Student Honor Awards
Class of 2009
Salisbury Prize
- Daniel J. Asselin, Aerospace Engineering
- Alexia D. Bililies, Humanities and Arts; International Studies
- Shawn P. Carey, Biomedical Engineering
- Linxiao Chen, Chemical Engineering
- Eugene Choi, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering
- Alexander G. Christakis, Biomedical Engineering
- Michael L. Diamant, Management Information Systems
- Christina E. Grant, Biology and Biotechnology
- Philip N. Hanson, Computer Science
- Neal K. Humphrey, Robotics Engineering; Psychological Science
- Geoffrey I. Karasic, Mechanical Engineering
- Joseph A. Krasinskas, Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Nicholas LeCompte, Mathematical Sciences; Physics
- Alison J. Leflore, Environmental Policy and Development
- Meghan A. Pasquali, Biomedical Engineering
- Zubin H. Patel, Biochemistry
- Joseph G. Politz, Computer Science
- Alexandra M. Sanseverino, Biology and Biotechnology
- Ilan Shomorony, Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mathematical Sciences
- Indraneel Sircar, Mechanical Engineering
- Daniel J. Smaltz, Chemistry
- Allison P. Smyth, Electrical and Computer Engineering
This award is made to the most meritorious seniors at the university. It was established by Stephen Salisbury II, a WPI founder and the first president of the Board of Trustees.
Two Towers Prize
- Indraneel Sircar '09, Mechanical Engineering (AWARDED 2008)
In keeping with the original purposes of the founders of WPI, the Two Towers Prize is awarded to students who, through general academic competence, campus leadership, regular course work, and special work in research and projects, best exemplify a combined proficiency in the theoretical and practical union that is at the heart of the WPI educational tradition. This prize was established by Mildred M. Tymeson Petrie, author of Two Towers, WPI's centennial history, published in 1965.
Sigma Xi Graduate Research Award
- Joshua A. Strauss, MS candidate, Chemical Engineering:
"Investigating Bacterial Lipopolysaccharides and Interactions with Antimicrobial Peptides"
Advisor: Terri Camesano. - Yatao Liu, PhD Awarded October 2008, Chemical Engineering: "Fundamental Investigation of Biological Interactions for Applications in Infection Prevention and Biomaterial Development" Advisor: Terri Camesano
This award, established in 1983, is presented for outstanding research by students at the master's and doctoral levels and is sponsored jointly by the Society of the Sigma Xi and the Committee on Graduate Studies and Research.
Marietta E. Anderson Award
- Krista Dietz '09 (AWARDED 2008)
Established by Arvid E. Anderson '20 in memory of his wife, this award was presented to outstanding freshman, sophomore, or junior women students who not only have a superior academic record, but have been work study students, volunteers for college-sponsored activities, and participants in recognized extracurricular activities.
Goldwater Scholarship
- Daniel J. Smaltz '09 (AWARDED 2008)
- Douglas K. Tischer '09 (AWARDED 2008)
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Program, established in 1986 to honor U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, is designed to foster and encourage outstanding students to pursue careers in the fields of mathematics, the natural sciences, and engineering.
Ellen Knott Award
- Lauren N. Alex '09 (AWARDED 2007)
- Krista L. Dietz '09 (AWARDED 2007)
- Christina E. Grant '09 (AWARDED 2007)
This award, honoring a longtime secretary in the Mechanical Engineering Department, was provided by funds from an anonymous donor. Based on academic excellence, contributions to the WPI community, and professional goals, the award is given in tribute to sophomore women students preparing for careers in engineering or science, and who have played significant roles at WPI.
Wilmer L. and Margaret M. Kranich Prize
- Krista L. Dietz '09
- Alexandra M. Sanseverino '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award was established in 1994 by Margaret Kranich to honor WPI students majoring in engineering or science who best exemplify excellence in the humanities and arts and the full integration of these disciplines into their undergraduate experience. Wilmer Kranich, her husband, was dean of graduate studies at WPI. Margaret Kranich taught a variety of courses at WPI over the years and, as an artist, painted portraits of four WPI presidents and of Robert H. Goddard, Class of 1908.
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Award
- Alexia Bililies '09
Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships fund international study for students and qualified professionals to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas.
Gertrude R. Rugg Award
- Shivahn M. Fitzell '09 (AWARDED 2006)
- Christina E. Grant '09 (AWARDED 2006)
- Alexandra M. Sanseverino '09 (AWARDED 2006)
This award, honoringWPI’s late registrar, is provided by funds from an anonymous donor. Based on academic excellence, contributions to theWPI community, and professional goals, the award is given in tribute to first-year women students preparing for a career in engineering or science who have played a significant role atWPI.
