Student excellence recognized in 2019 Honors Banquet

Students’ outstanding efforts in academics, research, service and leadership were recognized during the 2019 NPRE & ANS Honors Banquet.

Held in April in conjunction with the American Nuclear Society Illinois Student Chapter organization, the NPRE event recognizes students for earning honors from the Department, Grainger College of Engineering, campus, national organizations and corporate partners. The event is sponsored in part by the Edward E. Mineman Memorial Endowment Fund. NPRE alumnus Edward F. Mineman, BS 84, and his brother Blaine A. Mineman, AB 85, Political Science, MBA 87, established the fund to honor their father. The NPRE unrestricted fund, supported by many alumni and friends, also helps pay for this event that invites participation of all NPRE students.

NPRE Departmental Awards

The NPRE Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards to a Graduating Senior are presented to graduating seniors with the highest cumulative grade point averages.

• William R. Brockschmidt, Jacksonville, IL

The NPRE Outstanding Undergraduate Research Awards are presented to undergraduate students who have performed exemplary research in the Department.

• Heyuan Huang, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• Cody D. Moynihan, Milstadt, IL
• Dean R. Price, Winter Park, FL
• Stuti R. Surani, Vadodara, India

 

 

The Catherine Pritchard Undergraduate Scholarships, honoring former NPRE secretary Catherine Pritchard, are presented to students who have shown academic ability and activities leadership during their first three years, to be used during the senior year of study.

• Alexandra T. Fanning, Naperville, IL
• Isabella M. Iaccino, Iverness, IL
• Kelsey E. Luo, Woodridge, IL

The Roy A. Axford Undergraduate Scholarship, honoring NPRE Emeritus Prof. Roy A. Axford, is presented to continuing students of high academic ability and achievement.

• Dean R. Price, Winter Park, FL

The George H. Miley/Low Energy Nuclear Reactions (LENR) Undergraduate Scholarship, honoring NPRE Emeritus Prof. George H. Miley, is presented to highly motivated, continuing undergraduate students in the Department.

• Michelle L. McCord, Canton, GA
• Andrew G. Kim
• Andrew J. Page, Naperville, IL
• Dario G. Panici, New Lenox, IL

NPRE Visionary Scholarships assist tremendously with recruiting and retaining NPRE’s best and brightest undergraduate students. These scholarships are designed to be transformational, and can make a tangible difference in a student’s ability to afford attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Exelon Corporation, a Chicago-based Fortune 100 utility company that works in every stage of the energy business – power generation, competitive energy sales, transmission and delivery – has been instrumental in establishing Engineering Visionary Scholarships within NPRE. Several individuals also have contributed to NPRE Visionary Scholarships.

• David J. Atwater, Downers Grove, IL
• Michael A. Chiasson, Long Grove, IL
• Andrew E. Christensen, Buffalo Grove, IL
• Erin R. Fanning, Naperville, IL
• Connor A. Pigg, Mount Vernon, IL
• Anthony R. Ruzzo, Naperville, IL
• Matthew A. Weiss, Vernon Hills, IL

The Marvin E. Wyman Memorial Scholarships were established in honor of Marvin E. Wyman, one of the first two professors hired to build the nuclear engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Having earned a master’s degree and a PhD in physics in 1943 and 1950, respectively, at Illinois, Professor Wyman was instrumental in overseeing the construction and use of the TRIGA nuclear reactor at Illinois. He also helped establish the university’s undergraduate and doctoral programs in nuclear engineering. He became chairman of the nuclear engineering program in 1965, and in 1975 he became assistant to the dean for long-range planning in the College of Engineering. The Marvin E. Wyman Memorial Scholarship was established in 1984.

• Alex M. Berowski, Smithton, IL
• Andrew J. Ingram, Sidney, IL
• Dylan Irlbeck, Lake Zurich, IL

The Daniel F. Hang Outstanding Senior Design Award was created in honor of the late Emeritus Prof. Daniel F. Hang, one of the Department’s founders. Hang, who died at the age of 95 in December 2013, was passionate about nuclear engineering design, and emphasized the coupling of economics analysis with successful design work. He also strongly advocated students becoming licensed Professional Engineers.

