Purdue EEE students, faculty, staff, corporate partners, and members of the External Advisory Council (EAC) came together May 1, 2025, to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of EEE this year. Seniors in EEE 480 - Senior Design displayed their semester long projects, undergraduates and graduates received scholarships and honors, faculty members were recognized, and supporters of EEE were graciously thanked.

Click here for access to downloadable versions of all EEE Recognition Night photos.

Keep reading for award winners, photo highlights, and honorable mentions.

Senior Design Students and Instructors at 2025 Recognition Night.

SENIOR DESIGN

The highlight of Recognition Night is the presentation of EEE's Senior Design Projects to faculty, corporate representatives, students, and family members. This year, 15 student teams worked with sponsors to address real-world challenges under the guidance of real clients. These team-based, experiential learning projects provide students with the professional development experience of a technical internship while sponsors gain exposure and an innovative solution to a problem within their organization. 

2025 SENIOR DESIGN TEAM WINNER: Food Waste Management for US Cold Storage

Students: Chloe Barna, Ben Chapman, Arin Chu, Claire Middendorf
Project Sponsors: US Cold Storage - Henry Lewis
Topic: As part of US Cold Storage's efforts to reduce their environmental impact, they asked EEE students to investigate how to reduce food waste sent to landfills. 

2025's winning team members Arin Chu (second from left), Claire Middendorf (center), Chloe Barna (second from right), and Ben Chapman (right) pose with their project sponsor, Henry Lewis (left) and their winning Senior Design Poster at 2025 Recognition Night. 

UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS

In 2020, EEE introduced the Wangari Maathai, Gaylord Nelson, and Rachel Carson awards. These awards recognize the excellence and potential future excellence of students who have demonstrated academic achievement and engaged leadership related to sustainability and the environment in harmony with the mission of EEE. 

Maathai Award: Hailey Benfield, Nelson Award: Olivia Chowdhury, Carlson Award: Nachiket Magesh

2024 - 2025 EEE EAC SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: Shelby Lindley, Samuel Spears, Grace Smith

2025 SPILL CONTROL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA SCHOLARSHIPS: Eva Lynch & Nikki Zavodny

2025 EEE OUTSTANDING SENIOR: Rashmika Manipati

Rashmika Manipati (right) is awarded a plaque for 2025 EEE Outstanding Senior from Dr. Lindsey Payne (left). 
 

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

FACULTY AWARDS 

2025 SEEE INSTRUCTIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD: Dr. Brady Hardiman

The Society of Environmental and Ecological Engineers, or SEEE, Instructional Excellence Award recognizes an EEE faculty member for outstanding achievement in the area of teaching with an emphasis on the past academic year. Students in the EEE undergraduate degree program vote for an instructor based on the faculty member's commitment to student success, ability to effectively communicate material to students, and desire to motivate students to learn.

Dr. Brady Hardiman (left) poses with his SEEE Instructional Excellence Award plaque with Christopher Dunlap (President of the Society of Environmental and Ecological Engineers) (right) at 2025 Recognition Night. 

2025 OUTSTANDING FACULTY MENTOR: Dr. Hua Cai

Congratulations to Purdue EEE Seniors and 2025 award winners!