Academic Excellence Awardees
The Department is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018/19 Academic Excellence in Chemical Engineering. These twelve students, six juniors and six seniors, are our best and brightest. Their outstanding academic excellence and high integrity are recognized with a $ 1000 award sponsored by the Chemical Engineering External Advisory Board.
Stephen Couch, a junior from Dallas, TX, is a ChE major with a minor in Bioengineering.
While attending Texas Tech, Stephen works as a supplemental instructor for Calculus
3, and he represents the University as an Engineering Ambassador. After graduating
in Spring of 2020, Stephen plans to continue his education and obtain a Ph.D. in Chemical
Engineering.
Jenni English is a ChE senior from Abilene TX, minoring in Polymers and Materials,
Math, and Chemistry. She is the initiate coordinator for the Tau Beta Pi Engineering
Honor Society and is the public relations officer for Tech GSA. She was an extern
with the US Patent and Trademark Office in Dallas, TX where she examined semi-conductor
patent applications. Jenni plans to pursue a career in industry after graduation.
E. Alonso Garza is a senior ChE student from Austin, TX. He has interned with Olin
Corporation in their Diaphragm Chlorine Plant and, currently, he is performing a co-op
as a technical engineer in the Mont Belvieu Plastics Plant with ExxonMobil. Alonso
is also a Terry Scholar at the University and has worked as a Physics Supplemental
Instructor. Upon graduation, he hopes to continue building his career with ExxonMobil
Syed Tahsin Islam is a junior in ChE minoring in Polymers and Materials Science from
Bangladesh. He has worked as a TA and as a tutor. He is currently the Fuel Systems
Lead for Project S.T.A.S.I.S, collaborating with interns at NASA to design a dedicated
refueling Deep Space Transport for the Mars 2037 mission. Upon graduation, Syed intends
to go to graduate school and earn a Ph.D. degree.
Juan Lopez is a senior in ChE from Andrews, TX. He is currently doing research with
Dr. Marston on the administering of medication by needle-free devices, and he previously
interned at Lotus LLC. Juan has privately tutored general chemistry students and performed
in the Texas Tech Matador Singers. Upon graduation, he plans to work in the pharmaceutical
manufacturing industry.
Anam Mahmood is a senior in ChE from Pakistan. She performed undergraduate research
on a bioengineering project under Drs. Lacerda and Vanapalli last year. She is currently
conducting research on polymers in the Nuraje Group. Anam is also a student in the
Honors College at Tech. Upon graduation, she is interested in exploring her career
options in industry.
Uchenna Vivian Okoye is a senior in ChE minoring in Bioengineering. She is from Abia,
Nigeria. She has worked as a tutor and as a mentor for first generation college students.
She is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers,
and AIChE. Uchenna hopes to participate in novel research her senior year and then
work with an innovative company upon graduation.
Amy Reed is a junior in ChE from Coppell, TX. She has performed undergraduate research
for Dr. Casadonte on the synthesis of catalysts through the use of sonication, and
she has been a mentor for the Honors College. Amy also worked as an intern at Mary
Kay in the quality and validation department. She plans to pursue her MBA after graduation.
Justin Rosenthal is a junior ChE minoring in Bioengineering from Albuquerque, NM.
He is currently performing undergraduate research with Dr. Malmali on membrane separation
processes, and this past summer Justin worked as an intern at Sandia National Laboratories
where he conducted research with isoporous block copolymer films. After graduation,
he plans to pursue a graduate degree in ChE.
Akash Sharma is a junior ChE student minoring in Bioengineering from Wylie, TX. He
conducts undergraduate research with Dr. Fernandes in the field of biosensing and
volunteered abroad to help educate children from rural India. Post-graduation, he
plans to attend medical school and become a surgeon specializing in artificial organ
transplant.
Chidera Ugwu is a junior ChE student from Houston, TX. He is active in organizations
such as NSBE and Collegiate 100. Chidera worked as a facilities engineering intern
for Chevron; in this role, he improved the efficiencies and overall processes of separators
for multiple Chevron facilities. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career in
the oil and gas industry.
Yiwei Wang is a senior in Chemical Engineering from Shanghai, China. She is performing
undergraduate research with Dr. Wiesner on optimizing solar plants outputs. She is
also working with Dr. Liang in the Health Science Center to conduct research on ring-opening
polymerization for used in bio-applications. After graduation, she plans to pursue
an advanced degree in Chemical Engineering.
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering
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