SEAS Annual Honors and Awards – Monday, April 26, 2021
We recognize and celebrate your achievements in the realms of Scholarship, Leadership, Community Service. Congratulations!
Dean Shetty and the Faculty and Staff of SEAS
Honors and Awards Program
Presiding
Kate Klein, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Welcome – Dean Devdas Shetty, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Recognition of Students
Dean’s List
Honors
Graduating Students
Special Service Award to Graduate Student
Student Remarks
Graduating Seniors
Samba Gaye, Mechanical Engineering
Amin Fazulurrahman, Civil Engineering
Engineering Ambassadors, Skarleth Vasquez and Natalie Gallo
Outstanding Research
Jaime Rios, Mechanical Engineering
Takele Gemeda, Mechanical Engineering
Saul Henderson, Electrical Engineering
Chavar Henry, Civil Engineering, Student Representative to the Board of Trustees
Concluding Remarks – Looking Forward – Ludwig Nitsche, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Use links to jump to select sections.
The Dean, Faculty, and Staff are proud to recognize the following students.
DEAN’S LIST
Undergraduate students who earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and a term GPA of 3.30 or higher with no I’s, F’s, or W’s, while earning a minimum of 12 credit hours during the 2020 Spring or Fall semesters.
Dean’s List Recognition– Computer Science
Mubarek Abdela, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Michael Alemayehu, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Ahmed Ali, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Eden Amare, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Christian Ananga Ebini, Fall 2020
Lesly Arevalo, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Kaleab Assefa, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Adine Barrett, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Matthewos Bisrat, Fall 2020
Mia Boyd, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jaime Cusihuaman-Marin, Spring 2020
Nelson Duran, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Mohamed Eledisy, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jeffrey Enamorado, Fall 2020
Marckenly Estima, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Karla Ferrel Castillo, Fall 2020
France Gebrehiwot, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Haron Gebremeskel, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Rahel Gizaw, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Yayehyrad Haile, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Ahmed Hassan, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jonathan Hernandez-Santos, Fall 2020
Caleb Kelly, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Adonias Kidane, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Meaza Kidane, Fall 2020
Kaleab Kifle, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Lijadis Layew, Spring 2020
Josue Antoni Lopez Marin, Spring 2020
Alyssa Beth Luna, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Rocio Marco, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Tarshe McEachin, Fall 2020
Mariah McKie, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Mreaed Mengesha, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Irem Ozel, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Carlos Palencia, Fall 2020
Joan Sandoval Flores, Fall 2020
Dwayne Segree, Fall 2020
Michael Smith, Fall 2020
Justin Stephan, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Samantha Stewart, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Isha Subedi, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Alexie Taylor, Fall 2020
Itallya Taylor, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Sourou Tossou, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jermel Watson, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Romell Wilson, Fall 2020
Getaante Yilma, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Surafel Zerihun, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Samuel Zewdu, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Dean’s List Recognition – Information Technology
Anegni Abikou, Fall 2020
Andrew Addison-Newby, Fall 2020
Clinton Amponsah, Spring 2020
Antonio Boyd, Fall 2020
Chukwuka Ewelike, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Francisco Garcia, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Steffi Graham, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Deonte Hicks, Fall 2020
Tamires Macedo, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Allan Muir, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Gabriell Peterson, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Luis Sanchez-Lopez, Fall 2020
Ousmane Traore, Spring 2020
Dontae Walker, Fall 2020
Mulualem Woldeyes, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Nicholas Yankey, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Dean’s List Recognition – Biomedical Engineering
Musaab Ali, Fall 2020
Javaun Harriott, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Gloria Hernandez, Fall 2020
Glacia Martin, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Aliya Newby, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Oshin Wilson, Fall 2020
Dean’s List Recognition – Civil Engineering
Kalkidan Ayele, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Maksim Bahdanovich, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Aldaire Bazan Alegria, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Quilmar Bercian, Spring 2020