Bonnie-Blanche Schoonover Award
- Lauren Alex '09 (AWARDED 2008)
- Kathryn Bomba '09 (AWARDED 2008)
- Rachel Katz '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award, honoring WPI's former librarian, was provided by funds from an anonymous donor. Based on academic excellence, contributions to the WPI community, and professional goals, the award is given in tribute to junior women students preparing for a career in engineering or science, who have played a significant role at WPI.
Graduate Research Achievement Day Awards
Life Sciences and BioEngineering
- 1ST PLACE: Katie Bush (PhD candidate), "Improving Bioengineered Skin Substitutes: Controlling the Extracellular Matrix to Direct Epithelialization"
Advisor: George Pins (AWARDED 2008) - 2ND PLACE: Joshua Strauss (MS candidate), "Measuring the Binding of E. coli to Antimicrobial Peptides with Applications for Water and Food Safety"
Advisor: Terri Camesano (AWARDED 2008) - 3RD PLACE: Piyush Ramuka (MS candidate), "Adaptive Noise Cancellation in Pulse Oximetry: Feasibility for Real-time Appllications"
Advisor: Yitzhak Mendelson (AWARDED 2008) - 1ST PLACE: Jason Cox (MS candidate), "Drug Polymorphs a la Carte—Selective Crystal Growth of Stable and Less Stable Forms"
Advisor: Venkat Thalladi (AWARDED 2007)
This annual poster symposium was open to all WPI master's and PhD candidates engaged in research. Monetary prizes and certificates of merit are awarded for the best posters in the above categories.
Provost's MQP Awards
Aerospace Engineering
- Jeremy Chapman '09, Nathaniel Law '09: "Mechanical Autonomous Jellyfish"
Advisor: Michael Demetriou - Daniel Asselin '09, David Beavers '09, Stephan Jakubowski '09: "Investigation of Plasma Charging Effects"
Advisor: John Blandino
Biology and Biotechnology
- Shreelekha Mandal '09: "Functional Specificity of Lipid Elongases in Development"
Advisor: Joseph Duffy
Biomedical Engineering
- Meghan Pasquali '09, Nicholas Pelletier '09, Jennifer Richards '09, Jonathan Shoemaker '09: "Development of a New System to Treat Hip Dislocation in Canines"
Advisor: Glenn Gaudette
Chemical Engineering
- Eric Connelly '09: "Imaging L-Alanine and Inosine- Induced Germination of Bacillus Anthracis Using Atomic Force Microscopy"
Advisor: Terri Camesano - Michael Morin '09: "Educational Uses of COMSOL Multiphysics Carbon Dioxide Absorption with Chemical Reaction"
Advisor: William Clark - Alisha Begin '09, Stephen Shin (CEE) '09: "Adsorption of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether Using ZSM-5"
Advisors: Robert Thompson, John Bergendahl (CEE) - David Munger '09: "The Use of Photoresist Derived Carbon as Microelectrodes for Genetic Assays"
Advisor: Susan Zhou - Richard Pampuro '09: "Photoresist Derived Carbon as a Substratum for Nerve Cell Culture"
Advisor: Susan Zhou
Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Daniel Carney '09: "Singlet Oxygen Trapping Porphyrins"
Advisor: Robert Connors - Jessie Brasefield '09, Douglas Tischer '09: "Exploring Apoptinâ's Anti-Cancer Ability: Uncoupling Nucleocytoplasmic Shuttling and Multimerization"
Advisor: Destin Heilman
Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Karen O'Sullivan '09, Phyllis Wall '09: "The Effects of Warm Mix Asphalt Additives on Recycled Asphalt"
Advisors: Rajib Mallick, Mingjiang Tao - Jennifer Himottu '09, Alyson Stuer '09: "Analysis of Bridge Connections: A Comparative Study of Bridge and Joint Design"
Advisor: Leonard Albano - Christopher John Paulli '09, Matthew Clark '09, Zachary Tetreault '09, Justin Thomas '09: "Green Guide for Roads Rating System"
Advisors: Frederick Hart, Rajib Mallick - Krista Dietz '09, Alexandra Kulinkina '09: "Brackish Water Pretreatment"
Advisor: Jeanine Plummer - Jake Cabrera '09, Christopher TingHin Cheu '09, Natasha Deschene '09, Gaelen Fay Magee '09: "Structural Design of the WPI Recreation Center"
Advisor: Tahar El-Korchi
Computer Science
