Each year, EEE selects three students to receive The Wangari Maathai, The Gaylord Nelson, and The Rachel Carson awards. Though the three individuals for whom these awards were named were not Boilermakers, they embodied the same greatness. They were the kind of people who persistently took giant leaps to protect the environment. The hope is that the recipients of these awards will embody some of the characteristics and passion of those for whom they are named. These awards recognize excellence and potential future excellence in engaged leadership related to sustainability and the environment.

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 displayed their semester long projects, undergraduates and graduates received scholarships and honors, faculty were recognized, and supporters of EEE were graciously thanked.

Kendrick received the Magoon Research Award from Purdue University College of Engineering and the Purdue University Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Research Award. Kanaan received the Magoon Teaching Award from the College of Engineering and the ESE Teaching Award.

Congrats to Chris Dunlap, Jillian Hirsch, Reagan VanDermark, and Annette Winterland! This group of EEE Seniors took second place in the National Water Environment Federation (WEF) wastewater category at CSWEA Student Design Competition and qualified to compete the National WEFTEC Competition in Chicago this September.

Purdue EEE ranked in the top ten Environmental Engineering Graduate schools in the US. Read more about Purdue's rankings here.

Come with EEE Junior, Grace Smith, as she explores the UK with Professor Andy Whelton.

Amidst the global challenges of environmental sustainability, Dr. Inez Hua remains a leading force in the field of Environmental and Ecological Engineering. A professor at Purdue University for nearly 30 years, Hua has made remarkable contributions in the field of Environmental and Ecological Engineering and inspired countless students to search for better solutions.

As the Project Manager for Purdue’s Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Rwanda Projects, I lead a team of 30 students designing and implementing a water distribution system in rural Rwanda. Through our partnership with the community, we have learned a lot about the value of engaging local experts in making our designs more contextually appropriate for the region, and less US-centric. We recognized that our partnership model is more unique, and that there are other examples in which we as a chapter take a step back. Doing less in certain areas provides our partners with more autonomy, ultimately leading to a more effective and sustainable solution. Inspired by this, we drafted a proposal for the EWB National Conference in Charlotte, NC, and were thrilled when our session, “Beyond Purposeful Partners: What Does Doing Less Look Like?” was selected.

As graduation looms, Rashmika Manipati, a senior in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University, is gearing up to tackle some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. With a blend of practical solutions and persuasive advocacy, Rashmika is determined to make a significant impact.

Dr. Nadya Zyaykina has been a valued part of EEE for over 10 years while serving as Lab Manager. Recently, she has taken on a dual role, continuing as part-time Lab Manager while also stepping into the position of Research Assistant Professor.