Richmond Lin Calapano, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Abdelmoughit El Jahidi, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Amin Fazulurrahman, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Alaina Feather, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Carla Flores Benavides, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Natalie Gallo, Fall 2020
Andrae Harris, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Chavar Henry, Spring 2020
Iris Hernandez Camas, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Horace Mitchell, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Danilo Nascimento, Spring 2020
Maryori Ramirez, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Moges Regassa, Spring 2020
Malik Shingler, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Kevin Turcios Lovato, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Natinael Zaga, Fall 2020
Dean’s List Recognition – Electrical Engineering
Kaieem Anderson, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Getahun Bekele, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Javar Dougall, Fall 2020
Arnold Feutmba, Fall 2020
Shavonne Fraley, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Ibsa Gala, Fall 2020
Luis Hernandez Camas, Spring 2020
Robera Jinfessa, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Obiora Mbanefo, Spring 2020
A’Lisa Meus, Spring 2020
Daniel Orebiyi, Spring 2020
Seriphap Phomsavath, Fall 2020
Jonathan Prado Valdivia, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Gavin Robinson, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jose Solano, Spring 2020
Carlos Velazquez, Fall 2020
Vance Warren, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Dean’s List Recognition – Mechanical Engineering
Hamza Abdelaziz, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Marvellous Achugbu, Spring 2020
Jason Alberti-Medrano, Spring 2020
Olmer Alvarado, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Justin An, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Marilyn Andrade Guillen, Fall 2020
Hans Matthew Baes, Spring 2020
Kuuku Botchway, Fall 2020
Hayden Brown, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Kymani Brown, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Matthew Brown, Fall 2020
Korey Carter, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Jana Catuche, Fall 2020
Joshua Dillard, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Chance Eden, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Juan Estevez Hernandez, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Voss Harrigan, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Kelechi Iwuchukwu, Fall 2020
Tarun Malhotra, Fall 2020
Karen Marquez, Spring 2020
Wilson Mendez, Spring 2020
Betelhiem Mengesha, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Bushira Musa, Fall 2020
Babacar Ndoye, Fall 2020
Mawussi Nzonou, Fall 2020
Jacob Ocasio, Fall 2020
Evan Preller, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Heriniaina Rakotomanana, Spring 2020
Andoniaina M. Randriambololona, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Brent Thigpen, Fall 2020
Danielle Thompson, Fall 2020
Ryan Walker, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020
Highest Honors
Highest Honors – Undergraduate students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.80-4.00 while enrolled full-time during the Fall 2019, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters in college level courses with no I’s, F’s, or W’s.
| NAME | MAJOR | CLASS |
| Amin Fazulurrahman | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Andoniaina M. Randriambololona | Mechanical Engineering | Senior |
| Jermel Watson | Computer Science | Sophomore |
| Getaante Yilma | Computer Science | Senior |
| Joshua Dillard | Mechanical Engineering | Junior |
| Horace Mitchell | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Iris Hernandez Camas | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Betelhiem Mengesha | Mechanical Engineering | Sophomore |
| Mia Boyd | Computer Science | Senior |
| Carla Flores Benavides | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Evan Preller | Mechanical Engineering | Junior |
| Hayden Brown | Mechanical Engineering | Senior |
| Irem Ozel | Computer Science | Sophomore |
| Kevin Turcios Lovato | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Justin Stephan | Computer Science | Senior |
| Samantha Stewart | Computer Science | Junior |
| Maksim Bahdanovich | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Mubarek Abdela | Computer Science | Senior |
| Itallya Taylor | Computer Science | Sophomore |
| Nicholas Yankey | Information Technology | Sophomore |
| Kymani Brown | Mechanical Engineering | Junior |
High Honors
High Honors – Undergraduate students who earned a cumulative GPA of 3.60-3.79 while enrolled full-time during the Fall 2019, Spring 2020 and Fall 2020 semesters in college level courses with no I’s, F’s, or W’s.
| NAME | MAJOR | CLASS |
| Rahel Gizaw | Computer Science | Senior |
| Allan Muir | Information Technology | Junior |
| Aliya Newby | Biomedical Engineering | Sophomore |
| Michael Alemayehu | Computer Science | Sophomore |
| Chance Eden | Mechanical Engineering | Junior |
| Glacia Martin | Biomedical Engineering | Junior |
| Adonias Kidane | Computer Science | Senior |
| Alyssa Beth Luna | Computer Science | Senior |
| Richmond Lin Calapano | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Isha Subedi | Computer Science | Senior |
Top Student
Top Student (Transfer students are ineligible to receive honors in this category)
- Freshman – student(s) who earned the highest cumulative GPA in college level courses among full-time students and who have completed 12-29 hours and were enrolled full-time in the Fall 2020 semester.
