May 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Hewes
805-756-6402
ahewes@calpoly.edu
College of Engineering Announces Outstanding Graduating Seniors
SAN LUIS OBISPO - More than 50 students received the 2005 Outstanding Graduating Seniors and Outstanding M.S. and B.S./M.S. Awards. Each department names honorees for academic excellence, contributions to the college, contributions to Cal Poly, and service to the community. College wide winners from each category receive special recognition, including $200 bonds from Lockheed Martin.
Outstanding Graduating Seniors for Academic Excellence, their major and hometown are:
James R. Young, Aerospace Engineering, Troy , MI
Mark C. Gonzalez, Civil Engineering, Bakersfield
Ryan K. Lavering, Computer Engineering, Florence , MT
Scott A. Horwath, Computer Science, Santa Rosa
Hirofumi Takahashi, Electrical Engineering, Hiroshima , Japan
Megan M. Patterson, Environmental Engineering, Ramona
Amy K. Hall, General Engineering Livermore
Greg J. Squires, Industrial Engineering, Woodland
Jesse R. Edwards, Manufacturing Engineering, Santa Rosa
Morgan M. Stefik, Materials Engineering, Palo Alto
Leah M. Lombard, Mechanical Engineering, Mariposa
Ciera N. Christopher, Software Engineering, Visalia
The overall academic winner was Gonzalez, who maintained an overall GPA of 3.99 and major GPA of 4.0. He has made the Dean's List a dozen times and has received numerous scholarships, including Kimley-Horn, the Alessio Scholarship, Bechtel, and the Regnar Hessallund Scholarship. As the collegewide academic winner, Gonzalez received an additional $200 bond from Lockheed Martin and $5,000 bond from Raytheon Company.
Outstanding Graduating Seniors for Contributions to the College of Engineering are:
James R. Young, Aerospace Engineering, Troy , MI
Lynette M. Rotairo, Civil Engineering, Daly City
Bridget Gwenith M. Benson, Computer Engineering, Westlake Village
Kamakshi H. Ram, Computer Science, Fremont
Rebecca D. Freeman, Electrical Engineering, Tucson
Lauren J. Wild, Environmental Engineering, San Francisco
Christina M. Vignalats, General Engineering, Folsom
Jenea S. Pollock, Industrial Engineering, Aromas
Seth B. Lewis, Manufacturing Engineering, Monrovia
Lindsay M. Wood, Materials Engineering, Antioch
Thea J. Rusthoven, Mechanical Engineering, Escondido , CA
Vignalats, the collegewide Outstanding Graduating Senior for Contributions to the College of Engineering , has been a member and key leader of the Engineering Student Council for the past three years, serving as National Engineers Week commissioner, and vice chair of communications. She serves as vice chair of Events. Vignalats has also served as the program chair for the Society of Women Engineers Evening with Industry for two years and received that group's Most Active Member Scholarship in 2002.
Outstanding Graduating Seniors in the category of Contributions to the University are:
Kristen N. Salinas, Civil Engineering, San Luis Obispo
Michael R. Willson, Computer Engineering, Atascadero
Graham M. O'Daniel, Computer Science, San Luis Obispo
Amanda L. Schmidt, Environmental Engineering, Roseville
Stephanie A. Hedien, General Engineering, Renton
Carrie C. Wurlitzer, Industrial Engineering, Healdsburg
Ryan E. Orosz, Manufacturing Engineering, Saratoga
Amy A. Drummond, Materials Engineering, Templeton
Justin L. Jang, Mechanical Engineering, Cerritos
The collegewide Outstanding Senior for Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University is Salinas . Salinas not only represents the College of Engineering on the Associated Students, Inc. Board of Directors, but she has been responsible for welcoming thousands of prospective students, new students, and alumni to Cal Poly as the Open House Public Relations Director, Admitted Student's Day Director, Open House Co-Chair, and Week Of Welcome Orientation Leader.
Students recognized for service to the community include:
Megan E. Wright, Civil Engineering, Nevada City
Lyle W. Kozloff, Computer Engineering, Goleta
Khan D. Ly, Computer Science, Sacramento
Megan M. Patterson, Environmental Engineering, Ramona
Jessie Wood, General Engineering, Fremont
Sarah A. Brood, Industrial Engineering, Fullerton
Krista J. Anderson, Materials Engineering, Truckee
Malia A. Francisco, Mechanical Engineering, Santa Maria
Megan Patterson from Ramona , is this year's college-wide Outstanding Senior for Community Service, having contributed her talents and leadership both on and off campus. An active member of her department Student Fee Committee, Patterson also serves on the Engineering Student Council and is a member of the Society of Environmental Engineers, Chi Epsilon, and the Society of Women Engineers. Off campus, she volunteers her time as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and has served as a friend and role model to a local youngster for the past three years.
he College of Engineering also presented awards to outstanding graduate students from among the 300 master's degree and 4 + 1 B.S./M.S. degree students enrolled.
Outstanding M.S. Graduate:
David J. Cumberland, Computer Science, San Luis Obispo
Outstanding B.S./M.S. Graduates:
Alicia M. Robertson, Aerospace Engineering, Pleasanton
Barbara C. Orchard, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Lake Havasu City , AZ
Charles C. Reid, Computer Science, Sunnyvale
Ricardo H. Paredes, Electrical Engineering, Petaluma
Sara M. Leifer, Engineering, Laguna Hills
Nopporn Limdulpaiboon, Industrial Engineering, San Francisco
Daniel P. Saraliev, Mechanical Engineering, Soquel
Robertson and Saraliev tied statistically as the top B.S./M.S. graduates. The college also named Brett Schleicher (Engineering) from Bend , Ore. the Outstanding B.S./M.S. Graduate for Service.
The student awards were presented at the College of Engineering Annual Awards Banquet held in San Luis Obispo May 20 .
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