“We nominate Reynier Squillace (Rey) for Graduate Student Appreciation Week in recognition of their outstanding leadership and commitment to helping and uplifting others. From teaching to mentoring and outreach, Rey’s unselfish service has had a profound impact on our department and community.  For example, as a TA in the Constellation Laboratory, Rey identified significant problems; e.g., students had to answer questions with little prior experience or background knowledge. Rey proactively—and outside their formal responsibilities— redesigned the lab to focus on teaching the concepts rather than assessing what students know. Rey tested the updated lab, and with good results it was adopted for all sections, enhancing the learning for several hundred students each semester. Rey was also instrumental in our graduate student recruitment — beyond helping with the planning/logistics for the visit day, Rey again of their own initiative, independently organized individual visits for two students who could not attend with their cohort. Furthermore, as an organizer of the Graduate-Undergraduate Astronomy Council, Rey has fostered a culture of mentorship, guiding undergraduates through graduate school applications and internships and facilitating opportunities for networking and peer mentoring. Rey’s drive and dedication to building a vibrant and supportive community make them truly deserving of this recognition.” -- Shazrene Mohamed