Student Awards and Recognition

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.

2021 winner Nick Daly, Computer Engineering

“Nick is one of those rare individuals who not only possesses very strong technical skills, but also strong leadership and communication skills, as well as strong emotional intelligence.”

2021 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

Previous winners and nominees

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

2021 Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity Showcase (CURC)

A 25-plus year tradition at CSU, CURC 2020 features more than 200 posters spotlighting undergraduate research from all eight colleges. Engineering students listed below received recognition for their work. 

Courtney Doherty, Mechanical Engineering

Effects of Microstructure on Polymeric Scaffold Mechanical Properties

Ethan Green, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Should I stay or should I go? Controlling the retention of a transgenic genetic element.

Sydney Alderfer, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Analysis of cell and nuclear morphology provides insights about cofilin activity in triple negative breast cancer cells

Paula Mendoza Moreno, Chemical and Biological Engineering

Economic and environmental sustainability assessment of conversion pathways for guayule bagasse into biofuels

Mentor: Evan Sproul

Abigail Fennell, Biomedical and Chemical and Biological Engineering

Characterization of the microbiome associated with Culicoides sonorensis

Mentor: Brad Borlee

Carson Green, Electrical Engineering

Analysis of Lubricants used for Natural Gas Conmpressors at High Temperatures and Pressures

Mentors: Bret Windom, Jesse Schulthess

Sydney Alderfer, Chemical and Biological Engineering

A Diabetic Retinopathy Model for the Automated Detection of Eye Disease in Astronaut Retinal Images

Experience Celebrate Undergraduate Research and Creativity

Visit the online gallery to see all of the posters and hear audio commentary from the students

2021 virtual CSU Demo Day

Each year CSU Ventures presents Demo Day, featuring students, faculty and staff from across the university and in 2021 from CSU-Pueblo. Participants present innovative work, competing for more than $20,000 in cash awards.

Hanna Narans, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Mo Hussein, Department of Systems Engineering

Deniz Besiktepe, joint program in the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Management

First Place:  

Juan Rodriguez, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Second Place:

Zachary Gilvey, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Third Place:

Iman Naseri, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Check out the innovative work at CSU Demo Day

Each presenter prerecorded a 30-second introduction and a 3-minute talk for the virtual audience and included a digital poster on the custom platform.

2021 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.

Herbert Riehl Memorial Award

Kevin Barry

Alumni Award

Jennie Bukowski  

Atmospheric Science Awards Page

Outstanding Sophomore

Amanda Schmidt, EmmaKate Raisley, Brett Wilson, Brian Kelly

Outstanding Junior

Lauren Beatty, Richard Nash, Abigail Fennell

Outstanding Senior

Alycia Pisano, Jacob Tamani, Garrett Ruf, Taylor Ausec

Outstanding Service

Mason Vess, Isabella Brandes, Zeus Alcon, Alejandro Benitez

Academic Excellence

Nick Velasquez, Khalid Alanazi, Sydney Alderfer, Juan Venegas

Prof Involvement

Michelle Hefner, Camila Podominick

Research Excellence

Paula Mendoza Moreno, Sarah Easton, Joshua Cook

The Green and Gold Award

Kyle Howe

The Tutor and Mentoring Impact Award

Hannah “Ru” Mabry

Outstanding Civil Engineer of the Future Award: Matthew Bullock

This award is given to a civil engineering senior with extraordinary academic achievement combined with potential for professional success.

Civil Engineering Achievement Award: Katie Ascough

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: Kayla Schultz

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: Billy Joel

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: Zakri Siegel

This award is given to an environmental engineering senior with extraordinary academic achievement combined with potential for professional success.

Environmental Engineering Student Leadership Award: Theresa Centola

This award is given to an environmental engineering senior with an outstanding record of leadership and service, combined with academic success.

The “Got Grit” Award
The Got Grit award is in recognition of outstanding achievement by a graduating senior who has demonstrated progressive and positive growth, and who has exhibited perseverance and passion in pursuit of their education.

 Giuliana Seretti and Kojo Otoo

 ECE Academic Achievement Awards
Recognition for their outstanding and consistent academic performance over the course of their undergraduate career in ECE:

  • William Brandt – electrical engineering
  • Nick Daly – computer engineering
  • Najy Faour – electrical engineering
  • Iris He – electrical engineering
  • Jason Kiehlbauch – computer engineering
  • Sam Wolyn – computer engineering
  • Andy Worcester – computer engineering

Derek L. Lile Leadership Award
The Derek L. Lile Leadership Award is presented to an ECE student who has demonstrated the strong traits and characteristics of being a true leader.

