Annual Student Awards
The Center for Engineering Outreach and Inlcusion recognizes outstanding student contributions and leadership through a variety of awards.
The following lists our various recent recipients, organized alphabetically by program:
Graduate Equity
Julia D. Erdley Graduate Scholarship in the College of Engineering
The Julia D. Erdley Graduate Scholarship is awarded to graduate students in the College of Engineering, who exhibit academic excellence and showcase leadership and service to the Graduate Women in Engineering Program.
Cynthia Letting
Ph.D. candidate, mechanical engineering
Ayah Rub
Ph.D. candidate, architectural engineering
Samantha Splendido
Ph.D. candidate, mechanical engineering
Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Award
The outstanding graduate student leader award recognizes two graduate students for their outstanding leadership and service contributions to foster an inclusive graduate community in the College of Engineering and Penn State.
Luis R. Delgado Jr.
Ph.D. candidate, mechanical engineering
Victoria Vasquez
Ph.D. candidate, electrical engineering
Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP)
Multicultural Engineering Program, Emerging Leader Award
The MEP Emerging Leader Award highlights a first-year student who has contributed to fostering an inclusive community with active engagement in the Multicultural Engineering Program, throughout their first year.
Anwi Tadzong
First-year; Intended major: biomedical engineering
Claire Rawlins
First-year; Intended major: civil engineering
Multicultural Engineering Program, Outstanding Mentor Award
The MEP Outstanding Mentor Award celebrates upper-level mentors who have made a significant impact on the social and academic integration of their first-year mentees within the Multicultural Engineering Program.
Maya Haywood
Fifth-year, biomedical engineering
Multicultural Engineering Program, Outstanding Leader Award
The MEP Outstanding Leader Award honors student leaders within the Multicultural Engineering Program who have worked tirelessly to give back to the MEP community. These student leaders have a dedication and drive to positively impact the Multicultural Engineering Program, creating an inclusive environment for all.
Summer Walker
Fourth-year, electrical engineering
Matthew Cimafranca
Fourth-year, mechanical engineering
Jimmy Sek
Fourth-year, industrial engineering
Gisselle Zuniga
Fourth-year, civil engineering
Student Engagement
Engineering Student Tours and Resources (ESTAR) Most Tours Given: All-Time
This award is presented to the ESTAR who has given the most prospective student tours ever during their time as a Penn State College of Engineering student.
Catherine Mojazza
Fourth-year, biomedical engineering
Engineering Student Tours and Resources (ESTAR) Most Tours Given: Current Semester
This award is presented to the ESTAR who has given the most prospective student tours during the current semester (spring 2025).
Catherine Mojazza
Fourth-year, biomedical engineering
Juan Gamo
Third-year, engineering science
Olivia Leicht
First-year, industrial 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:
Sydney Assalita, First Place
Bachelor of science honors degree in engineering science, 2024
Runners up:
Katherine Maloney
Bachelor of science in chemical engineering, 2024
Mary Swigonski
Bachelor of science in manufacturing engineering, 2024
Nadine Barrie 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 the Penn State Department of Biomedical Engineering and a member of the acoustics graduate program. Dr. Smith was a world-renowned expert in 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.
Maya Beckley
Third-year; computer science
Isabella Lynch
Fourth-year; architectural engineering
Catherine Mojazza
Third-year, biomedical engineering
Kennais Simms
Fourth-year, architectural engineering
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.
Elise Fitsioris
Bachelor of science in biomedical engineering, 2024
PHYS 212 facilitator
Adrienne Griffiths
Fourth-year, biomedical engineering
EMCH 210 and 212 facilitator
Shaivi Tomar
Second-year, computer science
PHYS 211 and CMPSC 132 facilitator