- Sophomore – student(s) who earned the highest cumulative GPA in college-level courses among full-time students and who have completed 30-59 hours and were enrolled full-time in the Fall 2020 semester.
- Junior – student(s) who earned the highest cumulative GPA in college level courses among full time students and who have completed 60-89 hours and were enrolled full-time in the Fall 2020 semester.
- Senior – student(s) who earned the highest cumulative GPA in college level courses among graduating full time students and who have completed 90 or more credit hours and were enrolled full-time during the Fall 2020 semester.
| NAME | MAJOR | CLASS |
| Mawussi Nzonou | Mechanical Engineering | Freshman |
| Jermel Watson | Computer Science | Sophomore |
| Horace Mitchell | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Andoniaina M. Randriambololona | Mechanical Engineering | Senior |
| Getaante Yilma | Computer Science | Senior |
Straight “A” Student
Straight A – Undergraduate student(s) who were enrolled full-time during the 2020 Spring and Fall semesters, completed a minimum of 60 credit hours, and earned all A’s for both semesters in college-level courses.
| NAME | MAJOR | CLASS |
| Mubarek Abdela | Computer Science | Senior |
| Maksim Bahdanovich | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Aldaire Bazan Alegria | Civil Engineering | Junior |
| Hayden Brown | Mechanical Engineering | Senior |
| Mohamed Eledisy | Computer Science | Senior |
| Amin Fazulurrahman | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Carla Flores Benavides | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Rahel Gizaw | Computer Science | Senior |
| Andoniaina M. Randriambololona | Mechanical Engineering | Senior |
| Kevin Turcios Lovato | Civil Engineering | Senior |
| Getaante Yilma | Computer Science | Senior |
Students will receive certificates via email for the categories listed above.
Graduates Summer 2020 – Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
Bachelor of Science
Biomedical Engineering (BS)
Octave I. Andjalepou Cum Laude **
Mulatu K. Bachoro
Winta A. Gebreslassie Cum Laude *
Roni A. Romero **
Bachelor of Science
Civil Engineering (BS)
Abdullah Mutshir R. Alanazi **
Abdullah Ismail M. Alsharif **
Mohammed M. Alsubaiei*
Kalkidan Ayele
Usman Choudhary
Ernesto A. Cruz**
Esther M. Disamb
Amin M. Fazulurrahman, Summa Cum Laude
Carla S. Flores Benavides, Summa Cum Laude
Marcel H. Gahouma
Natalie Gallo Cum Laude
Iris L. Hernandez Camas
Danilo C. Nascimento
Malik J. Shingler Cum Laude
Purna K. Tamang Cum Laude *
Kevin O. Turcios Lovato, Summa Cum Laude
Skarleth Vasquez
Master of Science
Civil Engineering (MS)
Noah S. Bell
BS, University Vermont
MS, University of the District of Columbia
Bachelor of Science
Computer Science (BS)
Olaseni F. Adeniji Summa Cum Laude **
Christian Ananga Ebini
Favour Anifowose Cum Laude **
Meseret Bule **
Jaime Cusihuaman-Marin, Cum Laude
Dereje Dena, Summa Cum Laude *
Larry P. Frayer
Hiwot W. Gezahegn Magna Cum Laude **
Kareem Gourdine Magna Cum Laude **
Ahmed S. Hassan Cum Laude
Hamza Hawkins **
Jonathan Hernandez-Santos
Olivia Nkweto Katebe **
Tadele Lamma Magna Cum Laude **
Lijadis G. Layew Cum Laude
Kaleab A. Mamo *
Rocio N. Marco Magna Cum Laude
Mreaed Y. Mengesha Magna Cum Laude
Tena B. Mengesha **
Aaliya Muhammad *
Michael A. Richardson
Henok W. Tasissa Summa Cum Laude **
Robel G. Tesfaye, S umma Cum Laude **
Sourou G. Tossou Magna Cum Laude
Ekene Uzoegwu Summa Cum Laude
Leonna A. Weeks
Master of Science
Computer Science (MS)
Junied Altaf **
BS, University of the District of Columbia