- Aaron Holroyd '09, Punsak Koakiettaveechai '09, Brett Ponsler '09: "Hand-Eye Coordination in a Humanoid Robot"
Advisors: Brad Miller (RBE), Charles Rich - Christopher Drouin '09: "The Mindful Reader: Learning Augmented News Aggregation"
Advisor: David Brown
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Allison Smyth '09: "Drag-Aid MK, Race Car Crash Detection"
Advisor: Stephen Bitar - Tahsin Hassan '09, Vasil Savov '09, Alihusain Sirohiwala '09: "An Interactive Application Demo for the AD8295"
Advisor: John McNeill - Jonathan Hayden '09, Hiroshi Mita '09, Jason Ogasian '09: "Autonomous Mapping Robot"
Advisors: James Duckworth, David Cyganski
Environmental Engineering
- Nicholas Amendolare '09: "Conserving Energy through Fuel Poverty Mapping in Worcester, Massachusetts"
Advisor: Robert Krueger (IGSD)
Humanities and Arts
- Charlie Mezak '09: "Life In the Ledges"
Advisor: Constance Clark
Interactive Media and Game Development
- Daniel Tennant '09, Julia Berg '09, Joseph Strong '09: "The Muppet Experiment: An Alternate Reality Game for Disney's California Adventure"
Advisor: Dean O'Donnell (HUA) - Skyler Clark '09, Christopher Drouin (CS) '09, Matthew Fabian '09: "Petrified"
Advisor: Robert W. Lindeman (CS) - Elisabeth Beinke'09, Keilin Bickar (CS)'09, Joshua Doyle '09, Alexander Schwartz '09: "Memory Dash a Multiplayer iPhone Game"
Advisor: David Finkel (CS)
Management
- Samantha McGill '09: "Market and Business Analysis of Microthreads"
Advisors: Helen Vassallo, George Pins (BME)
Mathematical Sciences
- Matthew Dailey '10, Ilan Shomorony '09: "Physically Unclonable Functions"
Advisors: William Martin, Berk Sunar (ECE)
Mechanical Engineering
- Marc Balboa '09, Ivo Dobrev '09, Ryan Fosset '09: "MEMS for Real-time Imaging Applications"
Advisor: Cosme Furlong-Vazquez
Professional Writing
- Eric Andresen '09: "Rhetoric of Global Warming: Multimodal Arguments in Public and Scientific Contexts"
Advisors: Lorraine Higgins, Chrysanthe Demetry (ME)
Robotics Engineering
- Brian C. Benson '09, Neal K. Humphrey '09: "Sand-Swimming Robot"
Advisors: Stephan Koehler (PH), Kenneth Stafford
Social Science and Policy Studies
- Nicholas Amendolare '09: "Recommendations for Improving Thermal Efficiency in Massachusetts Low-Income Housing"
Advisor: Robert Krueger (IGSD) - Belin Beyoglu '09, Martin Ivanov '09: "Technical Analysis of CAN SLIM Stocks"
Advisor: Michael Radzicki (AWARDED 2008)
President's IQP Awar
First Place:
- Lauren Alex '09, Jessy Cusack '09, Augustina Mills '09, Alejandro Sosa Boyd '09: "Design and Construction of a Communal Laundry Station in Monwabisi Park, Cape Town"
Advisors: Scott Jiusto, Stephen Weininger
Second Place (tie):
LISTED IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER
- Michael Hyde '09, Sean Seymour '09, Daniel Tennant '09, Minh Truong '09: "Four Tourists and Hong Kong's Harbourfront: A Survey of the Waterfront of Victoria Harbour"
Advisors: Kevin Clements, Paul Davis - Nicholas Careau '09, Martha Gray '09, Charles Mezak '09, Phyllis Wall '09: "Managing Water and Sanitation in the Fish River Basin"
Advisors: Creighton Peet, Reinhold Ludwig - Kenneth Barnett '09, Derek Eggiman '08, Jesse Sawyer '08: "Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Related to Food: A Study of Two Cafeterias in the Danish Municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk"
Advisor: Peter Christopher - Steve Shin '09, Natasha Deschene '09, Daniel Morehouse '09, Max Kuhns '09: "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Hands-On-History at the Tower of London
Advisors: Peter Hansen, Stanley Selkow
Aerospace Program
Aerospace Program Award
- Daniel Asselin '09, David Beavers '09, Stephan Jakubowski '09: "Investigation of Plasma Charging Effects"
Advisor: John Blandino
Biomedical Engineering
Alfred R. and Janet H. Potvin Awards
- Jenna Balestrini, PhD candidate
- Jeremy Skorinko, MS candidate
This award was given to outstanding graduate students in biomedical engineering.
