The University of South Carolina will host the annual Awards Day ceremony to honor student excellence on Thursday, April 16 at 2 p.m. on the USC Horseshoe. Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) students from 10 undergraduate programs will be recognized for their achievements.
Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing Outstanding Senior Awards
The Outstanding Senior Awards are given by the college to graduating seniors from each degree program. Recipients are faculty recommended and selected based on demonstrated academic excellence, undergraduate research participation, and active involvement in the college and university community.
Nicholas Fortino
Hometown: Batavia, Illinois
Post-Graduation Plans: Propulsion Test Engineer at Boeing
“The most memorable piece of advice I received before beginning college was, ‘You get out what you put in.’ Receiving this award has made me feel that I have accomplished this goal to the best of my ability. It has reflected my effort to consistently go above and beyond in not only my schoolwork but also in campus involvement and being a part of the South Carolina community. This award helps me to reflect on my college career with satisfaction and no regrets.”
Francesco Yigamawano
Hometown: Kampala, Uganda
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering with a focus on cardio and vascular engineering.
“It is truly an honor to be recognized as an outstanding senior, and I am deeply grateful for the support of my classmates, friends and professors. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Tarek Shazly for the time, mentorship and effort he poured into me. I am forever grateful to the engineering community at USC for helping me develop as an engineer and for giving me the opportunity to learn across multiple disciplines as I work towards creating affordable solutions to improve human health.”
Victoria Colón-LaBorde
Hometown: Aiken, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a Ph.D. in chemical engineering at the University of South Carolina.
“I am honored to have received this award. My research mentor Dr. [Golareh] Jalilvand played a critical role in shaping my career path during my time at USC. She ignited my passion for battery research and served as an exceptional mentor. Without her constant encouragement to ask questions, think critically and keep learning, I would not be where I am today.”
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Nathaniel Auten
Hometown: Anderson, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Graduate Engineer, Civil–Water at Black & Veatch
“The main experience I will take away from college is my time working on the international project in the USC Engineers Without Borders student chapter. This was an amazing interdisciplinary opportunity that allowed me to utilize what I learned in my civil engineering classes to help an underserved community. To me, this emphasized the ability and responsibility civil engineers have to improve our communities, and this is a tenet that I hope to carry with me through my professional career and life.”
Brandon Wells
Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Software Engineer at Lowe's
“This award reflects the hard work, growth and persistence that shaped my college experience. I will take away the experience I gained working in a real-world environment through my internship, the lessons I learned from balancing school and work, and the relationships I built with people who helped me grow more confident and knowledgeable about the real world.”
Eva Wilson
Hometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: TBD
“There are two mentors that come to mind when I think of my time at USC. When I took Portia Plante’s web development class, she taught everything with passion and through her, I learned to love the process of web design.
Carver Moore is the IT manager for the [Department of] Mechanical Engineering, and I've had the pleasure of being his student for the last two years. He is a wonderful and thoughtful manager, and I couldn't have wished for someone better. I would not be where I am without them.”
Computer Science & Engineering
Abhinav Krishniah
Hometown: Fort Mill, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in computer science at Georgia Tech.
“Dr. JJ Shepherd had a profound impact on my experience at USC. Through my role as a supplemental instructor for Algorithmic Design II, I had the privilege of working closely with him over the past year. His mentorship, teaching style, and genuine investment in student success pushed me to grow both technically and personally. He consistently challenged me to think more deeply, communicate more effectively, and take ownership of my learning. He has been an incredible mentor, and much of what I’ve accomplished, including this recognition, is a direct result of his guidance and support.”
Kam Davis
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Post-Graduation Plans: Electrical Engineer at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard
“The biggest thing I will take away from my time at USC is the friendships I’ve made. Some of my favorite memories are the small moments, like grabbing burgers at California Dreaming in-between class or staying late at the Wired Café studying with friends. Working through challenging classes and projects together made those experiences more meaningful. Those relationships and shared experiences are something I’ll carry with me long after graduation.”
