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.
2020 nominees
Gillian Fahey, Electrical Engineering, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Kyle Howe, Chemical & Biological Engineering, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Joseph Keaveny, Environmental Engineering, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
David Kimmey, Biomedical Engineering + ME, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Amanda Merkley, Computer Engineering, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Susan Ossareh, Engineering Science, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Daniel Sanchez, Civil Engineering, 2020 CEC Silver Medal Award Nominee
Previous winners and nominees
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
2020 Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Showcase (CURC)
A 25-plus year tradition at CSU, CURC 2020 featured more than 200 posters spotlighting undergraduate research from all eight colleges. Engineering students listed below received recognition for their work. Scott Scholars are denoted with an asterisk.
Best in Show
Combined Influence of Polydopamine and Copper-Based Metal-Organic Framework on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenators
Tracey Wick
Mentor(s): Yanyi Zang; Melissa Reynolds
College Honors
Biomimetic Scaffolds to Study Effect of Myocardial Stiffness on Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Courtney Doherty
Mentor(s): Dr. Zhijie Wang; Michael Nguyen-Truong
The Role of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in a Murine Model of Tendinopathy
Emma Hurley
Mentor(s): Katie Sikes; Kelly Santangelo
Energy Institute Award - First Place
A semi-automated system for measuring mass of Black Carbon particles on filter media
Alexander Lynch*
Mentor(s): Christian L’orange; John Volckens
Energy Institute Award - Third Place
Sustainable Guayule Rubber Production in Arid Regions
Paula Mendoza Moreno
Mentor(s): Evan Sproul; Jason Quinn
Highest Honors
Optical Neurolink
Mauri Richards
Co-Authors: Sarah Maclean; Justin Southerland; Kieran Simske*; Mauri Richards
Mentor(s): Dr. Kevin Lear; Dr. Susan Hunter
High Honors
Fighting Fort Collins Phosphorus: Using Aluminum-Based Water Treatment Residuals to limit phosphorus leaching from Bioretention Cells in Fort Collins.
Reed Featherstone
Co-Author: Dixie Poteet*
Mentor(s): Tyler Dell
Characterization of the microbiome associated with Culicoides sonorensis
Abigail Fennell
Mentor(s): Brad Borlee; Grace Borlee
Sustainable Guayule Rubber Production in Arid Regions
Paula Mendoza Moreno
Mentor(s): Evan Sproul; Jason Quinn
Rapid Photothermal Frontal Polymerization of Thermoset Composites
Sean Smith
Mentor(s): Dr. Mostafa Yourdkhani; Morteza Ziaee
2020 E-Days and Department Awards
During E-Days each year, engineering departments recognize the accomplishments
of their students with awards and honors, listed below.
Scott Scholars are denoted with an asterisk.
Atmospheric Science
Outstanding student research
Ben Toms – Herbert Riehl Memorial Award
Andrea Jenney – Alumni Award
Chemical and Biological Engineering
Outstanding Scholars
Sarah Wakumoto, Kyle Howe, Amanda Shick
Sophomore
Stephanie Mooty, Abigail Fennell, Ethan Green
Junior
Nick Velasquez, Zeus Alcon, Paula Mendoza-Moreno, Jacob Tamani
Senior
Stuart McKnight, Mackenzie Radandt, Maliea Van
Outstanding Service
Ru Mabry
Academic Excellence
Yaqoob Al-Aamri, Ethan Richardson
Prof Involvement
Nick Bruns, Emily Radtke, Jessica Reyes
Research Excellence
Torin Moore, Natalie Rios, Austin Banks
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Future Award:
Daniel Sanchez
This award is given to a civil engineering senior with extraordinary academic achievement combined with potential for professional success.
Civil Engineering Achievement Award:
Janaye Walker
This award is given to a civil engineering senior with an outstanding combination of academic achievement, leadership skills, and potential for future success in civil engineering.
Civil Engineering Student Leadership Award:
Thomas Mayer
Theresa O’Donnell-Sloan
This award is given to a civil engineering senior with an outstanding record of leadership and service, combined with academic success.
Environmental Engineering Achievement Award:
Zhiyun (Mariah) Wang
This award is given to an environmental engineering senior with an outstanding combination of academic achievement, leadership skills, and potential for future success in civil engineering.
Outstanding Environmental Engineer of the Future Award:
Enci Han
This award is given to an environmental engineering senior with extraordinary academic achievement combined with potential for professional success.
