient Teresa Hislop poses with Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson and Linda Cabrales, Director of Nucleus Grow, following the awards ceremony.
Academia/Research — D. Kip Solomon, PhD
Kip Solomon is an internationally recognized and distinguished hydrologist who has pioneered novel methods to understand one of the most precious resources on our planet: water. Currently the Francis Brown Endowed Chair in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah, Solomon’s long career exemplifies excellence in research, in the classroom, supervision of graduate students, leadership, service, his profession, and the world at large. He has developed innovative methods for determining groundwater age and invented water sampling technologies used internationally.
His contributions advance the understanding of the water cycle and the vulnerability of resources to over-exploitation. Additionally, his expertise in addressing industrial water contamination benefits communities worldwide. The UN International Atomic Energy Agency frequently consults him for field studies on water use in developing nations. Solomon’s research includes the use of environmental tracers to evaluate groundwater flow and solute transport processes in local- to regional-scale aquifers. He has helped develop the use of dissolved gases to evaluate groundwater ages, travel times, location, and rates of recharge, and the sustainability of groundwater resources. He operates one of only a few labs in the world that measure noble gases in groundwater. Solomon holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Waterloo and holds degrees in Geology and Geological Engineering from the University of Utah.
D. Kip Solomon, PhD — Recipient of 2026 Governor’s Medal | Academia/Research
2026 Governor’s Medal recipient D. Kip Solomon, PhD, speaks to room after receiving award.
Industry — Jennifer Hwu, PhD
Jennifer Hwu has pushed the boundaries of high-frequency power amplifiers for space, telecommunications, aerospace, avionics, and terrestrial applications, and is a pioneer in extreme environment electronics. As co-founder, president, and CEO of InnoSys, Inc., she has successfully led numerous research and development projects for the Department of Defense/War, Department of Energy, NASA and other agencies, resulting in products that are designed and manufactured at InnoSys’s facility in Salt Lake City. She has mentored and taught numerous STEM employees and students and is a role model, both at her company and as a former tenured professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Utah.
Hwu’s economic impact includes bringing private funding and highly competitive grants and contracts to Utah and building a 36,500 square foot combined office, R&D, manufacturing, and testing facilities in Salt Lake City, directly employing and supporting a significant number of technical staff. She is highly sought after to serve on technical committees of premier conferences in radio frequency, from microwaves to terahertz, and has led and been instrumental in achieving world records in extreme electronics and communications performance.She received national recognition, including from the National Science Foundation, the Office of Naval Research, and the White House, recognizing her professional achievements. These have influenced and greatly shaped her unwavering desire to help others and to advance Utah and the U.S. She received her PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles, in Electrical Engineering.
Jennifer Hwu, PhD — Recipient of 2026 Governor’s Medal | Industry
2026 Governor's Medal recipient Jennifer Hwu poses with Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson and Linda Cabrales, Director of Nucleus Grow, following the awards ceremony.
Government — Jed Hancock, PhD
Jed Hancock is the president of the Utah State University (USU) Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL), one of only 15 University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the nation. His background in electrical engineering and optical science, and his ability to lead people and complex organizations, have resulted in achievements that have advanced science, strengthened national defense, and elevated Utah’s reputation on the global stage. Under his leadership, SDL developed the camera suite for NASA’s Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification and Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission, the first U.S. mission to return samples from an asteroid to Earth.
He has been instrumental in building strategic partnerships with organizations such as the Naval Research Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley, contributing to major national and international efforts, including the NASA Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission and its advanced scientific instrumentation. These collaborations reflect both his technical expertise and his ability to build and lead effective partnerships to address complex challenges. Hancock played a key role in securing an Air Force Research Laboratory contract with a potential value of up to one billion dollars. Since 2021, SDL has grown from approximately 800 employees to more than 1,300 today, with revenues increasing to over $354 million in 2025. This growth has created high-quality jobs, strengthened Utah’s workforce, and expanded the state’s role in advanced aerospace and defense research. He received his PhD in Optical Sciences from the University of Arizona.
Jed Hancock, PhD — Recipient of 2026 Governor’s Medal | Government
2026 Governor’s Medal recipient Jed Hancock, PhD, speaks to room after receiving award.
Nucleus congratulates these awardees for their dedication, passion, and commitment to science and technology and look forward to their continued impact on our community and the world.
All past recipients of this prestigious award are encouraged to attend the 2026 Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology award ceremony and dinner. To RSVP, contact grow@nucleusutah.org. Visit the Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology website page to learn more.