• First place – Project: Hydrogen Plasma for Particle Elimination (HyPPE). Team Members: Josh Devorkin, Mequon, WI; Cody Moynihan, Milstadt, IL; Kelly Munkhtuya, Chicago, IL; Phong D. Pham, Pewaukee, WI
• Second place ­– Project: Fluidized Bed Heat Exchanging System for Molten Salt Reactor Designs. Team members: Adolfo Baca, Addison, IL; Ryan J. Pullara, Minooka, IL; Jacob A. Tellez, Monument, CO.
• Third place – Project: Low-Cost Microreactor for Developing Energy Markets. Team Members: Adewale A. Adeyinka, Hoffman Estates, IL; Tyler R. Kennelly, Oswego, IL; Kelsey Luo, Woodridge, IL.

The Felix T. Adler Fellowship was named in honor of Professor Adler, who held a joint appointment in Physics and Nuclear Engineering from 1958 until his retirement. Professor Adler and Prof. Marvin E. Wyman were the first two professors hired to build the Nuclear Engineering program. The Felix T. Adler Fellowship was established in 1987.

• Vineet Kumar, Champaign, IL

NPRE alumnus Phi L. Nguyen, BS 88, MS 90, established the Nguyen Thi Cuong Fellowship in 2018 to honor his mother. Preference is given to students with financial need.

• Rabel E. Rizkallah

 

Several alumni and friends established the Barclay G. Jones Graduate Fellowship in honor of Professor Jones, an icon of the University of Illinois nuclear engineering program since its inception. Professor Jones earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, and made his career here, helping to shape the present day department. The Barclay G. Jones Endowment Fund is the continued effort of NPRE graduates who also established the Catherine Pritchard Undergraduate Scholarship.

• Zhiee Jhia Ooi

 

American Nuclear Society Student Chapter Awards

The Student Chapter of the American Nuclear Society selects the ANS Undergraduate Outstanding Service Award recipient. The undergraduate students who have most actively supported the ANS Student Chapter and its programs throughout the academic year are honored.

• James Shehee, Naperville, IL

The Student Chapter of the American Nuclear Society selects the ANS Graduate Outstanding Service Award recipient. The graduate students who have most actively supported the ANS Student Chapter and its programs throughout the academic year are honored.

• Nathan C. Reid, Naperville, IL

American Nuclear Society National Awards

NPRE students took home several honors from the American Nuclear Society Student Conference held April 4-6 at Virginia Commonwealth University. See story.

2018 John and Muriel Landis Scholarship

• Anshuman Chaube, India
• Andrei Rykhlevskii, Russia

2018 Michael Lineberry Graduate Scholarship

• Carly J. Romnes, Dulce, NM

2018 William R. and Mila Kimel Nuclear Engineering Scholarship

• Jacob A. Tellez, Monument, CO

2018 John R. Lamarsh Memorial Scholarship

• Alyssa L. Hayes, Gurnee, IL

Other Scholarships, Fellowships, Honors

Nuclear Regulatory Commission - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Nuclear Engineering Scholarship and Fellowship Program

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission directs this program that includes support for education in nuclear science and engineering, to develop a workforce capable of supporting the design, construction, operation, and regulation of nuclear facilities and the safe handling of nuclear materials.

Scholarships:

• Adewale A. Adeyinka, Hoffman Estates, IL
• William R. Brockschmidt, Jacksonville, IL
• Lauren N. Ditmars, Byron, IL
• Alexandra T. Fanning, Naperville, IL
• Nathan M. Kennedy, Crystal Lake, IL
• Tyler R. Kennelly, Oswego, IL
• Matthew J. Kozak, Orland Park, IL
• Dylan R. Kudia, Plainfield, IL
• Kelsey E. Luo, Woodridge, IL
• Dario G. Panici, New Lenox, IL
• Dean R. Price, Winter Park, FL
• Ryan J. Pullara, Minooka, IL
• Jacob A. Tellez, Monument, CO
• Maxx J. Villotti, Troy, IL

Fellowships:

• Alexander L. Heald, Bonsall, CA
• Dominic R. Piedmont, Timonium, MD
• Zoe R. Richter, Manito, IL

U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy University Program

The U.S. Department of Energy awards Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) Scholarships and Fellowships to students pursuing nuclear energy-related engineering and science degrees.

Fellowship:

• Joseph L. Bottini, Framingham, MA
• Katherine C. Hepler, Urbana, IL
• Daniel J. O’Grady, Evergreen Park, IL

National Nuclear Security Administration Stewardship Science

This graduate research fellowship is sponsored by the Department of Energy.

• Heather N. Sandefur, Batesville, AR

National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation has awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship to support the studies of Matthew Parsons, who is working with HIDRA, the unique plasma/fusion facility in the Center for Plasma-Material Interactions.

