Seventeen seniors from the College of Engineering and Computing were recognized with
Outstanding Senior Awards this year. The award recipients were recommended by faculty
members and selected based on their academic excellence, undergraduate research participation,
active involvement in the college or university community and their contributions
to the profession.
Students named Outstanding Seniors will be recognized during the University of South Carolina Awards Day Ceremony on April 15 at Colonial Life Arena.
"I have worked with Dr. Rekleitis in the Autonomous Field Robotics Lab for my whole
time at the university, and that experience helps me feel ready to make a difference
in robotics. My favorite project so far has been helping our underwater robot path-find
around shipwrecks, but all of it has pushed my boundaries way beyond what I thought
I could do."
-James Johnson, Computer Engineering
"I have accepted a position in Cornell University's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
and Doctor of Philosophy Combined Degree Program. I'll be moving to Ithaca, New York
this summer to start my first lab rotation and then begin veterinary school in the
fall! The program is 7-8 years, but after that I would love to be a professor, allowing
me to teach, hold clinical duties, and do research."
- Sydney Womack, Biomedical Engineering
"The one thing that I will miss most about the CEC and UofSC are the amazing and supportive
people all around me! After graduation, I will be pursing my PhD in chemical engineering
at Stanford University, starting Fall 2021."
- Ashton Aleman, Chemical Engineering
"The coolest thing I've learned in the CEC is what I am capable of as a student and
a person. The past four years have pushed me beyond what I would've ever thought I
was capable of and showed me what potential I possess."
- Caroline Evans, Mechanical Engineering
"Having been admitted to both Stanford and MIT for a mechanical engineering PhD, I
have a difficult choice ahead of me for where I will go for graduate school. Either
way, I know I have a long career of research to look forward to."
- Chris Carter, Mechanical Engineering
"After graduation, I will be staying in Columbia and working as a Roadway Design Engineer
for Holt Consulting Company. I have been an intern at Holt for the past two years
and I am very excited to have the chance to work with them full-time. I will also
be studying for and taking the PE Exam after graduation so that I can eventually become
a professional engineer."
- Sophie Curry, Civil Engineering
"The mentorship I received from professors and graduate students really made a difference
in my collegiate career. I loved being a Supplemental Instructor for Dr. Caicedo’s
Statics class and performing research with both undergraduates and graduates, leading
me to be interested in pursuing a career in teaching and research while working in
the industry." - Taylor Wyatt, Civil Engineering
"Over the past year, my team and I have had the opportunity to work alongside the
wonderful employees of the Koger Center to develop an app that patrons can use to
find their seats and learn more about the Koger Center. Being able to learn on my
own and develop an app as a team has been the highlight of my senior year academically."
- Warren Beagle, Computer Information Systems
"The EE lab curriculum has really helped me improve my problem solving skills and
ability to collaborate effectively with others on projects. I also love that in our
Senior Design class everything is made applicable to life after graduation. The career
fairs hosted by the school are also great, I got one of my internships and my full
time job through the university’s STEM career fair." - Amy Ballman, Electrical Engineering
"Biomedical engineering was no joke, but we bonded along the way. I distinctly remember
some very late-night study sessions in Swearingen with friends. We would take over
a classroom, eat snacks, and work through practice problems together on the chalk
board the night before exams. As stressful as those nights could be, I'm really going
to miss them." - Alex Stevens, Biomedical Engineering
"I feel the CEC has prepared me for this next chapter of my life through a challenging
curriculum, individualized professional development, and staff that genuinely cares
about student success both inside and out of the classroom. I am very grateful for
my time here at UofSC and will miss it dearly. Forever to thee!" - Kaitlyn Cook, Chemical
Engineering
The College of Engineering and Computing celebrates and congratulates all of our 2021
Outstanding Seniors listed below.
CEC Outstanding Seniors
Ashton M. Aleman, Chemical Engineering Warren Beagle, Computer Information Systems Christopher Carter, Mechanical Engineering Sophie Curry, Civil Engineering Hunter Damron, Computer Science Ryan Hoeler, Aerospace Engineering James Johnson, Computer Engineering Noah Mansfield, Electrical Engineering Alexandra Stevens, Biomedical Engineering Carly Yates, Integrated Information Technology
South Carolina Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Seniors
Amy Ballman, Electrical Engineering Kaitlyn M. Cook, Chemical Engineering Caroline Evans, Mechanical Engineering Ana Victoria Kock, Aerospace Engineering Niharika Pandala, Computer Engineering Sydney Womack, Biomedical Engineering Taylor Wyatt, Civil Engineering
Outstanding Senior Spotlight
Hunter Damron, a computer science student, received an honorable mention for the Computer
Research Association’s 2020 Undergraduate Researcher Award – which recognizes him
as one of the top computer science and engineering undergraduate students in the country.
More about Outstanding Senior Hunter Damron
Outstanding Senior Spotlight
A love of tackling problems inspired UofSC senior and Honors College student Christopher
Carter's current research and led him to NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship
Project.
Christopher Carter’s curiosity leads to NASA grant
