EPICS awards outstanding engineering students in spring presentation

May 11, 2026

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To close the spring 2026 semester, EPICS awarded annual prizes to exemplary students who embody strong leadership, an intimate understanding of the program and take the opportunity to not only learn but thrive in the community-minded team setting. Students of all years and disciplines are honored for their contributions.  

The EPICS Initiative Award recognizes students who have exceeded expectations in the lab and team setting. Students may have gone above and beyond in learning new skills or information about project partners or worked to expand their knowledge base in order to provide new ideas to the team and the partner.  

Recipients of the EPICS Initiative Award are: 

  • Sinjin Facchetti (materials engineering, PAWS team)

  • Ronan Freeborn (first-year engineering/FYE, Lakota team) 

  • Jackson Gillett (FYE, EVEI team)

  • Kennedi Leeper (integrated business and engineering, Conservation team)

  • Vincent Otten (FYE, India team)

  • Tommy Phan (chemical engineering, Klondike team)

  • Gavin Skinner (electrical engineering technology, WOLF team)

  • Colt Sullivan (mechanical engineering, MED team)

  • Bennett Wade (FYE, CAR team)  

The EPICS Leadership Award is given to students demonstrating outstanding leadership skills. In the team setting, leadership includes setting a strong, positive example; providing motivation and meaningful feedback to teammates; facilitating group work; and overall impactful contribution to the team, the project partner’s vision and the progress of the EPICS project. 

Recipients of the EPICS Leadership Award are: 

  • Nickolas Azanov (electrical and computer engineering, PHARM team)

  • Mackenzie Butler (electrical and computer engineering, WOLF team)

  • Sophia Grigsby (environmental and ecological engineering, Green Campus)

  • Siena Haase (FYE, Lakota team)

  • Jonas Mukund (FYE, EVEI team)

  • Fiona Parker (integrated business and engineering, PAWS team)

  • Devin Parsons (FYE, Klondike team)

  • Gabriel Serrano-Acosta (FYE, MED team)

  • Kutlu Tortop (computer engineering, EVEI team)

  • Benjamin Wiener (FYE engineering, CAR team) 

  • Mark Williams (mechanical engineering, Conservation team team)

  • Marina Xanthopoulos (FYE, GLASS team) 

The Spirit of EPICS Award is given to students who exemplified the qualities of EPICS with a deep drive and unrelenting focus on making a tangible community impact. Students who embody the spirit of EPICS possess a collaborative, community-minded and team-oriented mentality.  

  • Roselynn Gutierrez (FYE, Lakota team) 

  • Clare Hilton (interdisciplinary engineering, PAWS team) 

  • Brody Holloran (FYE, GAPS team)

  • Landon Kendall (FYE, Conservation team)

  • Cale Moody (mechanical engineering, LAB team)

  • Mohammad Shamsi (mechanical engineering, EVEI team)

  • Max Siesky (FYE, Klondike team)

  • Ethan Sutton (electrical and computer engineering, MED team)

  • Shubha Vijayaraj (mechanical engineering, India team)

  • Vardhan Yepuri (FYE, CAR team)