Dean’s Awards Recognize Outstanding Seniors, Grad Students
Dean Michele Marcolongo gathers with award recipients at the annual Dean’s Awards Dinner.
The College of Engineering recognized outstanding seniors and graduate students Thursday, April 21, at the 47th annual Dean’s Awards ceremony. Held at Overbrook Golf Club a year after COVID-19 forced the assembly to move outdoors, the event capped off a year in which more than 260 engineering students received their bachelor’s degrees, with 127 others receiving their master’s and six more receiving their doctorates.
Rev. William F. Farrell Award
The presentations began with the Rev. William F. Farrell Award, which was established in 1975 to recognize an engineering faculty or staff member who has demonstrated exemplary personal concern for students, as voted upon by Villanova Engineering students. The 2022 award was presented to Dr. David Cereceda, an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Grand Challenge Scholars
The National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program (GCSP) is an engineering education supplement that broadens the reach of undergraduate study by preparing students to think in international terms; developing the perspectives and skills needed to find solutions to real and urgent problems; and offering a clear view to future jobs that matter and the opportunities in engineering. The Grand Challenges Scholars for the Class of 2022 were Mai Khuc, ME and Ryan Ford, ChE.
Robert D. Lynch Award
The Robert D. Lynch Award was instituted in 2003 in honor of the Dean of the College of Engineering from 1975 to 2000. Sponsored by the Engineering Alumni Society, this prestigious award acknowledges a graduating senior for their outstanding academic achievements and exemplary dedication to serving the community, thus representing the highest values of Villanova University and the College of Engineering. The Robert D. Lynch Award recipient for the Class of 2022 was Jared Brewer, ME.
Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award
New for 2022, the Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award is presented to a graduating engineering student with a minor in Engineering Entrepreneurship who has achieved distinction through demonstration of exceptional entrepreneurial pursuit both inside and outside the classroom. The recipient of the inaugural Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award was Joseph Zinno, ME.
Departmental Medallions
The criteria used in determining the winner of the department medallion include academic achievement as indicated by the cumulative and technical grade point averages, as well as the quality and consistency of the co-curricular contributions that the student has made to the College and the department. This year’s recipients were:
Simon Blanchard, ChE
Brittany Larm, CEE
Michael Sommeling, CpE
Kathryn Stringer, EE
Charles Yoo, ME
Academic Excellence
The Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence was established to recognize outstanding academic performance by a graduating senior. The Dean presents this award to students in the top 10% of their major at the end of the fall term. The recipients for 2022 were:
Julia Al-Nawal, ME
Simon Blanchard, ChE
*Jared Brewer, ME
Grace Callaghan, CE
Madelyn Canuso, ChE
Matthew Clarke, EE
Isaac De Leon, ME
Ryan Ford, ChE
Joseph Gigantino, EE
Ryan Haack, EE
Jack Hagelbarger, ME
Tara Housen, ME
Shenda Huang, CpE
Mai Khuc, ME
Nayeon Kwak, CE
Jordann Landa, CE
Brittany Larm, CE
Daniel Lewis, CpE
Cole Marcuccio, ChE
Gabriela Marziano, ChE
Troy Merone, CE
Jennifer Mollica, CE
Hoang Nguyen, CpE
Steven Nigro, ME
Emma Pacelli, CE
*Alexa Panuccio, CpE
*Emily Pingelski, CE
Trevor Potts, CpE
Martin Quinan, EEMatthew Rossignol, EE
Michael Sommeling, CpE
Raymond Soya III, ME
Kevin Stinson, ME
Kathryn Stringer, EE
Emma Sunderland, CpE
Kolin Thievon, ChE
Matthew Wain, CE
Xingjian Wang, CpE
Owen Ward, EE
Nicholas Warhola, ChE
Brandon Won, CpE
Charles Yoo, ME
Brendan Zeuthen, ME
Meritorious Service
The Dean’s Award for Meritorious Service was established to recognize exceptional service to the College of Engineering as reflected in sustained extracurricular or service activities. Selected students have demonstrated noteworthy leadership in one or more activities. This year’s recipients were:
Herveline August, CE
Michael Blaney, ME
*Jared Brewer, ME
Griffin Davis, EE
Kelly Delawder, EE
Christina Maffattone, ME
James McGillen, CE
Claudia Moccia, ME
Marion Murzello, CpE
Cesar Nunez Rodriguez, EE
Shannon Oakes, ChE
Raymond Ogunjimi, CpE
*Alexa Panuccio, CpE
*Emily Pingelski, CE
Annalise Thomas, ME
Samuel Thomas, ME
Joseph Zinno, ME
*Recipients of both the Academic Excellence and Meritorious Service awards
Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
The Outstanding Graduate Student Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding graduate research, leadership, and service to the College. The honorees for 2022 were:
Ayodele Awotunde, ChE
Seth Lionetti, ME
Matthew McGauley, CEE
Mauro Sanchirico, EE
Brandon Simons, SE
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
The College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Student Award is presented to a graduating master’s degree student who has achieved distinction through outstanding graduate academics and research, and through exemplary leadership and service to Villanova and the College of Engineering. The 2022 recipient was Mauro Sanchirico, EE, whose master’s thesis was titled “The Analytically Modified Integral Transform Expansion Applied to Neural Networks and Other Nonlinear Systems” and who was advised by Dr. C. Nataraj and Dr. Xun Jiao.
Outstanding Doctoral Student Award
The College of Engineering Outstanding Doctoral Student Award is presented to graduating PhD students who have achieved distinction through outstanding scholarship in the doctoral program and through exemplary leadership and service to Villanova University and the College of Engineering. The recipient of this year’s Outstanding Doctoral Student Award was Dieter Bender, whose dissertation was titled “Diagnostic Algorithms and Data-Driven Knowledge Discovery Integrating Domain Expertise for Complex Biomedical Problems” and who was advised by Dr. C. Nataraj.