Sneaking into a movie theater in Switzerland at 11 years old to see the original “Star Wars” movie sparked a lifelong passion for space for University of Colorado Boulder professor Hanspeter Schaub.

When “Star Wars” came out, Schaub’s older brother somehow got him into the theater despite the 16-year age limit, and Schaub said the movie inspired him.

“It ignited my imagination of thinking beyond a movie about space and what it would take to travel and do that,” Schaub said.

Now, Schaub is a professor and department chair of aerospace engineering at CU Boulder and won the university’s highest award for integrating teaching and research, the Hazel Barnes Prize.

It recognizes outstanding teachers who also have distinguished records in research and scholarship.

Schaub said he deeply enjoys all parts of his job, especially the research and teaching aspects.

He said both allow him to learn new things everyday, whether that’s learning from a student in class or making a new discovery in his research.

“To me, that’s always the best part. I have a job where I get to learn new things, and that’s exciting,” Schaub said.

“But for me as a professor, the absolute best part of the job is the mentoring, something I really enjoy. That’s also why I have so many students, and I spend a lot of time with each one of those students trying to help them along the right career path.”

Álvaro Romero-Calvo is one of Schaub’s former students who is now an assistant professor of aerospace engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.

Romero-Calvo said Schaub’s responsive nature and immediate care for him was the reason Romero-Calvo chose to attend CU Boulder for his doctorate degree.

He said Schaub helped him frame his research and ideas, advocated for him often, taught him necessary soft skills for the field and even guided him on what would be expected of him as a professor at Georgia Tech.

“There are many ways to be an advisor, and I think his approach to that relationship and to teaching and to research is extremely generous,” Romero-Calvo said. “He puts the student at the front line and he really gives us priority, and he gave me and my colleagues priority over anything else.

“He always had time for me,” Romero-Calvo said.

Penina Axelrad, professor in the aerospace engineering department at CU Boulder, also described Schaub as extremely generous in sharing his time and knowledge with others. Axelrad nominated Schaub for the award.

“He seems to have infinite energy to lead such a large research group, individually mentor 20-plus students, take on big, important problems, with a truly phenomenal publication record,” Axelrad said.

Julian Hammerl is one of the doctoral students in Schaub’s large research lab at CU Boulder.

He said Schaub is extremely supportive, works hard for his students and always finds time to meet despite his busy schedule.

“He has a really good understanding that 10 minutes of his time saves me three hours of time,” Hammerl said.

Axelrad said because Schaub integrates his teaching so closely with his research, students are constantly learning up-to-date, “cutting edge material” integrated into the courses. Schaub said he’s created entire courses based on his research.

“I think it’s important to give them a sense of what are these hard questions people are studying, and often that creates new ideas about where they’re going with their career,” Schaub said.

Axelrad said Schaub somehow uniquely combines a “Swiss reserve with Texas friendliness,” like how he always greets people over email with “howdy” and signs off with “blue skies.”

She said Schaub comes across formal and precise, but also has a friendliness and wry sense of humor.

She said Schaub’s mentorship of his students is very impressive. Taking a look at his students, she said they’re recognized with all kinds of awards because he’s doing the most to encourage them.

“He’s not just teaching them,” Axelrad said. “He’s advocating for them and fostering them as professionals.”