- Syed Ali '09
This award is given to outstanding under graduate students in biomedical engineering.
Biology and Biotechnology
James F. Danielli Award
- Amy Warren '09, MS candidate
This award for excellence in research is named for former department head James F. Danielli, whose model for the cellular membrane remained relevant for a half century. A fellow of the Royal Society, he stressed the importance of research to good teaching and helped build the department into a center for scholarship.
Chemical Engineering
American Institute of Chemical Engineers Award, Boston Section
- Amanda Gurnon '09
Given by the AIChE Boston Section, this award recognizes one or more outstanding seniors in the Chemical Engineering Department.
American Institute of Chemists Undergraduate Award
- Eugene Choi '09
Given by the American Institute of Chemists, this award recognizes outstanding seniors in the Chemical Engineering Department.
Herb Beall General Chemistry Award
- Brian Costa '09, Kevin Jillson '09 (AWARDED 2006)
Established to honor the memory of Professor Herb Beall, this award is given to students who have completed the freshman chemistry course with superior academic performance.
Chemistry and Biochemistry
American Institute of Chemists Award
Biochemistry:
- Kevin C. Jillson '09
- Jill Goldstein '09
- Deli Hong, M.S. Candidate
Chemistry:
- Brian C. Costa '09
- Allison Elder '09
- Marta Dabros, PhD candidate
This award recognizes outstanding seniors and graduate students in chemistry and in biochemistry.
CBC Department Award
- Douglas Tischer '09
This award recognizes students for outstanding achievement in chemistry.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Andrew Holt Memorial Award
- Krista Dietz '09
This award was presented to civil engineering seniors who have consistently earned academic honors and who show excellent promise for success.
Carl F. Meyer Improvement Award in Civil Engineering
- Andrew Gilday '09
Established by Professor Emeritus Meyer, this award is presented to civil engineering seniors who have demonstrated the most improvement in academic and professional attitude since entering the department.
Frank D. DeFalco Award
- Joseph Krasinkas '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award is presented to juniors interested in going into professional practice in the constructed facilities area.
CMAA Scholarship Award
- Anthony Petrocchi '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award is presented to juniors interested in going into professional practice in the constructed facilities area.
Computer Science
Computer Science Outstanding Senior Award
- Theophilos Giannakopoulos '09
This award was presented to computer science seniors who have an outstanding academic record and who have contributed to the enrichment and professional development of fellow students.
Computer Science Outstanding Junior Award
- Joseph Politz '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award is presented to computer science juniors who have an excellent academic record and who show promise for continuing success.
Computer Science Outstanding Service Award
- Robert S. Breznak '09
This award is presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding service to the Computer Science program.
Professor Lee A. Becker Memorial Award
- Denis Golovnya '09
- Joshua Nedelka '09 (AWARDED 2007)
- Daniel Alderman '09
- Radoslav Petranov '09
- Antoniya Statelova '09
- Amanda Strnad '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award was established in 2004 by the Computer Science Department in memory of their colleague, friend, and teacher. It is awarded to computer science majors to support their participation at MQP project centers.
Dr. Neil G. Sullivan '83 Memorial Award
- Theophilos Giannakopoulos '09, Philip Hanson '09, Antoniya Statelova '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award was established in 1991 by members of the Sullivan family in memory of their son and brother, who was killed in an automobile accident that year. It is awarded to juniors majoring in computer science in recognition of demonstrated ability and promise.
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Harold S. Black Award
- Towa Matsumura '09
Established to honor the memory of inventor Harold S. Black '21, this award was given by the faculty to ECE seniors who have demonstrated outstanding creativity and enthusiasm in engineering problem solving, practical implementation of problem solutions, and exemplary character in their contributions to the welfare of the WPI community.
Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding Electrical Engineering Teaching Assistant Award
- Kurt Ferreira, PhD candidate
Eta Kappa Nu Outstanding Electrical Engineering Senior Tutor Award
- Towa Matsumura '09
WPI-IEEE Community Service Award
- Michael Leferman, MS candidate
- Robyn Colopy '09
Established by the IEEE University Partnership Program, this award was given to students, staff, and/or faculty who have made outstanding contributions to the ECE community.