Lala Aicha Coulibaly
BS, Grambling State University
Michelle A. Guo
BA, Syracuse University
Funsho I. Koyejo
BS, Nigeria (College)
Diau M. Said **
BS, University of the District of Columbia
BS, University of the District of Columbia
Awet Sbhatu **
BA, Eritrea (College)
BA, University of the District of Columbia
Bachelor of Science
Electrical Engineering (BS)
Farhan Alanazi *
Cyree M. Beckett **
Robera Jinfessa
Jonathan E. Prado Valdivia
Fana Zewede **
Master of Science
Electrical Engineering (MS)
BS, University of the District of Columbia
Bachelor of Science
Information Technology (BS)
Garrin K. Adolphe
Tamia Baxter
Antonio R. Boyd
Francisco Garcia Cum Laude
Ahmad M. Hawkins **
Ronald Hudson **
Mohamed Saleck Mohamed Jiddou Cum Laude
Nickisha Phillips
Donovan Surgick **
Bachelor of Science
Mechanical Engineering (BS)
Mohammad A. Abdallah *
Mohammed Abduo **
Ibrahim A. Alghamdi Cum Laude *
Mohammad Abdullah A. Alghamdi, Cum Laude *
Yasser A. Alghamdi Cum Laude *
Olmer A. Alvarado
Abdullah A. Baobayd
Abdullah Bonuhayah **
Jana C. Catuche Cum Laude
Samba Gaye Magna Cum Laude
Babacar E. Ndoye Cum Laude
Noufou Ouedraogo
Gabriel V. Paiva Magna Cum Laude *
Heriniaina T. Rakotomanana, Magna Cum Laude
Amar Osama Y. Raml **
Jaime E. Rios
Ahmad Naif A. Shahatah **
Abdulaziz A. Shaikh Cum Laude *
Abdullah Shaikh *
Carlos D. Velazquez Cum Laude
Master of Science
Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Takele D. Gemeda
BS, University of the District of Columbia
Pius Suh
BS, University of the District of Columbia
* Completed degree requirements / Summer 2020
** Completed degree requirements / Fall 2020
University Honors
B.S. degree with 60% of credits at UDC and
3.80 Summa cum laude
3.60 Magna cum laude
3.30 Cum laude
Diplomas awarded contingent on satisfying all degree requirements and pending approval of the department chair.
Additional Recognitions Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
2020-2021 Awards
Jesus Badal, Civil Engineering, NASA Headquarters Internship, Fall 2020 and Spring 2021
UDC-ACI Team placed the 11st in the 2020 Concrete Solutions Competition organized by American Concrete Institute (Team members: Richmond Calapano, Iris Hernandez, Skarleth Vasquez, Andrae Harris, Marcel Gahouma, Natalie Gallo, and Mubarek Abdela)
UDC American Concrete Institute (ACI) Student Chapter received recognition as 2020 Outstanding University (Student Officers: Richmond Calapano, Iris Hernandez, Skarleth Vasquez, Andrae Harris, Marcel Gahouma, Natalie Gallo)
CCEN 101 Robotics Showcase Competition, December 2020, “Autonomous Lunar Rover Swarms”, Winning Project: TEAM 1: The Screaming Gophers, Phenicia Eberepou, Ervin Graddick, Christopher Vasquez, and Arnold Feutmba
Md Amimul Ehsan, Electrical Engineering (MS) received the Best Poster Award at the Student poster competition/ IEEE Electrical Power and Energy Conference (EPEC2021).
Natalie Gallo, Civil Engineering, won the second place for the 2021 Geotechnical Student Essay Contest hosted by the American Society of Civil Engineers National Capital Section Geo-Institute
Darold Kelly Jr., Electrical Engineering, Gula Tech Foundation Grant.
Competitions 2020-2021, Cybersecurity Hacking CTF Challenge, Terminix, Samantha Stewart (Computer Science), Nickisha Phillips (Information Technology)
Kevin Turcios, Lirane Mandijoupa, Assefa Tadeese, Ar’Manni Pretlow, Hadi Chamali, Ji Shin, Stephanie Fuentes, under the supervision of Dr Azam, UDC Design Team of Civil Engineering won the second prize in the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) competition.