Integrated Information Technology
Braden Guliano
Hometown: Lexington, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Attending the one-year MBA program at the USC Darla Moore School of Business.
“The IIT major prepared me by providing a strong technical foundation through classes, along with real-world opportunities to apply what I learned. This included coursework designed to reflect professional environments, leadership opportunities, research and hands-on industry experience. Through these experiences, I learned the necessary hard and soft skills to prepare me to be competitive in my professional career.”
Lewis Davies
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Equipment and Tool Asset Engineer at Boeing
“Dr. [Thor] Wuest was a wonderful professor who hosted the best discussions during lecture. His teaching was a nice change of pace for my second semester, and I’m incredibly thankful that he allowed me to join his research team. With their guidance and support, I’ve been able to make great progress towards developing a novel process in the field of additive manufacturing.”
Outstanding Senior Awards, Presented by the National Society of Professional Engineers – South Carolina Midlands
Outstanding Senior Awards, presented by the National Society of Professional Engineers – South Carolina Midlands, are given to graduating seniors in seven MCEC degree programs. Recipients are faculty recommended and selected based on demonstrated academic excellence and contributions to the engineering profession.
Aerospace Engineering
Hanna Lutz
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Associate Consultant at Siemens Industry Software, Inc.
“The college has provided me with career readiness resources and technical knowledge that has helped in making my success possible. Additionally, the college’s research opportunities have allowed me to get more engineering experience outside of the classroom.
Without the college's focus and encouragement to participate in research, I would never have worked with my research professor, Dr. Junsoo Lee. With the help and support of the college, I have had a successful experience and hope to continue to thrive postgrad.”
Biomedical Engineering
Emily Davey
Hometown: Charleston, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: TBD
“One of the most meaningful experiences I will take away from college is my involvement with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Through serving on the executive board as outreach coordinator and now as internal vice president, I have built lasting friendships, developed leadership skills, and found a passion for mentoring underclassmen and inspiring young students in the community. Being part of SWE has not only shaped my college experience but also strengthened my confidence and commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers."
Chemical Engineering
Jenna Gulibon
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Post-Graduation Plans: Contact Engineer at ExxonMobil
“I am incredibly grateful to receive this award and be recognized for the hard work, growth, and success I have accomplished these last four years. This award represents the struggles of long hours studying, balancing numerous commitments and gaining industry experience. These years have taught me so much about collaboration, determination and leadership. However, achieving these goals could not have been possible without the support from my friends, colleagues and faculty in the Department of Chemical Engineering.”
Civil & Environmental Engineering
Payton Vereen
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Roadway Engineering-in-Training at Michael Baker International
“From my experience as a college student, the biggest thing I will take away is my connection with others: the connections I currently have and the ability to make new ones to improve my personal and professional growth.”
Computer Engineering
Rye Stahle-Smith
Hometown: Jericho, Vermont
Post-Graduation Plans: TBD
“I’ll never forget the moment I transferred to USC. I was nervous that I wouldn’t fit in, but it quickly proved to be an environment where I could grow and excel. Coursework in computer architecture, operating systems, and embedded systems strengthened my technical foundation and taught me to approach problems with systems-level thinking by balancing software design with hardware efficiency.
The skills I’ve applied through research projects and presenting my work at international conferences have helped me translate classroom knowledge into professional abilities. If it wasn’t for the university, I wouldn’t have developed the competence and confidence to contribute meaningfully in any professional setting.”
Electrical Engineering
*Nathan Shute
Hometown: Lancaster, South Carolina
*Will graduate in December 2026
"The faculty at the Department of Electrical Engineering have given a significant amount of their time and energy to help me learn the concepts needed to be successful in this field. My hope is to emulate their problem-solving approach well after graduation. This award is important to me because it recognizes years of study."
Mechanical Engineering
Ruby Voortmeyer
Hometown: Holladay, Utah
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at USC.
