Washington State University Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture recognized outstanding students at its annual convocation ceremony on April 10. The event was sponsored by the Boeing Company. Honored award winners included:
Outstanding sophomore:
Anita Valdez
Maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA, Anita Valdez is deeply engaged in undergraduate research within the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, contributing to federally funded clean energy research related to carbon capture. Beyond the classroom and lab, she demonstrates remarkable leadership and community commitment. She has rapidly advanced through leadership roles in WSU’s student chapter of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is also actively engaged in outreach to underserved high school students, returning to her home community to promote STEM pathways and opportunities at WSU.
Outstanding junior:
Cole Wilson
Cole Wilson has maintained a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a computer science degree with minors in electrical engineering and mathematics. He is an accomplished undergraduate researcher working at the intersection of machine learning, networking, and control systems. His leadership impact is also visible across campus. He revitalized and now leads the Palouse RoboSub club, growing it from a handful of students into a thriving, cross disciplinary organization of more than 35 members, securing significant funding, and leading the team to its first international competition in years. He also serves as a key contributor to WSU Formula SAE, the Cybersecurity Group, and Voiland College recruitment efforts as a student ambassador. In addition, his technical excellence has taken him to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he contributed to robotic simulation and digital twin development, sharing his knowledge back with students and peers at WSU.
Outstanding senior:
Aryan Puthran
Aryan Puthran has combined academic excellence with exceptional service as an undergraduate teaching assistant for multiple core computer science courses, supporting hundreds of students through labs, office hours, and detailed feedback. His approachability, patience, and leadership have played a meaningful role in student success and retention — particularly in foundational courses. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA, he is also an accomplished undergraduate researcher in software engineering, contributing to work that bridges theory and practice and informs how programming and design concepts are taught. His professional experience includes competitive internships at T-Mobile and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, where he has worked on data engineering, analytics, and software solutions supporting critical infrastructure. One nominator wrote, “Aryan consistently distinguishes himself through leadership, a genuine commitment to supporting others, and an ability to inspire his peers while pushing himself to take on greater responsibility.”
Outstanding Teaching Assistant (grading and office hours):
Ziyi Zhang
Ziyi Zhang, from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, demonstrates excellence in grading and availability every day through careful organization, fairness, and follow-through in large, complex courses. Her nominators emphasize that students trust her feedback and rely on her responsiveness during office hours. One nominator wrote, “Ziyi handled the responsibility of lead TA with remarkable care — coordinating grading, answering student questions, and maintaining consistency across the course in a way students truly trusted.” Ziyi’s steady presence and commitment to clarity have made a meaningful difference for countless students.
Outstanding Teaching Assistant (teaching and instruction):
Hang Le
Hang Le, from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is being honored for her thoughtful, student-focused approach to teaching in demanding courses in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Her nominators highlight her patience, clarity, and responsiveness, particularly when helping students navigate challenging material. As one nominator shared, “Hang is very responsive, explains difficult ideas clearly, and consistently takes the time to make sure students truly understand the material.” Through her clear communication and steady instructional presence, Hang has had a lasting impact on student learning.
Outstanding Research Assistant:
Chibuike Emmanuel Ugwu
Chibuike Emmanuel Ugwu, from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is recognized as a particularly dependable research assistant. His nominators describe him as someone who approaches research with ownership, care, and persistence, even when projects are complex or timelines are tight. One nominator wrote, “You can always trust Chibuike to take ownership of a problem and see it through — he is thoughtful, thorough, and consistently dependable.” His reliability, technical skill, and collegiality have strengthened both his research groups and the people within them.
Outstanding Dissertation:
Pratyush Dhingra
Pratyush Dingra, from the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is being honored for a dissertation that combines strong theoretical grounding with clear practical relevance. His nominators describe the work as exceptionally rigorous and unusually mature in both scope and execution. One nominator wrote, “Pratyush’s dissertation stands out for its clarity, technical depth, and the maturity of its contributions — it reflects the work of an independent researcher ready to shape the field.”
Outstanding Safety Leadership:
Raul Pelaez Garcia
Raul Pelaez Garcia, of the Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, is being honored for his everyday commitment to building a strong culture of safety. His nominators say he doesn’t just follow safety protocols — he models them. From identifying potential hazards to mentoring peers on best practices, he consistently looks out for those around him.
Dean’s Outstanding Club Award:
Engineers in Action
This group of driven student volunteers are working to develop engineering solutions for struggling communities across the globe. They hope to provide sustainable solutions for communities to meet basic human needs while simultaneously leaving behind a community that is empowered to thrive for years to come. The group helped organize the Voiland College Career Networking Night, connecting students across the college with employers from the Pacific Northwest and the nation. Locally, they partnered with the Disability Action Center Northwest in Moscow to design and install a structural steel awning for their offices, navigating city permitting, coordinating with contractors and fabricators, and doing the installation themselves. They are also designing a water distribution system for the community of Altamira, Bolivia, with installation planned for this summer.
