Outstanding Student Projects Celebrated at the 2025 President’s IQP Awards
Worcester Polytechnic Institute honored exceptional student achievement at the annual President’s IQP Awards, celebrating the global impact and interdisciplinary strength of WPI’s signature Interactive Qualifying Project. This year, two teams earned the top distinction in a rare tie, selected from more than 60 submissions reviewed by faculty readers and evaluated by a panel of judges.
Five teams designated as finalists presented their work to the WPI community on January 30, 2026, with the winning teams recognized at a reception that evening. The IQP has students work in interdisciplinary teams in partnership with a community-based sponsor to address a real-world problem that involves science, technology, and societal needs.
The honor of 2025 President’s IQP Award winner is awarded to these two esteemed teams (tie) - Plants Restoring Wairarapa Moana and The Comeback Kitchen: A Virtual Reality Simulation for Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation.
Both teams demonstrated exceptional creativity, technical rigor, and global engagement, embodying the mission of The Global School to prepare students to address complex human challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. The teams were composed of the following members:
L-R Ryan Hunter (CS), Sarah Oliveira (BBT), Saahithi Kura (BCB), Rowan Faulkner (CS)
The Comeback Kitchen: A Virtual Reality Simulation for Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Students: Rowan Faulkner (CS), Ryan Hunter, Saahithi Kura (BCB), (CS)Sarah Oliveira (CS)
Faculty Advisors: Alejandro Manga- Integrative & Global Studies and Svetlana Nikitina- Humanities & Arts
Project Center: Cadiz, Spain
L-R Sofia Quattrini (ME), Evan Seki (RBE / ME), Max Inman (RBE/ ME), Ronan Flynn (ME), Chris Hunt (RBE)
Plants Restoring Wairarapa Moana
Students Ronan Flynn (ME), Chris Hunt (ME), Max Inman (RBE/ ME), Sofia Quattrini (ME), Evan Seki (RBE / ME)
Faculty Advisors Robert Kinicki - The Global School and Ingrid Shockey- Integrative & Global Studies
Project Center: Wellington, New Zealand
Three other finalist teams also presented their projects to the judges, showcasing the breadth of WPI’s global project work and the meaningful partnerships students build with communities around the world.
These finalist teams include:
Growing Together: Strengthening La Conde's Community Kitchen and Support Networks
Students: Nathaniel Ambrad (ECE), Vishwa Devisetti (ME), Stephen Sequira (AE/CHE), Michael Troiano (AE)
Faculty Advisors: John-Michael Davis-Integrative & Global Studies and Jessica Santos- The Global School
Project Center: Puerto Rico
Brewing a Better Future: A Path to Water Stewardship for Albanian Craft Breweries
Students: James Bugg (ME), Nora Cleary (RBE), Elliot Reese (RBE), Bridgette Scheer (EE)
Faculty Advisors Curtis Abel-The Global School and Laureen Elgert- Integrative & Global Studies
Project Center: Tirana, Albania
Path to Purpose: A Self-Actualization Game
Students: Adam Hanna (AE), Olivia Hollenbeck (AE), Jeremy Kurtz (CS ),
Kady Le (BME), Jason Luc (CS)
Faculty Advisors Grant Burrier- Integrative & Global Studies and Philip Hultquist-The Global School
Project Center: Taiwan
The Global School extends its gratitude to all students and faculty advisors who prepared for the presentations and contributed to this year’s exceptional pool of IQP work. Special thanks go to the faculty readers who supported the award process of reviewing dozens of submissions – Ethan Prihar (CS), Sandhya Balasubramanian (Business), and Sarah Molinari (DIGS).
Finally, we thank our judges, Dan Linzell, Bernard M. Gordon Dean of Engineering, Kimberly LeChasseur, Sr. Research and Evaluation Associate with the Center for Project Based Learning and Morgan Center for Teaching and Learning, Sarah Stanlick, Associate Dean of the Global School, and Erin Sabato, Senior Director, Global Learning, Quinnipiac University. Their thoughtful evaluation helped highlight the dedication, ingenuity, and global citizenship demonstrated by WPI students.