College of Engineering Announces Outstanding Graduating Seniors

SAN LUIS OBISPO – College of Engineering Dean Mohammad Noori announced the recipients of the 2008 Outstanding Graduating Seniors and Outstanding M.S. and B.S./M.S. Awards, along with the recipient of the Wingate Foundation HVAC&R Award.

Mechanical engineering senior Lisa Dakis from San Diego received the $3,000 Wingate Award as the outstanding student in Cal Poly’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program. Top academic achievers were determined by grade point averages. In addition, engineering departments named honorees for contributions to the College of Engineering, contributions to Cal Poly, and service to the community. College-wide winners from each category received special recognition, including $200 bonds from Lockheed Martin. Note: all achievers are from California unless otherwise noted.

Outstanding Graduating Seniors for Academic Excellence include the following:

Robert Rocha (Aerospace Engineering) from Fremont
Kristen Woodward (Biomedical Engineering) from Windsor
Chad Pruett (Civil Engineering) from Rocklin
Thomas Norrie (Computer Engineering) from San Jose
Nicholas Mazza (Computer Science) from Buellton
Lindsey Bauer (General Engineering) from Pleasanton
Daniel Haynam (Electrical Engineering) from Turlock
Katherine Evans (Environmental Engineering) from Healdsburg
Claire Dooley (Industrial Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Landon Reilly (Manufacturing Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Michelle Alexander (Materials Engineering) from Carlsbad
Matthew Penny (Mechanical Engineering) from Martinez
Benjamin Woskow (Software Engineering) from Encino

Chad Pruett was recognized as the College of Engineering’s topmost senior for academic excellence. In addition to making Dean’s List for 10 quarters and President’s List for four straight years, Pruett played as a Division I-A Baseball Athlete and was the recipient of the Robin Baggett Scholar-Athlete Award. He has a 3.99 GPA.

In recognition of participation in activities that further the objectives and public image of the college,
departments have named the following students Outstanding Graduating Seniors for Contributions to the College of Engineering:

Kate Van Dellen (Aerospace Engineering) from Westlake Village
Dimitri Delagrammaticas (Biomedical Engineering) from Vista
Sofie Leon (Civil Engineering) from Ventura
Han Bui (Computer Engineering Program) from San Jose
Michele Mayorga (Computer Science) from Northridge
Christopher Gilbert (Electrical Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Victoria Rodriguez (Environmental Engineering) from Santa Maria
Lindsey Bauer (General Engineering) from Pleasanton
Evan Forrest (Industrial Engineering) from San Francisco
Michelle Alexander (Materials Engineering) from Carlsbad
Lisa Dakis (Mechanical Engineering) from San Diego

The college-wide Outstanding Graduating Senior for Contributions to the College of Engineering is Lindsey Bauer from General Engineering. Bauer has contributed to numerous student organizations: She has been a member of the Student Campus Computing Committee, Poly Reps, the Engineering Student Council, the Dean’s Student Advisory Council, and the ASI board of directors. Departments have named the following Outstanding Graduating Seniors in the category
of Contributions to the University:

Todd Maki (Mechanical Engineering) from Los Gatos
Matt Anderson (Materials Engineering) from Pickerington, OH
Russell Fenton (Civil Engineering) from Modesto
Ameen Akel (Computer Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Paul Riley (Aerospace Engineering) from Gambrills, MD
Christine Corbett (Electrical Engineering) from La Crescenta
Rudolph Zacher (Biomedical Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Edgar-Alison Japitana (Manufacturing Engineering) from South San Francisco
Eric Veium (Industrial Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Courtney Brown (General Engineering) from Oakland

The college-wide Outstanding Graduating Senior for Contributions to the University is mechanical engineering student Todd Maki. Maki served on the ASI board of director for three years before his election as ASI president. His campaign platform included establishing safe transportation, improving student services, and creating a sense of community on campus. Maki’s term coincided with the tragedy at Virginia Tech, which presented the additional challenge of understanding the implications at Cal Poly.

Students recognized for service to the community include:

Daniel Frost (Environmental Engineering) from Vallejo
Erin Bonenfant (Electrical Engineering) from Lompoc
Dan Hale (Biomedical Engineering) from Atascadero
Sheeva Banisalam (Industrial Engineering) from Saratoga
Landon Reilly (Manufacturing Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Taiga Young (Materials Engineering) from Silverthorne, CO
Joanne Hontiveros (Computer Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Chris Pratt (Civil Engineering) from San Diego

Daniel Frost from Environmental Engineering was named Outstanding Senior for Community Service. An active participant in Engineers Without Borders and the Society of Environmental Engineers, Frost traveled to Nicaragua, where he helped design and install subterranean water storage tanks and a water delivery system for the only health clinic in Nueva Vida, which serves
over 11,000 refugees of Hurricane Mitch. Frost and fellow teammate also earned a $15,000 first place Innovation Quest award for the design of a water treatment system for emergency disaster relief areas.

The College of Engineering also presented awards to outstanding graduate students for academic excellence and service from among the 300 master’s degree and 4 + 1 B.S./M.S. degree students enrolled. All eight students are graduating with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

Outstanding M.S. Graduates:

Eric Rowson (Engineering) from San Luis Obispo
Roger Chen (Engineering) from Saratoga
Erin Cruz (Engineering) from Goleta
Eden Cruz (Engineering) from Goleta
Rudolph Zacher (Engineering) from San Luis Obispo

Outstanding B.S./M.S. Graduates:

Shane O'Connor (Electrical Engineering) from Escondido
David Imbaratto (Mechanical Engineering) from Windsor
Daniel Frost (Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering) from Vallejo

The student awards were presented at the College of Engineering Annual Donor Appreciation and
Student Awards Banquet held June 5, 2008 on the Cal Poly campus.

###