Fellowship:

• Mikayla M. Molnar
• Matthew S. Parsons, Westminster, MD
• Daniel J. O’Grady, Evergreen Park, IL

Honorable Mention:

• Sonata M. Valaitis

Roy G. Post Foundation

Dedicated to the safe management of nuclear materials, the Roy G. Post Foundation has awarded a scholarship to PhD student Katherine C. Hepler, whose research focuses on integrating experimental data with simulation to understand how rapid decontamination logistics following a radiological dispersal event affect remediation outcomes such as duration and overall decontamination efficacy.

• Katherine C. Hepler, Urbana, IL

Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation R&D

This national-level nuclear security meeting recognized graduate student Aric C. Tate for his research poster, “Muon Tomography with Fast Timing for Fissile Material Detection.”

• Aric C. Tate

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory awarded graduate student Nathan C. Reid First Place for his research in the Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis (NESLS) program at the end of the summer 2018 session. Reid’s project, “Glow-Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy of Neutron-Irradiated Tungsten,” was performed as part of the U.S.-Japan PHENIX Cooperation Project on Technological Assessment of Plasma Facing Components for DEMO Fusion Reactors.

• Nathan C. Reid, Naperville, IL

University of Illinois

Graduate College Fellowship

The Graduate College Fellowship (GCF) program at the University of Illinois aims to strengthen the institution and its doctoral programs by increasing the enrollment of outstanding students.

• Carly J. Romnes, Dulce, NM
• Nico Santiago

Sloan Fellowship

The Sloan University Center of Exemplary Mentoring (UCEM) at Illinois aims to broaden participation in advanced engineering, physical, and mathematical science careers, thereby strengthening the talent pool in these fields while increasing equitable opportunities in the US.

• Alexander L. Heald, Bonsall, CA
• Carly J. Romnes, Dulce, NM

Grainger College of Engineering

Carver Fellowship

The Carver Fellowships in Engineering at Illinois were established in 1999 by a gift from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust in memory of Roy J. Carver, Sr., a 1934 graduate of the University. A Carver Fellowship is the most competitive and sought-after honor open to graduate students throughout the College of Engineering. Students named as Carver Fellows are not only viewed as scholars and top researchers in both academia and industry, but also carry with them the legacy of a distinguished University of Illinois alumnus, who founded Bandag, Inc., the world’s largest producer of tire retread materials and equipment of the transportation industry. The Carver Fellowships exert a profound impact on the quality and quantity of research conducted at the University of Illinois by creating the framework for significant fellowship support. Moreover, these prestigious awards carry with them a life-long identification with the top research talent coming from Engineering at Illinois.

• Jeremy J.H. Mettler, Sioux Falls, SD

SURGE Fellowship

Illinois Engineering departments nominate incoming doctoral students from under-represented communities for the SURGE Fellowship program, which is administered by the College of Engineering. This fellowship is designed to increase diversity within the engineering student body.

• Mikayla M. Molnar
• Carly J. Romnes, Dulce, NM
• Nico Santiago
• Sonata M. Valaitis

Calvin Barnes Niccolls Memorial Scholarship

The Calvin Barnes Niccolls Scholarship Fund was established in 1962 to honor the memory of Calvin B. Niccolls a student in the College of Engineering from 1895-1897.

New Scholarships

• Benjamin A. Duban
• Angelo J. Minetti, New Lenox, IL

Contratto St. Clair County Scholarship

The James Contratto Scholarship Fund was established in 2010 as the result of an estate gift from Nina Contratto in memory of her husband James Contratto, a 1931 Civil Engineering graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. These scholarships are awarded to engineering students from St. Clair County, Illinois.

Continuing Scholarship

• Alex M. Berowski, Smithton, IL

Engineering Excellence Scholarship

These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate extremely high performance in ACT or SAT examinations and high school work.

Continuing Scholarship

• Alyssa L. Hayes, Gurnee, IL

Engineering Visionary Scholarship

Launched with the help of a $30 million endowment from the Grainger Engineering Breakthroughs Initiative, the Engineering Visionary Scholarship (EVS) Initiative boosts the College of Engineering’s ability to bring the best engineers to Illinois by making college more affordable for students and their families.

New Scholarships

• Parker A. Allen, Edwardsville, IL
• Diego Angulo, Joliet, IL
• Rierson M. Johnson, Island Lake, IL

EVS Transfer Scholarship

• Jordan Heidrick, Danville, IL

Continuing Scholarships

• Adolfo Baca, Addison, IL
• Nayeli Lara, West Chicago, IL

George H. Zenner and Leone Merritt Scholarship

The scholarship was a realized estate gift for unrestricted scholarship support to the College of Engineering. George Zenner was a 1927 graduate of Mechanical Engineering.