Humanities and Arts
Class of 1879 Prize for Outstanding Projects in the Humanities
- Richard Pampuro '09: "Right within Anarchism"
Advisor: John Sanbonmatsu - Craig DiGiovanni '09: "The Planning and Implementation of Denazification in Post War Germany"
Advisor: David Dollenmayer (AWARDED 2008) - Lucas Lincoln '09: "An Analysis of Pat Metheny as a Jazz Composer"
Advisor: Richard Falco (AWARDED 2008)
This award is given to undergraduate students for excellent work in Humanities projects that demonstrate exceptional creativity and skill in conceiving, developing, and expressing a theme within any discipline in the humanities and arts.
Steven J. Kahn Award
- Anthony Del Vecchio '09
- Jarrod Ratcliffe '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award was presented to outstanding senior members of the WPI Glee Club in recognition of contributions, commitment, and unwavering loyalty to the organization.
Interactive Media and Game Development
IMGD Outstanding Senior Award
- Yilmaz Kiymaz '09 (IMGD)
- Alex Schwartz '09 (IMGD/CS)
This award was presented to Interactive Media and Game Development seniors who have an outstanding academic record and who have contributed to the enrichment and professional development of fellow students.
Manufacturing Engineering
Society of Manufacturing Engineers Outstanding Student Award
- Peter Bertoli '09
- Kathryn Siering '09
- David Willens '09
- Sean Seymour '09 (AWARDED 2008)
This award was given to the top MFE majors each year.
Materials Science and Engineering
Worcester Chapter of American Society for Metals: Chester M. Inman ' 14 Outstanding Student Award
- Jodi Lowell, MS candidate
- Amanda Young '09 (AWARDED 2008)
- Shelley Dougherty, MS candidate (AWARDED 2008)
This award was presented to outstanding undergraduate or graduate students in materials science and engineering.
Mathematical Sciences
Senior Math Award
- Dante Amoroso '09
- Nicholas LeCompte '09
This award was presented to senior mathematical sciences majors who have shown outstanding performance and who have made valuable contributions to the WPI community.
Richard V. Olson Award
- William Owens '09 (AWARDED 2007)
Established to honor the memory of Professor Olson, this award is given to sophomores in recognition of outstanding performance in basic mathematics courses.
Dimensions Awards
- Ilan Shomorony '09
This award is given to a senior who has faithfully, industriously, and with distinguished attainment completed all requirements (and beyond) for the BS degree in mathematical sciences.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Award
- Cecil Piya '09, Indraneel Sircar '09: "Liquid Piston Gas Compression"
Advisors: James Van de Ven, David Olinger
This award is given to the team of ME students who have completed their Major Qualifying Project and demonstrated their competency in their chosen academic discipline.
Heald Brothers Scholarship
- Jonathan Baldiga '09, Justin Blecharczyk '09, Daniel Flavin '09, Christopher Stefaniak '09
Created in 1990 through the generosity of the Heald Foundation, this competitive scholarship was given to mechanical engineering students who embody, in modern form, the spirit of Yankee ingenuity that characterized the evolution of America's great manufacturing enterprises. The scholarship endowment honors the memory of the four sons of James N. Heald, Class of 1884; Roger, Richard, Robert, and Stanley Heald all attended WPI.
Edward C. Perry Award
- Alexander Chang '09, Alix Orton '09, Kathryn Siering '09, David Willens '09, Jeslin Wu '09: "Product Insertion Mechanism Redesign"
Advisors: James Van de Ven, Robert Norton
This award is given for outstanding projects in the area of mechanical design. The award was made possible through a bequest from Miriam Perry Goll and honors the memory of her father, Edward C. Perry, Class of 1904, a design engineer with General Electric Company throughout his professional career.
Physics
Robert H. Goddard Award
- Danté Amoroso '09
Endowed by the graduation classes of 1908 and 1909 in memory of Robert H. Goddard '08, pioneer of American rocketry, this award recognizes outstanding achievement, scholarship, consistent effort, and dedication of purpose in both theoretical and experimental areas of physics.
Lawton-Plimpton Award
- Vineet Barot '09
Established in honor of Willard Elliot Lawton and Samuel James Plimpton, distinguished former members of the WPI Department of Physics, this award was made in recognition of steady and substantial improvement in physics scholarship, as evidenced by scholastic record and attained depth of understanding.
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