College Celebrates Fall 2019 Standout Students
The University of Arizona College of Engineering honored 20 seniors and graduate students for their accomplishments at the Outstanding Student Luncheon on Dec. 9, 2019. The students’ nominators commended the group for their performance not only in the classroom and the lab, but also in internships, volunteer organizations and campus groups. David W. Hahn, Craig M. Berge Dean of the college, encouraged students to keep expanding the boundaries of their comfort zones and said he looked forward to watching each of them succeed.
“I have no doubt that 20 years from now, 30 years from now, I’ll be long gone, but the next dean will be sitting down with you in some faraway city and talking about the great things going on at this university and asking for your help and congratulating your success,” he said.
The luncheon's honorees are listed in full below.
Outstanding Seniors
Aerospace Engineering: Jesse Samitas Chavarria, nominated by assistant professor Jekan Thanga
Biomedical Engineering: Josh Pace, nominated by professor and department Head Art Gmitro
Biosystems Engineering: Madeline Melichar, nominated by associate professor Kamel Didan
Civil Engineering: Daylan Toledo, nominated by associate professor of practice Dean Papajohn
Engineering Management: Kenniss Pannell, nominated by program director Bob Lepore
Industrial Engineering: Elizabeth Pelto, nominated by professor Changxu "Sean" Wu
Materials Science and Engineering: Gabrielle Lambert-Milak, nominated by professor and department Head Pierre Deymier
Mechanical Engineering: Shawn Granzier-Nakajima, nominated by professor and associate department Head Samy Missoum
Mining Engineering: Dan Higgins, nominated by associate professor Moe Momayez
Systems Engineering: Yesenia Machuca, nominated by lecturer Sam Peffers
Outstanding Graduate Students
Aerospace Engineering: Ravi Teja Nallapu, nominated by assistant professor Jekan Thanga
Biomedical Engineering: Marissa Lopez-Pier, nominated by associate professor John Konhilas
Biosystems Engineering: Ying Zhang, nominated by professor Murat Kacira
Civil Engineering and Engineering Management: Sayyed Mohsen Vazirizade, nominated by professor Achintya Haldar
Electrical and Computer Engineering: Ao Li, nominated by professor and Thomas R. Brown Endowed Chair Linda Powers
Environmental Engineering: Warren Kadoya, nominated by professor and assistant Dean Jim Field
Materials Science and Engineering: Bharati Neelamraju, nominated by assistant professor Erin Ratcliff
Mechanical Engineering: Xiaoxin Wang, nominated by professor and department Head Peiwen "Perry" Li
Mining and Geological Engineering: Blase LaSala, nominated by professor and department Head John Kemeny
Systems and Industrial Engineering: Jose Luis Ruiz Duarte, nominated by assistant professor Vignesh Subbian
Outstanding Student Luncheon 2019
Jesse Samitas-Chavarria, outstanding senior in aerospace engineering, with nominator Jekan Thanga and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Josh Pace, outstanding senior in biomedical engineering, with nominator Art Gmitro and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Madeline Melichar, outstanding senior in biosystems engineering, with nominator Kamel Didan and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Daylan Toledo, outstanding senior in civil engineering, with nominator Dean Papajohn and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Kenniss Pannell, outstanding senior in engineering management, with nominator Bob Lepore and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Elizabeth Pelto, outstanding senior in industrial engineering, with nominator Sean Wu and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Gabrielle Lambert-Milak, outstanding senior in materials science and engineering, with nominator Pierre Deymier and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Shawn Granzier-Nakajima, outstanding senior in mechanical engineering, with nominator Samy Missoum and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Daniel Higgins, outstanding senior in mining engineering, with nominator Moe Momayez and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Yesenia Machuca, outstanding senior in systems engineering, with nominator Sam Peffers and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Ravi Teja Nallapu, outstanding graduate student in aerospace engineering, with nominator Jekan Thanga and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Marissa Lopez-Pier, outstanding graduate student in biomedical engineering, with nominator John Konhilas and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Yin Zhang, outstanding graduate student in biosystems engineering, with nominator Murat Kacira and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Warren Kadoya, outstanding graduate student in environmental engineering, with nominator Jim Field and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Sayyed Mohsen Vazirizade, outstanding graduate student in civil engineering and engineering management, with nominator Achintya Haldar and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Ao Li, outstanding graduate student in electrical and computer engineering, with nominator Linda Powers and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Bharati Neelamraju, outstanding graduate student in materials science and engineering, with nominator Erin Ratcliff and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Blase LaSala, outstanding graduate student in mining and geological engineering, with nominator John Kemeny and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.
Jose Luis Ruiz Duarte, outstanding graduate student in systems and industrial engineering, with nominator Vignesh Subbian and Craig M. Berge Dean David Hahn.