Continuing Scholarship

• Matthew J. Kozak, Orland Park, IL

Illinois Engineering Achievement Scholarship

These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate extremely high performance in ACT or SAT examinations and high school work.

New Scholarships

• Parker A. Allen, Edwardsville, IL
• Diego Angulo, Joliet, IL
• Bruno J. Caruso, Lemont, IL
• Morgan Currier, Mokena, IL
• Gavin Davis, Oswego, IL
• Benjamin Duban
• Justice Dunham, Plainfield, IL
• Justin B. Hearne, Mokena, IL
• Rierson M. Johnson, Island Lake, IL
• Angelo J. Minetti, New Lenox, IL
• Shyam M. Upadhyay, Bloomingdale, IL

Continuing Scholarships

• Alex M. Berowski, Smithton, IL
• Matthew J. Kozak, Orland Park, IL
• Michelle L. McCord, Canton, GA
• Eliza D. Wright, Naperville, IL

Illinois Engineering Premier Scholarship

These scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate extremely high performance in ACT or SAT examinations and high school work.

Continuing Scholarship

• Connor A. Pigg, Mount Vernon, IL

Joanne and Roger L. Plummer Scholarship

The Joanne and Roger L. Plummer Scholarship Fund was established in 1997 to provide future scholarships for engineering students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mr. Plummer was a 1964 graduate of the College of Engineering in Applied Mechanics. Mr. and Mrs. Plummer served as ambassadors for the University and as first couple for the Alumni Association during Mr. Plummer’s term as President.

New Scholarship

• Bruno J. Caruso, Lemont, IL

John and Dorothy Durkin Women in Engineering Scholarship

The Durkin Scholarship is intended to support scholarships for women in Engineering. Established by Jane Durkin, a 1982 graduate of Civil Engineering, the fund was named to honor her parents, John and Dorothy.

Continuing Scholarship

• Michelle L. McCord, Canton, GA

The Patterson Family Scholarship

The Patterson Family Scholarship Fund was established by Gene and Jean Patterson and provides scholarships to engineering students who graduated from Canton High School, Canton, Illinois. Mr. Patterson earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1968.

New Scholarship

• Nicholas A. Dailey, Canton, IL

William E. Kinkead Scholarship

William S. Kinkead was a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the 1920’s. Due to his generosity the William S. Kinkead Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 to help future students and to confirm Mr. Kinkead’s commitment to the future of Engineering at Illinois.

New Scholarship

• Morgan Currier, Mokena, IL

Master of Engineering in Energy Systems

Taber International Scholars
The Taber International Scholarships, established by NPRE alumnus Bradley J. Radl, are awarded to graduate students earning a Master of Engineering in Energy Systems.

• Bradley J. Flanagan, Fairport, NY
• Kruti S.C. Goyal
• Christopher J. Hillebrand, Cookeville, TN

Alpha Nu Sigma

ANS established Alpha Nu Sigma as a national honor society with the objective to recognize high scholarship, integrity, and potential achievement in nuclear science and engineering.

Continuing Members:

• Jin Whan Bae, Champaign, IL
• Joseph L. Bottini, Framingham, MA
• William R. Brockschmidt, Jacksonville, IL
• Zhikun Cai, Jiaomei Town, China
• Mikhail S. Finko, Clarendon Hills, IL
• Aveek S. Kapat, Oviedo, FL
• Vineet Kumar, Champaign, IL
• Jeremy J. Mettler, Sioux Falls, SD
• Cody D. Moynihan, Milstadt, IL
• Daniel J. O’Grady, Evergreen Park, IL
• Dhruval K. Patel, Hanover Park, IL
• Pawel A. Piotrowicz, Chicago, IL
• Majdi I.A. Radaideh, Champaign, IL
• Nathan C. Reid, Naperville, IL
• Zoe R. Richter, Manito, IL
• Steven A. Stemmley, Bethalto, IL
• Matthew M. Szott, Orland Park, IL
• Jan P. Uhlig, Chicago, IL
• Jifu Zhao, Urbana, IL
• Weicheng Zhong, Champaign, IL
• Erik P. Ziehm, Palatine, IL

University of Illinois Honors

Chancellor's Scholars are strongly motivated, academically gifted students who excel in leadership. Students participate in honors seminars, attend Scholar Adventurers presentations, and participate in social, intellectual and cultural activities, plus maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.

