Our students are among the best on the world, and are regularly recognized with honors from departments, our college, the university, and beyond.
Colorado Engineering Council (CEC) Silver Medal Award
Each year, the Colorado Engineering Council awards the Silver Medal to a student at each of the state’s engineering colleges. The award is based on research skills, academic performance, and service, and is based on nominations from departments within the college and subsequent interviews with candidates.
2022 nominees

Kori Eliaz – Electrical Engineering

Carissa Vos – Mechanical Engineering
Previous winners and nominees
Winner:
Nick Daly, Computer Engineering
Nominees:
Katherine Ascough, Civil Engineering; Brianna Bartlett, Engineering Science; Isabella Brandes, Chemical and Biological Engineering; William Brandt, Electrical Engineering; Delaney Galvan, Environmental Engineering; Mallory Knudsen, Biomedical Engineering & Mechanical Engineering; Sydney McDonald, Mechanical Engineering
Winner:
Caitlin Robinson, Mechanical Engineering
Nominees:
Gillian Fahey, Electrical Engineering; Kyle Howe, Chemical & Biological Engineering; Joseph Keaveny, Environmental Engineering; David Kimmey, Biomedical Engineering + ME; Amanda Merkley, Computer Engineering; Susan Ossareh, Engineering Science; Daniel Sanchez, Civil Engineering
Winner:
Katie Jordan, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Nominees:
Tyler Daniel, Biomedical Engineering + CBE; Nicole Nasi, Civil Engineering; Mitch Hawkins, Computer Engineering; Bassem Faour, Electrical Engineering; Stefan Strutz, Engineering Science; Joey Sinclair, Environmental Engineering; Ray Huff, Mechanical Engineering
Winner:
Hannah Mikelson, Biomedical Engineering;
Nominees:
Joseph Staver, Chemical & Biological Engineering; Kristen Wells, Civil Engineering; Chris Retzlaff, Computer Engineering; Forest Kunkel, Electrical Engineering; Alex Cecil, Engineering Science; Megan Scott, Environmental Engineering; Marco Peyfuss, Mechanical Engineering
2022 Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Showcase (CURC)
CURC features more than 200 posters spotlighting undergraduate research from all eight colleges. Engineering students listed below received recognition for their work.
College Honors - Research
John O’Donnell-Sloan
Impact of Environmental Factors on Antigen Test Accuracy
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Research
Sydney Alderfer
Examining Inclusive Science Communication Training as a Tool to Support Historically Disadvantaged STEM Students
Excellence in Energy & Climate Solutions
Dominic Dallago
Life Cycle and Techno-Economic Comparison of EV Charging Systems
Jenna Stubbers
A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Conventional and Local Outdoor Lettuce Production Systems
High Honors - Research
Cavin Alderfer
Analyzing Groundwater Storage Trends in the United States from 1951-2020
2023 CSU Demo Day
More than 300 students, faculty and other community members gathered in the Colorado State University Lory Student Center Ballroom April 18 for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Day, where winners of CSU Demo Day were announced.
For the first time, the celebration combined CSU Demo Day and the Venture RAMS Business Showcase in a joint effort of CSU STRATA and the Institute for Entrepreneurship in the College of Business, to highlight innovations originating from students and faculty across the entire CSU community.
Innovation in Engineering
Emilio Molina Rueda – third-year doctoral student in mechanical engineering
“The AirPen: A Wearable Monitor for Particulate Matter and Volatile Organic Compounds”
Innovation in Animal Health
Main presenter: Elizabeth Steinike – fifth-year undergraduate student in biomedical and mechanical engineering
Spencer Kapayo, Katie Evans, Drew Rackow, Roberto Ortega, Su Nguyen, Heather Young
“Canine Exoskeleton for Rehabilitation”
Innovative Excellence
Main presenter: Sydney Spiegel – undergraduate research assistant in mechanical engineering
“Tensegrity Wheels for Small All-Terrain Robots”
2022 E-Days and Department Awards
During E-Days each year, and during the following weeks, engineering departments recognize the accomplishments of their students with awards and honors, listed below.
