Annual Student Awards
The Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion recognizes outstanding student contributions and leadership every spring semester.
Here are the spring 2021 recipients, organized alphabetically by program:
International Engineering Program (IEP)
IEP Photo Contest
International Engineering Programs (IEP), which helps engineering community better support international students, launched a photo contest to capture the full breadth of what college life looks like for students during COVID-19. Photo submissions from students captured daily life, virtual learning, daily life, research, time on campus, and remote experiences.
Chaitanya Gautam, first-year engineering
“Into the empty loop of the University Park”
Lorena Ribeiro, architectural engineering
“Powering teamwork despite the current pandemic”
Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP)
Multicultural Engineering Program Emerging Leader Award

Jimmy Sek
First year
Intended major: Industrial engineering

Matthew Philip Cimafranca
First year
Intended major: Mechanical engineering
Multicultural Engineering Program Outstanding Leader Award

Briana Wilson
Bachelor of science, industrial engineering
Multicultural Engineering Program Outstanding Mentor Award

Malik Smith
Second year
Major: Computer science
Nominated by Matthew Philip Cimafranca
Student Research and Graduate Equity
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Achievement

Johnathan Vicente
Bachelor of science, mechanical engineering
Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Cody Gonzalez
Doctoral student, mechanical engineering

Dorcas Kaweesa
Doctoral student, mechanical engineering
Student Transitions and Pre-College Programs
Outstanding Student Leader Award
The Outstanding Student Leader Award is presented to two graduating students who have exhibited continuous exemplary leadership, served as well-respected role models, and have persistently demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting Commonwealth Engineering Scholars.

Erica Luongo
Bachelor of science, civil engineering

Gabriela Gonzalez
Bachelor of science, computer engineering
Women in Engineering Program (WEP)
Joelle Leadership Award
The Joelle Leadership Award recognizes outstanding leadership contributions by an undergraduate to the College of Engineering. The award is endowed by Dr. Edward and Jane Liszka in honor of her parents, Joseph and Eleanor Munafo. Joelle is a combination of their first names. Heather Liszka, daughter of Jane and Edward Liszka, is a 1994 engineering science graduate and former Society for Women Engineers president. Heather is currently a family practice physician. The Joelle recipient is an upper-level engineering undergraduate with an outstanding record of leadership, service, and citizenship that positively affect the climate for women in the College of Engineering and/or in the University.
Recipient:

Anika Ko
Bachelor of science, chemical engineering
Runners up:

Molly Sizemore
Bachelor and master of architectural engineering

Elizabeth Trautman
Bachelor of science, biomedical engineering
Schreyer Honors Scholar
Nadine Barry Smith Mentor Award
The Nadine Barrie Smith Mentor Award is endowed by Dr. Andrew Webb in honor of his wife, Dr. Nadine Barrie Smith. Dr. Smith, who unexpectedly passed away, was a founding member of Penn State Department of Biomedical Engineering and a member of the acoustics graduate program. Dr. Smith was a world-renowned expert in the fields of medical imaging and therapeutic ultrasound. As one of the few women faculty in engineering, she faced many challenges working in a male-dominated environment, and overcame them with determination, hard work, humor, and sheer talent. The Nadine Barrie Smith Mentor Award recipient is an upper-level undergraduate engineer who, like Nadine, has devoted significant time and resources to mentoring female students in their quests to become better students, people, and engineers.

Gracelyne Allred
Bachelor of science, aerospace engineering
Schreyer Honors Scholar

Lily Farmerie
Bachelor of science, biomedical engineering

Mariajose Figueroa
Third year
Major: Data sciences

Ann Lipinski
Bachelor of science, chemical engineering
Schreyer Honors Scholar
The WEP Outstanding Academic Facilitator Award
The WEP Outstanding Academic Facilitator Award recognizes the extraordinary contributions of WEP Academic Facilitators who go above and beyond to engage their study group members in meaningful enrichment to ensure success in each course. WEP-Facilitated Study Groups team small groups of first- and second-year students with an upper-level engineering facilitator who has demonstrated academic excellence in that course.

Katelyn Danczyk
Third year
Major: Industrial engineering

Emmeline Evans
Bachelor of science, mechanical engineering
Bachelor of arts, Spanish
Schreyer Honors Scholar