 Ryan Guidice

 ECE Outstanding Contribution Award
The ECE Outstanding Contribution Award recognizes time, effort, and participation in activities and initiatives that benefit the department, and engage fellow ECE undergrads to become involved in department activities.

 Kailee Mitsuyasu

ECE Undergraduate Research Awards
This year’s ECE Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award recognizes outstanding achievement by an undergraduate student who has demonstrated “progressive and positive growth in their performance in research.” Three students are recognized this year: 

  • Wyatt Suit
  • Ryan Gloekler
  • Peter Walsh

ECE Best Professor and Excellence in Teaching Award

 Olivera Notaros

Top Three Senior Design Teams for ECE
ECE Senior Design teams who have placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in judging this year:

  1. High Average Power Ultrafast Laser
  2. Well Plate
  3. Wheat Stem SawFly Sensor

Outstanding Engineering Science Student

Brianna Bartlett

Junior Academic Excellence Award: Vincent Berardi

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: Kayla Hackett

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: Peyton McNeill

This award is given to a junior MECH student who demonstrates strong potential for research.

Outstanding Senior Researcher Award: Eli Lerner

This award is given to a senior MECH student who demonstrates strong potential for research.

Outstanding Student Leadership Award: Christina Chang

This award is given to a junior or senior MECH student with a strong record of leadership and service, combined with academic success.

Senior Design Awards

1st place

    • Biomedical Sciences Diseased Animal Activity Monitoring (Project #12)
    • Members: Jacqueline Clark, Kayla Hackett, Hannah Hindie, Sean Mulvihill

2nd place

    • H2O and Go (Project #31)
    • Members: Steven Baird, Michael Bowers, Brandon Cook, Halley Havlicek, Tara Mensch

3rd place

    • Lockheed Martin HET Propulsion (Project #25)
    • Members: Joseph Clemmer, Matt Collard, Kolbin Dahley, Tyler Kelly, Sam Reagan

Senior Research Awards (MECH 498)

  • 1st place – Becca Schaldach
  • 2nd place – Colin Slunecka
  • 3rd place – Doncey Albin
  • Honorable Mention – Abbie Maben

 

Outstanding Junior Researcher

  • Sydney Alderfer BME+CBE, Class of 2022
  • Michelle Hefner BME+CBE, Class of 2022

Outstanding Senior Researcher

  • Tara Mensch BME+MECH, Class of 2021
  • Tracey Wick BME+CBE, Class of 2021

Rising Star

  • Sebastian Lawton BME+CBE, Class of 2024
  • Nyzek Rodriguez BME+MECH, Class of 2024
  • Zabiba Husen BME+CBE, Class of 2024
  • Catherine Burr BME+MECH, Class of 2024

Outstanding Academic Achievement

  • Rachel Keating BME+CBE, Class of 2021
  • Mallory Knudsen BME+CBE, Class of 2021
  • Kaitie Wood BME+EE, Class of 2021
  • Faith Otieno BME+EE, Class of 2021
  • Meghan Morrill BME+MECH, Class of 2021
  • Emily Hoffmann BME+MECH, Class of 2021

 Outstanding Service

  • Peter Lohrisch BME+MECH, Class of 2021
  • Amy Keisling BME+MECH, Class of 2021

Service and Leadership
Passion to Purpose

  • Hannah “Ru” Mabry BME+CBE, Class of 2021

Outstanding Undergraduate Award

  • Greta Gohring BME+CBE, Class of 2021
  • Janaye Matthews BME+CEE, Class of 2021
  • Katrina Lems BME+MECH, Class of 2021

Trifecta!

  • Steven Hsu BME+CBE, Music, Class of 2021
  • Alyssa Caldwell-McGee BME+CBE, Biology, Class of 2021

Outstanding M.S. Project Award

  • Lowell Hanson
  • AI-Assisted, Human-in-the-Loop Decision Making within Hybrid Satellite Constellations

Outstanding Thesis Award

Other Department Awards

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.

Graduate Student Showcase

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

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

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

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