Scott Scholars are denoted with an asterisk.
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Outstanding Sophomore – for outstanding achievement in the sophomore classes
Zach Mouton
Caroline Loewecke
Amanda Mohrlang
Outstanding Junior – for outstanding achievement in the junior classes
EmmaKate Raisley
John (Jack) O’Donnell-Sloan
Sebastian Lawton
Kalyn Kosmiski
Mary Skillicorn
Nick Chastain
Outstanding Senior – for outstanding achievement in the senior classes
Lauren Robertson
Allison Shad – Goldwater receipient
Abigail Fennell
Ethan Green
Alaa Eldeiry
Professional Involvement
Michelle Hefner
Kate Boyd
Research Excellence
Hayley Ma
Sara Dmytriw
Academic Excellence
Hannah Park
Julia Friederich
Green and Gold
Sydney Alderfer
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Future Award:
Michael Berg
Civil Engineering Achievement Award:
Lily Drum-Parce
Civil Engineering Student Leadership Award:
Brady Durham
Environmental Engineering Achievement Award:
Emma Adams
Outstanding Environmental Engineer of the Future Award:
Casey Johnston
Environmental Engineering Student Leadership Award:
Priya Bhowmik
Ralph Parshall Award:
David Thormodsgard
This award is given to a civil engineering senior with an outstanding record and professional interest in hydraulics, hydrology, water resources or environmental engineering.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Top E-Days Projects for ECE
#1: Regenerative Braking Electric Skateboard
https://projects-web.engr.colostate.edu/ece-sr-design/AY21/skateboard/
Fawzi Al Hadrab
Ryan Hawkins
Brendan DeJonge
Brad George
#2 Electric GoKart
https://projects-web.engr.colostate.edu/ece-sr-design/AY21/GoKart/
Rico Barela
Nikola Durand
Andrew Groeling
Ryan Guidice
Vani Kapoor
David Neitenbach
Matt Gilmore
#3 Emulation of Aerospace Actuation Systems
https://projects-web.engr.colostate.edu/ece-sr-design/AY21/actuation/
Jacob Dorsett
Kori Eliaz
Dylan Gaub
Best by Underclass Award
RamBOTs
https://csurambots.github.io/about/
Kristopher Alquist
Oscar Coronado Rosales
Jarred Davis
Craig Olson
Devin Pohl
Ritwik Vadapally
Thomas Veldhuizen
Taro Gwyn
Alex Kolodzik
Best Professor Awards
Dr. Jim Cale
Dr. Mario Marconi
Engineering Science
Outstanding Engineering Science Student
Brianna Bartlett
School of Biomedical Engineering
Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Junior Researcher
Abigail Fennell
Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Junior Researcher
Chole Brekhus
Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Senior Researcher
Nathan Waanders
Outstanding Biomedical and Chemical & Biological Engineering Academic & Research Achievement
Sydney Alderfer
Outstanding Biomedical and Electrical Engineering Academic Achievement
Macklin Harrington
Outstanding Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering Academic Achievement and Service
Ethan Barron
School of Biomedical Engineering Passion to Purpose
Peter Lohrisch
Outstanding Biomedical Engineering Service
Sarah Verderame
SBME Leadership and Innovation
Joyce Bohn
Systems Engineering
Outstanding Project 2021-2022
- James Kirwan
- Steve Shudy
Outstanding Thesis 2021-2022
Athul Krishna Sundarrajan
Outstanding Dissertation 2021-2022
- Paulo Younse
- Aleksandra Scalco
Other Department Awards
Civil and Environmental Engineering
2020-2021 Tau Beta Pi Scholarship
Kira Cunniff
Gradshow Awards
The Graduate Student Showcase awards recognize excellence in research, creativity, and entrepreneurship in a variety of categories, presented by the college, Graduate School, and the Office of the Vice President for Research.
