Students are nominated for the award by the faculty based on numerous factors, including peer-reviewed publications, awards received for presentations or publications, potential contribution to the field and society, leadership in a research group or community, participation in professional societies, and overall academic achievement.

Cabrera thanked her advisor and mentor, Prof. Juan Wachs, for nominating her and working with her. Wachs said Cabrera's award is "due to her work in the area of one-shot learning of motion, which is a critical problem in the field of machine learning and robotics."

She was recognized for the award at the 2018 College of Engineering Graduate Student Research, Teaching, and Service Awards Luncheon on April 24 in the Purdue Memorial Union.