• Alp Aktuna, Edwardsville, IL
• Parker A. Allen, Edwardsville, IL
• Alex M. Berowski, Smithton, IL
• William R. Brockschmidt, Jacksonville, IL
• Benjamin A. Duban
• Andew A.J. Ingram, Sidney, IL
• Dario G. Panici, New Lenox, IL
• Zoe R. Richter, Manito, IL

The James Scholars program is named for the fourth president of the University, Edmund J. James who believed that scholarship and research are fundamental to human progress. During his presidency, from 1904-1920, he brought world-class scholars to campus, developed graduate programs, and fostered community among faculty and students. He helped build Illinois's international reputation.

• Liam G. Ackerman, Bolingbrook, IL
• Parker A. Allen, Edwardsville, IL
• Diego Angulo, Joliet, IL
• Stephen D. Armstrong, Eldridge, MD
• Benjamin A. Duban
• Heyuan Huang, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• Rierson M. Johnson, Island Lake, IL
• Cody D. Moynihan, Millstadt, IL
• Connor A. Pigg, Mount Vernon, IL
• Julia K. Roessler
• Jack T. Stahl, Arlington Heights, IL
• Eliza D. Wright, Naperville, IL

Grainger College of Engineering Honors

Open House
Students in the Virtual Education and Research Laboratory (VERL) were recognized with Third Place for Most Engaging Exhibit during Engineering Open House. The students demonstrated the lab’s 3D modeling tools used for training, education and outreach.

Dean’s List

Eligible undergraduates must have achieved a GPA for a given semester that places them in the top 20 percent of their college. The following listing is for Spring and Fall 2017.

• Liam G. Ackerman, Bolingbrook, IL
• Parker A. Allen, Edwardsville, IL
• David J. Atwater, Downers Grove, IL
• William R. Brockschmidt, Jacksonville, IL
• Ying Cao, China
• Linfeng Chen, Hangzhou, China
• Michael A. Chiasson, Long Grove, IL
• Daniel S. Chiu, Fresh Meadows, NY
• Christian D. Clark, Dixon, IL
• Joshua C. Devorkin, Mequon, WI
• John M. Eastwood, Aurora, IL
• Andrew J. Fink, Libertyville, IL
• Luke M. Gasparich, Elmhurst, IL
• Andreas M. Giakas, Rockford, IL
• Ethan A. Graven, Arlington Heights, IL
• Kyle R. Hamaker, McHenry, IL
• Justin B. Hearne, Mokena, IL
• Andrew C. Herschberg, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
• Heyuan Huang, Beijing, People’s Republic, China
• Andrew J.H. Ingram, Sidney, IL
• Dylan Irlbeck, Lake Zurich, IL
• Matthew E. Kabelitz, Northbrook, IL
• August S. Kasten, Champaign, IL
• Nathan M. Kennedy, Crystal Lake, IL
• Tyler R. Kennelly, Oswego, IL
• Louis W. Kissinger, Oak Park, IL
• Alec T. Kleczkowski of Chicago Ridge, IL
• Matthew J. Kozak, Orland Park, IL
• Jazz D. Kroeger of Washington, IL
• Xinyao Liang of Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• Kelsey E. Luo of Woodridge, IL
• Michelle L. McCord, Canton, GA
• Jeremy J.H. Mettler of Sioux Falls, SD
• Angelo J. Minetti, New Lenox, IL
• Beau K. Minnick of Princeton, IL
• Alexander J. Morain of Arlington Heights, IL
• Cody D. Moynihan of Milstadt, IL
• Dario G. Panici of New Lenox, IL
• Gyutae Park of Pusan, South Korea
• Dhruval K. Patel of Hanover Park, IL
• Connor A. Pigg of Mount Vernon, IL
• Dean R. Price of Winter Park, FL
• Ryan J. Pullara, Minooka, IL
• Michael S. Rivkin of Wilmette, IL
• Grant M. Schumock of Geneva, IL
• Andrew J. Shone of Saint Charles, IL
• Muzammil A. Siddiqui of Darien, IL
• Erik R. Smith, Oak Park, IL
• John B. Smith III of Saint Charles, IL
• James M. Stearns of Elgin, IL
• Stuti R. Surani of Vadodara, India
• Phillip J. Tanton of Kailua, HI
• Shyam M. Upadhyay, Bloomingdale, IL
• Matthew A. Weiss of Venon Hills, IL
• Eliza D. Wright of Naperville, IL
• Nanyu Zhao of Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

See other photos from the event!