2022 Awards
Excellence in Research Awards
The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Excellence in Research Awards is sponsored by the College. Congratulations to the following three recipients of these awards:
- Jacob DeRoo, School of Biomedical Engineering
- Sam Winston, Mechanical Engineering
- Kevin Barry, Atmospheric Science
CSU STRATA – Drivers of Innovation
- Platinum award
- Ming-Hao Cheng, Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Silver award
- Nipa Khair, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
Great Minds in Research
- 1st place
- Emma Rettner, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
- Honorable Mention
- Abby Otten, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
- Sohaib Habiballah, Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Daniel Sanchez, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Abhishek Bhattacharjee, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
Graduate Student Council – New Graduate Student
- Research Top Scholar
- Carter Dojan, School of Advanced Materials Discovery
Winners from previous years
2021
The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering Excellence in Research Awards is sponsored by the College. Congratulations to the following three recipients of these awards:
- Abdo Elsayed Soliman – Mechanical Engineering
- Austin Banks – Mechanical Engineering
- Tracey Wick – Biomedical Engineering
The Drivers of Innovation: The CSU Ventures Awards highlight the leading edge of the most innovative research originating from CSU research. Awardees in this category have presented innovative research capable of solving commercial needs that benefit society. Additionally, the awardees have demonstrated a solid capability to communicate their science clearly as well as a superior ability to visually represent their research in a manner that is accessible to all audiences.
- Iman Naseri – Mechanical Engineering
2020
Research Top Scholar for the New Graduate Student Award
- Lisa Wang, Civil and Environmental Engineering, “Effect of Building Wind-Retrofit Strategies on Socio-economic Community-Level Resilience Metrics.”
Research Top Scholar for the Undergraduate Choice Award
- Avpreet Othee, Systems Engineering, “A Modeling Framework for Electrical Distributions Containing Harmonic Producing Loads.”
CSU Ventures Drivers of Innovation – Platinum award
- Peter Chen, Mechanical Engineering, “Assessment of Plant Waste as a Mixotrophic Algae Substrate”
- Mo Hussein, Systems Engineering, “System for Grocery Shopping Recommendations Based on One’s Health Profiles”
CSU Ventures Drivers of Innovation – Silver award
Diego Bernardi Bestel, Mechanical Engineering, “Development of a High-Efficiency Ultra-Low Emissions Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine.”
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering – Excellence in Research
- Audrey Beattie, Mechanical Engineering: “A Probabilistic Economic and Environmental Evaluation of Biofuel from Cyanobacteria”
- Marija Krunic, Systems Engineering: “Keeping Public Restrooms COVID19 Free: Cell Phone Sanitizer and Charger”
- Morteza Ziaee, Mechanical Engineering: “Advanced Manufacturing of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites”
2019
Great Minds in Research
1st Place, Katie DeRose, Mechanical Engineering
2nd Place, Abdelrahman Abdallah, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Honorable Mention
Audrey Beattie, Mechanical Engineering
Jimmy Johnson, Mechanical Engineering
Hailey Summers, Mechanical Engineering
CSU Ventures Drivers of Innovation – Platinum award
Mitchell Page, Mechanical Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering – Excellence in Research
Sohaib Habiballah – Chemical and Biological Engineering
Sid Jain – School of Biomedical Engineering
Tara Wigmosta – School of Biomedical Engineering
2018
Great Minds in Research
1st Place, Mohammadhasan Hedayati, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Honorable Mention, Katie DeRose, Mechanical Engineering
College of Business Sustainability Award
Evan Sproul, Mechanical Engineering
Founder’s Award
Michael Nguyen-Truong – School of Biomedical Engineering
Undergraduate Choice – Research Top Scholar
Matthew Cackovic, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering – Excellence in Research
Faith Groff – Atmospheric Science
Marissa Karpack – Civil and Environmental Engineering
KC Young – Civil and Environmental Engineering
2017
Great Minds in Research
1st Place, Mohammadhasan Hedayati, Chemical and Biological Engineering
Honorable Mention
Jessica Baker, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Andrea Jenney, Atmospheric Science
Undergraduate Choice – Research Top Scholar
Yusra Obeidat, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering – Excellence in Research
Nicole Opalinski, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Naufal Razin, Atmospheric Science
Blake Fullenwider, Mechanical Engineering