College of Engineering 2026 Dean’s Awards Dinner
The College of Engineering will celebrate exceptional seniors and graduate students from the Class of 2026 for their academic excellence and achievement at the 51st annual Dean’s Awards Dinner. The following students will be recognized, with individual awards to be announced at the event on April 9.
Student Awardees:
David Bates ’26 MSME
Carter Baumann ’26 CE
Kiel Birthwright ’26 ChE
Ivan Byju ’26 CpE
Nathan Caruso ’26 EE
Trevor Coates ’26 ChE
Evan Conley ’26 ME
Emily Curran ’26 CpE
Connor Curtin ’26 MSBChE
Daniel Debartolomeo ’26 ME
Maggie Douglas ’26 ME
Allie Eikenberg ’26 ME
Jacob El-Zahr ’26 CpE
Tyler Faris ’26 ChE
Marie Fitzgibbon ’26 ChE
Chris Fleschner ’26 ME
Christopher Gardner ’26 ME
William Gibbons ’26 ME
Jedith Gómez Fernández ’26 ME
Kathryn Hamel ’26 ChE
Abigail Hammar ’26 MSSE
Stefano Hammond ’26 ME
Thomas Huard ’26 CE
Hannah Kalamarides ’26 CE
Dmitrii Kapranov ’26 EE
Joseph Klieman ’26 CE
Connor Koury ’26 CpE
Timothy Kubiak ’26 ChE
Ayden Lagalante ’26 ME
Francisco Lorenzo ’26 CpE
JC Magee ’26 MSWREE
Mitchell Matella ’26 ME
Alison Miltenberger ’26 CE
Matthew Nawn ’26 EE
Matthew Noone ’26 ME
Zachary Piehl ’26 EE
Brendan Rainforth ’26 CE
Alejandra Risco Bravo ’26 MSSE
Maria Saltysiak ’26 CE
Pamela Samonte ’26 PhD
Patrick Sams ’26 ME
Kieran Seven ’26 CpE
Will Stozenski ’26 ChE
Peter Sutin ’26 CE
Gary Szczotka ’26 CpE
Patrick Walsh ’26 CE
Morgan White ’26 ME
Daniel Whitman ’26 ME
Taylor Wiseley ’26 CE
Catherine Wollan ’26 ME
Tom Xaviour ’26 MSCpE
Tyler Yang ’26 CE
Molly Znachko ’26 ChE
Dean's Awards:
Academic Achievement
The Dean’s Award for Academic Achievement 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.
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 demonstrated noteworthy leadership in one or more activities.
Engineering Midshipman Award
This recognition is awarded to a Midshipman 1st Class enrolled in the College of Engineering. The awardee is recognized for exemplary achievement in three specific areas: outstanding academic achievement as indicated by a GPA of 3.5 or higher; leadership as demonstrated by participation in leadership and/or management positions in Villanova’s NROTC unit; and service to the College of Engineering.
Engineering Entrepreneurship Student Achievement Award
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.
Humanitarian Engineering Student Award
This award is presented to a graduating Engineering student who exemplifies a commitment to serving communities in need through applied engineering, technical support on sustainable development and ethical engagement in a global context.
Department Medallions
The criteria used in determining the winners of the department medallions 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.
Robert E. White Chemical Engineering Award
Civil and Environmental Engineering Outstanding Student Award
Computer Engineering Outstanding Student Award
Electrical Engineering Outstanding Student Award
Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Student Award
Departmental Master of Science Student Awards
These department-level awards are presented in recognition of outstanding graduate research, leadership and service to the College.
College of Engineering Outstanding Master of Science Student Award
The College of Engineering Outstanding Master of Science 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.
Barry C. Johnson Award
The Barry C. Johnson Award recognizes a graduating PhD student for their exceptional achievements in engineering research and innovation. Instituted in 2026, this prestigious award honors the Dean of the College of Engineering from 2002 to 2006, under whose leadership the College formally launched its PhD program and greatly expanded its research enterprise.
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 Villanova University 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.