Auburn Engineering recognizes outstanding students, faculty, staff, alumni at annual spring awards ceremony

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering hosted its annual spring awards ceremony in the Brown-Kopel Center Friday, April 10. Students, faculty, staff and alumni were recognized for outstanding leadership, achievement and service to the college.

“Our spring awards ceremony is a wonderful opportunity to recognize some of the best the college has to offer,” said Mario Eden, dean of engineering. “We are extremely proud of all of the students, faculty, staff and alumni awardees for their amazing accomplishments this year.”

Below are the 2026 award recipients:

Alley Family Graduate Student Leadership Fellowship

• Ayden Kemp, Biosystems Engineering

 100+ Women Strong Outstanding Departmental Annual Graduate Award

• Robin Weaver and Ana Barona Mejia, Aerospace Engineering
• Ayden Kemp and Dative Niyonizeye, Biosystems Engineering
• Jinny Cha and Tori Phillips, Chemical Engineering
• Riana Rivera and Carolina Triboni, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Maryam Bigonah and Disharee Bhowmick, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Joshita Majumdar and Clara Meincke, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Maram Shaqir and Savannah Maples, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Steven Porterfield and Valentina Nesterova, Materials Engineering
• Krista Dyer and Paxton Albright, Mechanical Engineering

 100+ Women Strong Leadership Graduate Student Award

• Samantha Mariano, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Kate Handel, Chemical Engineering

 100+ Women Strong Leadership Undergraduate Student Award

• Allison Brooks, Aerospace Engineering
• Sally Wingard, Biosystems Engineering

 100+ Women Strong Graduate Student Fellowship Award

• Maryam Bigonah, Aerospace Engineering
• Shireen Singh, Biosystems Engineering

 100+ Women Strong High Impact Award

• Manan Patel, Aerospace Engineering
• Lillian Elser, Aerospace Engineering
• Isabella Lowery, Chemical Engineering
• Nate Maehlmann, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Yusuf Zengul, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Jessica Johnson, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• PJ Green, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• James Barber, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Skyla Vandiver, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Hayden Gross, Materials Engineering
• Mia King, Mechanical Engineering
• Max Lobato, Mechanical Engineering

100+ Women Strong Inspiring Leadership Faculty/Staff Award

• Frances O’Donnell, associate professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Vandegrift Co-op Student of the Year

• Marrin Morris, Biosystems Engineering

 Auburn Alumni Engineering Council Award for Outstanding Student Organizations

• American Railway Engineering and Maintenance Association
• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
• Water and Environmental Student Organization

Fred and Mary Lou Birdsong Study Abroad Scholarship

• Alena Ha, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Ellary Hackworth, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Haley Morgan, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Isabella Civello, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Jack Stuckas, Mechanical Engineering
• Jaylynn Wilson, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Kaylee Routh, Mechanical Engineering

• Mallory Whitt, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Mary Frances Springfield, Chemical Engineering
• Tioma Turkic, Mechanical Engineering

Jeff and Linda Stone Leadership Awards

• Sara Davis, Aerospace Engineering
• James Barber, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Malia Chitwood, Mechanical Engineering
• Benjamin Tzou, Mechanical Engineering
• Michael Reuss, Chemical Engineering
• Michael Stonecash, Mechanical Engineering
• Joseph McElroy, Computer Science and Software Engineering

Outstanding Departmental Student Awards

• Dakota Willingham, Aerospace Engineering
• Al Dean Francisco, Biosystems Engineering
• Daniel Burque, Chemical Engineering
• India Warren, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• John Lieb, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Carter Williams, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Jonathan Gunasekaran, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Harrison Bonner, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Kate Kinnamon, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Nick Raciti, Mechanical Engineering

Samuel Ginn Outstanding Engineering Student Award

• Al Dean Francisco, Biosystems Engineering

Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship

Faculty:

• Davide Guzzetti, Aerospace Engineering
• Missie Smith, Industrial and Systems Engineering

Student:

• Eirik Mulder, Aerospace Engineering
• Benjamin Tankersley, Industrial and Systems Engineering

 Alumni Council High Impact Awards

• Kennedi Hawkins, Chemical Engineering
• Aubrey Foote, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Parker Story, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Christian Hamff, Computer Science and Software Engineering

 Outstanding Departmental Faculty Awards

• Vrishank Raghav, Aerospace Engineering
• Tanzeel Rehman, Biosystems Engineering
• Bill Josephson, Chemical Engineering
• Lynnae Stypulkowski, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Charles Shaffer, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Clint Snider, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Daniel Silva, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Taylor Oldfather, Mechanical Engineering

Fred H. Pumphrey Teaching Award

• Lynnae Stypulkowski, Civil and Environmental Engineering

William F. Walker Teaching Awards

Merit:

• Vishalini Ramnath, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Nicoletta Fala, Aerospace Engineering

Superior:

• Steven Duke, Chemical Engineering

Research Awards for Excellence

Junior Faculty:

• Michael Howard, Chemical Engineering

Senior Faculty:

• Zhihua Jiang, Chemical Engineering

Outstanding Staff Award

• Emily Maddox, manager of Salesforce and Data Administration

Staff Champion for the Student Experience Award

• Andrew McGill, manager of Engineering Recruitment, in the Recruitment, Outreach and Scholarship office

Code of Conduct and Ethics Coin Award

• Alicia Harkless, director of Engineering Online and Continuing Education
• Karen Clark, student services coordinator in Mechanical Engineering
• Leah Blair, manager of corporate relations for the Office of Career Development and Corporate Relations

Outstanding Departmental Alumni Awards

• Joel Sills, Aerospace Engineering
• Sherri Morgan, Biosystems Engineering
• Ashley Robinett, Chemical Engineering
• Mark Widdowson, Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Sundeep Myneni, Computer Science and Software Engineering
• Jeff Haars, Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Michael Gaines, Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Todd Dorough, Materials Engineering
• John Prunkl, Mechanical Engineering