College of Engineering Recognizes Top Students at 2024 Dean鈥檚 Awards Dinner
2024 Dean鈥檚 Award Recipients
The College of Engineering recognized outstanding seniors and graduate students from the Class of 2024 at the 49th annual Dean鈥檚 Awards Dinner. Held Thursday, April 11, at Overbrook Golf Club in 奶糖直播, Pa., the event capped off an academic year in which about 260 Engineering students will receive their bachelor鈥檚 degrees, 133 will receive their master鈥檚 degrees and 15 will receive their doctoral degrees.
Learn more about each of the award winners in the .
Grand Challenges Scholars
The National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) is an engineering education supplement that broadens the reach of undergraduate study by preparing students to think in international terms; by developing the perspectives and skills needed to find solutions to real and urgent problems; and by offering a clear view to future jobs that matter and the opportunities in engineering. The Grand Challenges Scholar for the Class of 2024 was Emma Olson 鈥24 CE.
Engineering Midshipman Award
New for 2024, this recognition is awarded to a Midshipman 1st Class enrolled in the College of Engineering. The awardee is recognized for exemplary achievement in three specific areas: outstanding academic achievement indicated by a GPA of 3.75 or higher; leadership as demonstrated by participation in leadership and/or management positions in 奶糖直播鈥檚 NROTC unit; and service to the College of Engineering. The inaugural recipient of the Engineering Midshipman Award was Jonathan Forbes 鈥24 ChE.
Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award
The Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award is presented to a graduating Engineering student with a minor in Engineering Entrepreneurship who has achieved distinction through demonstration of exceptional entrepreneurial pursuit both inside and outside the classroom. The recipient of the 2024 Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award was James McCullough 鈥24 ME.
Humanitarian Engineering Student Award
This award is presented to a graduating engineering student who exemplifies a commitment to serving communities in need through applied engineering, technical support on sustainable development, and ethical engagement in a global context. The recipient of the 2024 Humanitarian Engineering Student Award was Jonathan Auman 鈥24 MSSE.
Academic Achievement
The Dean鈥檚 Award for Academic Achievement was established to recognize outstanding academic performance by a graduating senior. The Dean presents this award to students in the top 10% of their major at the end of the fall term. The recipients for 2024 were:
Michael Blandino 鈥24 ME
Joshua Busch 鈥24 CpE
Andrea Cabot Sorrentini 鈥24 ME
Joseph Carillo 鈥24 ME
Michael Castelli 鈥24 EE
Ciara Coulter 鈥24 ChE
Jonathon Cowger 鈥24 CpE
Joseph DeMarco 鈥24 CpE
Matthew Devitt 鈥24 ChE
Ryan Forte 鈥24 ChE
Stepan Gorelenkov 鈥24 EE
Jacob Janavel 鈥24 EE
Luke Lagalante 鈥24 ChE
Broderick Lane 鈥24 ChE
Andrew Lin 鈥24 ME
Ethan Maharas 鈥24 CE
Emma Olson 鈥24 CE
Emily Orr 鈥24 ME
Ryan Pecharo 鈥24 ChE
Kendra Power 鈥24 CE
Jake Prochniak 鈥24 ME
Emma Robert 鈥24 CE
Griffin Schenker 鈥24 CpE
Sara Walsh 鈥24 CE
Eric Yablonski 鈥24 ME
Lucas Yannul 鈥24 CpE
Meritorious Service
The Dean鈥檚 Award for Meritorious Service was established to recognize exceptional service to the College of Engineering as reflected in sustained extracurricular or service activities. Selected students demonstrated noteworthy leadership in one or more activities. This year鈥檚 recipients were:
Andrea Cabot Sorrentini 鈥24 ME
Mary Dam 鈥24 ChE
Brianna Davis 鈥24 CE
Jenna Fazio 鈥24 CpE
Ryan Forte 鈥24 ChE
Karl David Fotso 鈥24 ChE
Ryan Hodnett 鈥24 ME
Andrew Kline 鈥24 CE
Belen Labarta Galan 鈥24 CE
Emma Olson 鈥24 CE
Emma Robert 鈥24 CE
Kaya Robinson 鈥24 ME
Justin Siegel 鈥24 ME
Will Stoval 鈥24 ME
Jordin Thomas-Lamothe 鈥24 CE
Department Medallions
The criteria used in determining the winners of the department medallions include academic achievement as indicated by the cumulative and technical grade point averages, as well as the quality and consistency of the co-curricular contributions that the student has made to the College and the department. This year鈥檚 recipients were:
Robert E. White Chemical Engineering Award: Ryan Forte 鈥24 ChE
Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Student Award: Emma Robert 鈥24 CE
Computer Engineering Outstanding Student Award: Joshua Busch 鈥24 CpE
Electrical Engineering Outstanding Student Award: Stepan Gorelenkov 鈥24 EE
Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Student Award: Michael Blandino 鈥24 ME
Departmental Master of Science Student Awards
These department-level awards are presented in recognition of outstanding graduate research, leadership, and service to the College. The honorees for 2024 were:
Simon Brooks 鈥21 ChE, 鈥24 MSSE
Luke Molnar 鈥24 MSCE
Catherine Sharo 鈥23 ChE, 鈥24 MSBChE
Grace Sutoris 鈥22 ME, 鈥24 MSME
College of Engineering Outstanding Master of Science Student Award
The College of Engineering Outstanding Master of Science Student Award is presented to a graduating master鈥檚 degree student who has achieved distinction through outstanding graduate academics and research, and through exemplary leadership and service to 奶糖直播 and the College of Engineering. The 2024 recipient was Nayeon Kwak 鈥22 CE, 鈥24 MSCE, whose master鈥檚 thesis was titled 鈥淕reening the Gray: Assessing Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Hydrologic Impact.鈥 She was advised by Dr. Kelly Good and Dr. Virginia Smith.
College of Engineering Outstanding Doctoral Student Award
The College of Engineering Outstanding Doctoral Student Award is presented to a graduating PhD student who has achieved distinction through outstanding scholarship in the doctoral program and through exemplary leadership and service to 奶糖直播 University and the College of Engineering. The recipient of this year鈥檚 Outstanding Doctoral Student Award was Bchara Sidnawi 鈥23 PhD, whose dissertation was titled 鈥淧hysics-Based Mathematical Modeling in the Cardiovascular System: From Arterial Flow Characterization to a Novel Theory for Flow-Mediated Dilation.鈥 He was advised by Dr. Qianhong Wu.
Dean Michele Marcolongo presented the 2024 Robert D. Lynch Award to Kaya Robinson 鈥24 ME.
Robert D. Lynch Award
The Robert D. Lynch Award was instituted in 2003 in honor of the Dean of the College of Engineering from 1975 to 2000. Sponsored by the 奶糖直播 University Engineering Alumni Society, this prestigious award acknowledges a graduating senior for their outstanding academic achievements and exemplary dedication to serving the community, thus representing the highest values of 奶糖直播 University and the College of Engineering. The Robert D. Lynch Award recipient for the Class of 2024 was Kaya Robinson 鈥24 ME.