College of Engineering Celebrates Top Students

Madeline Suellentrop
Photo Submitted

Madeline Suellentrop

Members of the College of Engineering gathered virtually April 28 to honor the college's top students.

Every year, a graduating senior is named as the College Outstanding Senior. This person is truly an example of the values of the College of Engineering. The student has excelled academically and has taken advantage of other opportunities, such as internships and design projects, which allowed them to learn new skills and develop as an engineer.

Madeline Suellentrop, a senior industrial engineering major, was named the College of Engineering 2021 Outstanding Senior. Suellentrop spoke at the college's commencement ceremony May 7.

This year, there were two runner-up candidates for the College Outstanding Senior honor: Haley Ellis, biological & agricultural engineering, and Gunner Lawless, computer science.

Outstanding Departmental Seniors

Each department also recognized an outstanding senior:

  • Biological and Agricultural Engineering: Haley Ellis
  • Biomedical Engineering: Smit Patel
  • Chemical Engineering: Vera Rodriguez Blanco
  • Computer Engineering: Carson Molder
  • Computer Science: Gunner Lawless
  • Civil Engineering: Olivia Overton
  • Electrical Engineering: JohnDavid Lancaster
  • Industrial Engineering: Madeline Suellentrop
  • Mechanical Engineering: Anna Fisher

First-Ranked Senior Scholars

The college recognized 21 First-Ranked Senior Scholars who received a 4.0 grade point average on all coursework completed at the U of A:

Biological & Agricultural Engineering

  • Isaac Bertels
  • Marret Lineberry

Chemical Engineering

  • Kaitlyn Marie Brinza
  • Reed Leasure
  • Andrew George McLellan
  • Meagan Olsen

Civil Engineering

  • Lane Curtis Edwards
  • John Thomas Haney
  • William Hoisington

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

  • Luke Henry Brandon
  • Austin Allen Chitmon
  • Gunner Lawless
  • Huy Xuan Mai
  • Carson Molder
  • Zhi Han Weng

Electrical Engineering

  • Cody Joseph Tidwell

Industrial Engineering

  • Conner Waybright

Mechanical Engineering

  • Mikael Borge
  • Jeremy Alexander Collins
  • Anna Fisher
  • Jared Micheal Gilliam

Senior Scholars

Thirteen students were honored as U of A senior scholars, who received a 4.0 grade point average on all course work, including some transfer work:

Biological & Agricultural Engineering

  • Haley Ellis
  • Rachael Koehler
  • Clay Schuler

Biomedical Engineering

  • Rebekah Townsley
  • Elise Wyatt

Chemical Engineering

  • Kyle Key
  • Vera Rodriguez Blanco

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

  • Julie Bigot

Electrical Engineering

  • Kevin Hobbs
  • Anjolaoluwa Sowande
  • Cameron West
  • Gui Zhijun

Industrial Engineering

  • Madeline Suellentrop

Porter Stone Co-op Award

The College of Engineering recognized six students with the Porter Stone Co-op Award, which recognizes excellence in cooperative education. Recipients were:

Chemical Engineering

  • Loc Huynh

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

  • Gillian Dirkson
  • Esteban Duran Marti
  • Ellis Tran

Electrical Engineering

  • Cameron West

Industrial Engineering

  • Laura Acosta Aguirre

Distinguished Doctoral Fellows

Several graduate students were recognized based on their high level of past achievements and future potential. The Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship recipients for fall 2020 to fall 2021 were:

Biomedical Engineering

  • Kaitlyn Elmer
  • Amanda (Coleman) Walls

Chemical Engineering

  • Lars "Berent" Ostervold III

Civil Engineering

  • Jesse Ivers
  • Julia Loshelder
  • Elizabeth Poblete

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

  • Alycia Carey

Electrical Engineering

  • Anna Corbitt

Mechanical Engineering

  • Joshua Kasitz
  • Garrett Story

Doctoral Academy Fellows

The Doctoral Academy Fellowships recipients for fall 2020 - fall 2021 were:

Biomedical Engineering

  • Erin Drewke
  • Malavika Nidhi
  • Sriya Pokharel
  • Chris Slavin

Chemical Engineering

  • Sami Fares
  • Kyle Key
  • Carl Plumley

Civil Engineering

  • Afeez Badmus
  • Anindya Debnath
  • Rilye Dillard

Computer Science & Computer Engineering

  • Aneesh Komanduri
  • Minh Duc Le
  • Huy Xuan Mai
  • Rafael Toche Pizano

Electrical Engineering

  • Xia Du

Mechanical Engineering

  • Tonie Butler
  • Fatih Cengil
  • Joseph Dees
  • Abigail Eaton
  • Francisco Gonzalez-Castillo
  • Julia Hoskins
  • Ange-Christian Iradukunda

Also this year, four engineering students were honored by the National Science Foundation with graduate research fellowships. Elizabeth Anne Bullard and Amanda (Coleman) Walls, biomedical engineering, and Meagan Olsen, chemical engineering, earned fellowships. Carson Molder, computer engineering, earned an honorable mention.

Coleman Warren, a junior industrial engineering major, was selected as a 2021 Harry S. Truman Scholarship recipient. The Truman Scholarship is given to students based on their leadership, academic achievement and dedication to a career in public service. Warren was chosen from among 845 applicants from 328 institutions.

Each year the university recognizes one student in each undergraduate school and college, and one law student, as Presidential Scholars. Dominique Savage, a chemical engineering major, was named as a 2021 Presidential Scholar in the College of Engineering. This program was established in recognition of James E. Martin, former president of the U of A. Each Presidential Scholar is recognized from among upper-class students on the basis of grade-point average and receives an award of $1,000.

Finally, the First-Year Engineering Program (FEP) celebrated Gianna Busch and Anshuman Nandy. Busch was awarded the Peer Mentor of the Year award to honor and celebrate the outstanding efforts of a mentor. Nandy was named Freshman of the Year for his persistence in his education and professional life, as well as showing a desire to give back to his fellow students in the area of mentorship, leadership development and social awareness.

Headlines

Food Scientists Show Rice Malt Has Potential to Play a Bigger Role in Beer

With Arkansas growing about half of the rice in the United States, and shortages of traditional raw materials such as barley, evaluating rice cultivars for use in malted brewing was one goal of U of A researchers.

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Senior Design Projects Reviewed by Alumni

Students condensed their design work into senior design projects and presented them for department alumni and other industry professionals, gaining insights from peers and faculty members.

An Evening With NWA Soldier Songs and Voices: The Healing Power of Music

Members of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of Soldier Songs and Voices will share their experiences and perform music in the Pryor Center atrium at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 5.

University Not Pursuing Full External Management of Custodial and Grounds Services

Following an evaluation process that provided the U of A with the opportunity to learn more about its current operations compared to the market, the university will maintain its current workforce.

NAHJ UARK: Free Churros and Sodas During J-Days Celebration

 The U of A chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists will offer churros and sodas on the north patio of Kimpel Hall from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday. Stop by and support your local journalist.

News Daily