Environmental Engineering Student Leadership Award:
Claire Schreiber
This award is given to an environmental engineering senior with an outstanding record of leadership and service, combined with academic success.
Ralph Parshall Award:
Parker Maddocks
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
ECE Academic Achievement Awards:
Jeremiah Corrado, Devon Fossceco, Amanda Merkley, Collin Orr, Hannah Peters, Thomas Wilkinson
Derek L. Lile Leadership Award:
Ryan Barnes
ECE Outstanding Contribution Award:
Ryan Barnes, Adam Boyd, Blake Danis, Trevor Dunham, Kori Eliaz, Jonathan Emig, Violeta Flores, Ian Johnson, Vani Kapoor, Kailee Mitsuyasu, Jacklyn Moore, David Neitenbach, Kendra Ott, Devin Pohl, Isaac Reaves, Jameson Richard, Ethan Schultz, Cole Taylor
ECE Undergraduate Research and ECE Rising Star in Undergraduate Research:
Jeremiah Corrado, Lingyi He
Engineering Science
Outstanding Engineering Science Student
Susan Ossareh
Mechanical Engineering
Junior Academic Excellence Award:
Kayla Hackett
This award is given to a junior MECH student with an outstanding academic record who demonstrates potential for future success in mechanical engineering.
Senior Academic Excellence Award:
Jared Ham
This award is given to a senior MECH student with an outstanding academic record who demonstrates potential for future success in mechanical engineering.
Outstanding Junior Researcher Award:
Abigail Maben
This award is given to a junior MECH student who demonstrates strong potential for research.
Outstanding Senior Researcher Award:
Kirsten Kauk
This award is given to a senior MECH student who demonstrates strong potential for research.
Outstanding Student Leadership Award:
Danelle Lazcano-Concelman
This award is given to a junior or senior MECH student with a strong record of leadership and service, combined with academic success.
School of Biomedical Engineering
Outstanding Junior Researcher
Courtney Doherty (BME+MECH ’22)
Outstanding Senior Researcher
Tara Mensch (BME+MECH ’21)
Skyler Hochmuth (BME+CBE ’20)
Honorable Mention: Justin Southerland (BME+CBE ’20)
Rising Star
Sara Dmytriw* – (BME+CBE ’22)
Roberto Ortega – (BME+MECH ’23)
Nathan You – (BME+EE ’23)
Outstanding Academic Achievement
BMEE – Alden Tennison (BME+EE ’20)
BMEC – Zach Haigh and Analia Quirk (BME+CBE ’20)
BMEM – Olivia Hahn (BME+MECH ’20)
Outstanding Service
Janaye Matthews (BME+EE ’21)
Annie Elefante (BME+MECH ’20)
Service and Leadership
Teryn Degenhart (BME+MECH ’20)
Passion to Purpose
Elias Espin (BME+CBE ’20)
Outstanding Undergraduate Award
David Kimmey (BME+MECH ’20)
Sarah Maclean (BME+EE ’20)
Jordan Schlitzer (BME+MECH ’20)
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.
2020
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:
- 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”
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.
- The following two students received Platinum for the Drivers of Innovation Award for their presentations.
- 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”
- Diego Bernardi Bestel, Mechanical Engineering, received Silver for the Drivers of Innovation Award for their presentation, “Development of a High-Efficiency Ultra-Low Emissions Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Engine.”
The Graduate Student Council (GSC): New Graduate Student Award recognizes students in their first three semesters of graduate work. The GSC has always had a strong focus on welcoming new graduate students to CSU and empowering them to succeed. Offering the New Graduate Student Award in partnership with the Graduate School, is yet another way to help emerging scholars reach their full potential.
- Lisa Wang, Civil and Environmental Engineering, received Research Top Scholar for the New Graduate Student Award for their presentation, “Effect of Building Wind-Retrofit Strategies on Socio-economic Community-Level Resilience Metrics.”
The Undergraduate Choice Award is sponsored by the Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry. This category is designed to expose undergraduates to graduate level scholarship, facilitate the training of undergraduates in the critical analysis of scholarly products, and to reward graduate students whose work is perceived to be among the highest quality by the undergraduate team of judges.
- Avpreet Othee, Systems Engineering, received Research Top Scholar for the Undergraduate Choice Award for their presentation, “A Modeling Framework for Electrical Distributions Containing Harmonic Producing Loads.”
Winners from previous years
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