Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class

Awarded by
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Charles O. Thompson Scholar, named in honor of WPI’s first president, recognizes outstanding performance by first year students (first year admitted and transfer students).  To be eligible for this award, students must receive all A’s and B’s with a minimum of six A’s, in their academic subjects during their first three terms at WPI. 


As a Charles O. Thompson Scholar, students are eligible to compete for a summer research, design, or creative activity fellowship support award as the Outstanding New Student.  Students write short essays telling us about themselves and why they should be selected as the outstanding member of their class.  They share their motivation for undertaking a project involving research, design, and creative activity; discuss how they anticipate this project will influence their career trajectory; and articulate the reasons they believe they are a deserving candidate for this award. 

Browse Award Recipients

Year Recipient Name Title Awarded by Type
2024 Adam Hueil Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2024 Aprile Zingher Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2023 Rodrigo Marcenaro Palacios Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2023 Samantha DeFrancesco Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2023 Caitlin Veltrup Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2023 Paula Gibbons Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2023 Ronak Wani Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2019 Alex Puhalski Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2019 Juliette Spitaels Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2019 Ally Salvino Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2019 Marissa Langille Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2019 Shannon O’Connor Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2018 Hannah Schultz Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2018 Ankur Gupta Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2018 Amanda Lowther Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2018 Jameel Gammal Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2017 Pedro de Vasoncellos Oporto Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Winner Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2017 Ana Giacoman Favela Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2017 Catherine Sherman Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2017 Katherine Gomes Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2017 Mona Elokda Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2016 Katharine Dunphy Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2016 Ryan Herrmann Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2016 Abigail Ismail Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2016 Celeste Marsan Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate
2016 Eric Salina Charles O. Thompson Scholar Outstanding Member of the Class Honorable Mention Worcester Polytechnic Institute Undergraduate