Amin M. Fazulurrahman, Civil Engineering was awarded by ASCE-NCS as Outstanding Civil Engineering Graduating Senior
Student Publications
Peer-reviewed paper published by ASME
Vincent Lamberti, Joshua Dillard, Uzma Amir, Pawan Tyagi, “Structural Stability of Magnetic Tunnel Junction Based Molecular Spintronics Devices (MTJMSD).” Peer-reviewed paper published by ASME
Joshua Dillard, Andrew Grizzle, Wondwosen Demisse, Pawan Tyagi, Lucas Rice, Cordell Benton, “Effect of Altering the Sequence of Chempolishing and Electropolishing on Surface Properties of Additively Manufactured (AM) 316 Steel Components.” Peer-reviewed paper published by ASME
Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 Scholarship Recipients
Mubarek Abdela, Computer Science, received International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Foundation’s HBCU Scholarship
Tasneem Abdus-Shakur, TMCF Miller Coors Scholarship
Tewodros Mamo, Electrical Engineering (MS), HBCU CARES Fund, Spring 2021
Davies Aklamati, Computer Science, UDC Foundation T&F SCH AWARD
Stephanie Fuentes, Civil Engineering, 2020 ACI National Capital Chapter Student Scholarship
Christine Hanna, Civil Engineering, awarded ASCE/NCS Scholarship
Chavar Henry, Civil Engineering, awarded ASCE/NCS Scholarship
Horace Mitchell, Civil Engineering, awarded ASCE/NCS Scholarship
Manuel Pimentel, Computer Science, 2021 AMIE/Lockheed Martin HBCU Impact Scholarship
Samantha Stewart, Computer Science, CodePath.org Black Excellence Scholarship
Samantha Stewart, Computer Science, 2021 AIME/ Lockheed Martin HBCU Impact Scholarship
Jermel Watson, Computer Science, DC UP
Getaante Yilma, Computer Science, received International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Foundation’s HBCU Scholarship
Upcoming 2021 Summer/Fall Internships
Demario Asquitt, Computer Science, splunk>
Tasneem Abdus-Shakur, Biomedical Engineering, Boston Scientific Corporation, Product Development Intern
Jesus Badal, NASA
Brandon Botchway, NASA
Korey Carter, NASA
Lala Coulibaly, Computer Science, Axle Informatics
Joshua Dillard, 2021 National Nuclear Security Administration-DOE Student Engineer III Internship Position, Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies
Takele Gemeda, NASA
Marcus Gilmore, NASA
Rahel Shiferaw Gizaw, Computer Science, Data Mining of Quality Inspection Records/Data Scientist, NASA (Education Office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory educational fellowship in the Maximizing Student Potential (MSP) in STEM internship program)
Voss Harrigan, NASA
Alyssa Beth Luna, Computer Science, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA
Horace Mitchell, Civil Engineering, Duke Energy
Evan Preller, NASA
Samantha Stewart, Computer Science, Summer Engineering Analyst, Goldman Sachs
Ryan Walker, NASA
Daniel Washington, Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Manufacturing Consortium at Missouri MS&T
Nicholas Yankey, Information Technology, IBM
2020-2021 Job Placements
Olaseni Adeniji, Computer Science, Microsoft
Cyree Beckett, Electrical Engineering, Lockheed Martin, Florida.
Tyra Coombs, Biomedical Engineering, Department of Navy
Loubna Eager, Civil Engineering, Facilities Engineering, Department of Defense
Md Amimul Ehsan, Electrical Engineering (MS), Post-graduate Researcher/ National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Amin Fazulurrahman, Civil Engineering, Geotechnical Staff Project Manager, Engineering Consulting Services (ECS) Mid-Atlantic
Natalie Gallo, Civil Engineering, Field Engineer, Terracon
Winta Gebreslassie, Biomedical Engineering, United States Patent Office
Hiwot Gezahegn, Computer Science, Wells Fargo
Rahel Shiferaw Gizaw, Computer Science, NASA Engineer Student Ambassador, NASA-CAM-STAR at UDC
Hamza Hawkins, Computer Science, Microsoft
Iris Hernandez, Civil Engineering, Field Engineer, Turner Construction
Jonathan Prado Valdivia, Electrical Engineering, Product Development Engineer, Ford Motor Company, MI.
Victor Ramos, Electrical Engineering, Kellogg’s Research Labs, Salem, NH.
Donovan Surgick, Information Technology, United Health Group, Inc.
Skarleth D. Vasquez, Civil Engineering, Project Engineer, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company