“Receiving this award represents everything I put into my time at USC. I came here not knowing what to expect, leaving everything familiar behind, and ended up discovering how much I truly love studying engineering while also having the privilege of being a student-athlete. Balancing academics, athletics, personal, and social time was not easy, but I made the decision to fully commit. This award represents the choice to show up and do the hard thing.
This award is a reminder of how far I have come. More than anything, it reinforces my belief that when you commit to something fully, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.”
Dean’s Award for Outstanding Leadership
Nominated by faculty or staff, the Dean's Award for Outstanding Leadership recognizes graduating seniors for significant contributions to the MCEC. Each award recipient has provided outstanding leadership to an MCEC student organization and positively impacted the college's brand through service to the college.
Aerospace Engineering
Michael Cargill
Hometown: Irmo, South Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at USC.
“Receiving the MCEC Dean’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership is both an honor and a confirmation for me. It represents not only the work I have put in over the past four years, but also the support and mentorship I have received along the way. This recognition has affirmed that I am exactly where I need to be and that the path I’ve chosen is the right one. For that, I am incredibly grateful.”
Shree Ghosh
Hometown: McLean, Virginia
Post-Graduation Plans: Pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado.
“I am grateful to the college and USC for contributing to my personal and professional growth. Being involved in service and leadership within undergraduate research, organizations, and as student ambassador has allowed me to meaningfully contribute to a place that has given so much to me, as well as help find others within this campus. Through these experiences, I've been lucky to create connections and valuable skills I will take with me for the rest of my career, and this award is a testament to my contributions and effort.”
Civil & Environmental Engineering
*Gabrielle Dissinger
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
*Will graduate in December 2026
“My time at USC has taught me many invaluable skills and lessons. I tested my limits with schoolwork, clubs, research, and extracurriculars, and proved that I could handle more than I initially thought. In addition, my commitments provided me with the opportunity to greatly improve my leadership and communication skills. Lastly, I developed the ability to push beyond my comfort zone and grow. These skills will serve me well in my professional career, where I will have the confidence to approach new challenges because of my experiences in college.”
Computer Science & Engineering
Caitlin Croci
Hometown: Upper Saddle River, New Jersey
Post-Graduation Plans: Advanced Mission Systems Software Engineer at Boeing
“I am deeply honored to receive this award and grateful to my peers and faculty who have supported me. I have expanded my perspective by studying applications of software engineering in business, aerospace and defense, providing me with the necessary skills to excel after graduation.
In navigating the endless opportunities at USC, I have found that my most meaningful experiences have come from trying new things and stepping beyond what I perceived as my own limits.”
Sara Clark
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Post-Graduation Plans: Systems Reliability Engineer at Nutanix
“One of the most important ways the college prepared me for my career was by helping me be comfortable with uncertainty. I realized that not knowing how to do something isn’t a good enough reason not to try. I learned to step into opportunities even when I didn’t feel fully prepared and to trust that I could figure things out along the way.
Whether it was taking on leadership roles, starting new projects, applying for opportunities or navigating unfamiliar challenges, those moments became some of my most valuable experiences. They taught me how to ask questions, adapt quickly and learn as I go.”
Electrical Engineering
Grant Stanton
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Post-Graduation Plans: Substation Engineer at Pike.
“The college pushed me to nourish my professional network and allowed me to apply my education into industry experience. In addition, my favorite part about the Department of Electrical Engineering is the diverse community of professionals and students from all walks of life and experiences.”
Mechanical Engineering
*Ciarra Lorusso
Hometown: Highland Mills, New York
*Will graduate in December 2026
“As I approach the end of my time at USC, I reminisce on the friendships that have shaped my college experience. As a freshman, I expected my studies and my social life to be separate. However, long study sessions and post-study ramen trips created friendships in a place I never expected. I've enjoyed countless 20-minute breaks between classes in the Swearingen courtyard and bonded over the relief at the end of a stressful week.
These experiences remind me of just how wrong I was freshman year. It's bittersweet to leave, but I am grateful to have shared my time in the college with friends who made these years what they were.”