Duke Engineering Celebrates the Class of 2022

5/8/22 Pratt School of Engineering

Dean Jerome P. Lynch challenged the newest Duke Engineers to make the world more resilient and more just

Duke Class of 2022
Duke Engineering Celebrates the Class of 2022

During May 6-8, Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering recognized and celebrated the 730 members of its Class of 2022.

On May 8, Vinik Dean of Engineering Jerome P. Lynch convened the first in-person awards and diploma ceremony for Duke Engineering undergraduates since 2019.

In remarks, Lynch congratulated the class on their resilience and grit during the pandemic. He also noted the Class of 2022 is the first to complete four years of Duke Engineering’s signature student experience.

“This has given you unique capabilities to apply your fundamental engineering skills more readily to create breakthrough technologies that have clearer and more immediate pathways to practice,” he said, speaking to graduates and their friends and loved ones gathered in Cameron Indoor Stadium.

Congratulations from Dean Lynch

“So, my newest engineering colleagues, go forth to change the world for the better—make it more resilient and more just. We are counting on you to succeed. So go forth boldly and proudly!”

Jerome P. Lynch | Vinik Dean of Engineering

Lynch challenged the Class of 2022 to use their skills and creative talents to advance the common good. He advised that they seek just and equitable solutions for the grand challenges facing society, including issues such as rapid urbanization, acceleration of climate change and the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

“As global change introduces higher levels of disparities across our global communities, we must be extremely thoughtful about who are the beneficiaries of our solutions with the aspiration to advance the common good,” Lynch said. “This demands an all-hands-on-deck approach—meaning you must immerse yourself in diverse teams that allow you to leverage the wealth of identity, perspective, and experience to fuel the creative process that leads to technological discovery.”

Emma Steadman ’22, president of Engineering Student Government, spoke during the ceremony as the representative of her classmates.

“On this day, we should celebrate our successes, mourn what we lost, and honor all the ways in which we have persisted,” said Steadman, a mechanical engineer from Williamsville, NY. “Let us celebrate being one the most resilient classes that Duke University has ever had.”

At a Glance—Duke Engineering Class of 2022

  • 289
    Bachelor of Science in Engineering
  • 39
    Master of Engineering Management—Online
  • 60
    Master of Engineering Management—Campus
  • 107
    Master of Engineering
  • 133
    Master of Science
  • 102
    PhD

In-person hooding ceremonies celebrating those earning degrees of Master of Engineering, Master of Science and Master of Engineering Management were also held during Duke’s Commencement 2022 weekend—the fullest in-person celebration schedule since the beginning of the pandemic.

The undergraduate ceremony saw awards given to students for achievements in academics, service and research. There were special recognitions of the Pratt Research Fellows, Katsouleas NAE Grand Challenge Scholars, Duke BME Design Fellows—and the graduation of Duke’s first class of A. James Clark Scholars.

Beyond the Duke campus, hundreds of families and friends around the world watched a live stream of the Duke Engineering undergraduate ceremony broadcast over YouTube.

Awards and Honors

PhD Awards

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Doctoral Dissertation Award
  • Chelsea Fries
  • Micong Li

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Outstanding Scholar Award
  • Josin Tom
  • Imari Walker Karega

Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Outstanding Dissertation Award
  • Zhongxi Li
Outstanding Service Award
  • Huanrui Yang

Thomas Lord Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Outstanding Dissertation Award
  • Gary Hu
  • Shujie Yang

Engineering Graduate Student Council Service Award
  • Anna Knight (BME)
  • Lidea Shahidi (ECE)
  • Xin Song (ECE)
  • Joseph Rufo (MEMS)
  • Hegde Shreyas (MEMS)

PhD Plus Program Service Award
  • Mohammadreza Momenfar (CEE)
  • Joana Sipe (CEE)
  • Jonsin Tom (CEE)
  • Imari Walker Karega (CEE)

Undergraduate Awards

Major External Awards

Marshall Scholarship

Pratt School Awards

Walter J. Seeley Scholastic Award

Presented annually by the Engineering Student Government to the member of the graduating class who has achieved the highest scholastic average in all subjects, and who has shown diligence in pursuit of an engineering education. Initiated to honor the spirit of academic excellence and professional diligence demonstrated by the late Dean Walter J. Seeley.

  • George Hong
  • James Michael Marek
  • Juliet Amallia Marzella Yznaga
Otto Meier, Jr. Tau Beta Pi Award

Presented in recognition of Dr. Meier’s leadership in establishing the North Carolina Gamma Chapter on January 10, 1948, and his continuous service until April 19, 1975, as the chapter advisor. Given annually to the graduating member of Tau Beta Pi who best symbolizes the distinguished scholarship and exemplary character required for membership.

  • Rebecca Ann Lau
Pratt School of Engineering Student Service Award

Established in 1978 and given to graduating seniors who, by contributions of time, effort and spirit, have significantly benefitted the community of the Pratt School of Engineering.

  • Chishamiso Zano Chideya
  • Philip Wang Liu

Biomedical Engineering

da Vinci Award

Presented to the Biomedical Engineering senior with the most outstanding academic record, as determined by a faculty committee. Commemorates the contributions of Leonardo da Vinci in laying the foundation of the mechanistic study of human life.

  • John Douglas Boom
Helmholtz Award

Given to a graduating senior who presents the best research project, as judged by department faculty. Commemorates the work of Hermann von Helmholtz in laying the foundation of biomedical engineering.

  • Michael Qianjun Tian
Edward D. “Ned” Light Memorial Award

Given to a Pratt Research Fellow in biomedical engineering with the best engineering design project, as judged by a faculty committee. Established in 2012 in memory of Ned Light, who worked for at Duke 22 years—pioneering research in real-time 3D ultrasound imaging and mentoring a host of undergraduate students both in the lab and in life skills.

  • Arushi Biswas
  • Caroline Grace Salzman
Theo C. Pilkington Memorial Award

Established in 1993 by the Whitaker Foundation as an endowment award in memory of Dr. Pilkington, founding chairman of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. The recipient is selected at the end of the junior year and the award is given in recognition of outstanding perseverance and accomplishment in the study of biomedical engineering.

  •  Ramona Sonia Naseri

Civil & Environmental Engineering

American Society of Civil Engineering Outstanding Senior Prize

Presented annually to a graduating civil engineering senior in recognition of an exceptional, positive impact on the Duke student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineering.

  • Valerie Tsao
William Brewster Snow Environmental Engineering Award

Established in 1979 and presented annually to seniors who have demonstrated academic excellence, interest, and enthusiasm in the study of environmental engineering.

  • Qingqi Katherine Li
  • Zehua Wang
Aubrey E. Palmer Award

Established in 1980 and presented annually to a civil engineering or environmental engineering senior in recognition of outstanding academic achievement. Selection is made by the faculty of the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering.

  • James Michael Marek
Eric I. Pas Award

Established in 1998 in memory of Dr. Pas, former director of undergraduate studies in Civil & Environmental Engineering, and presented to the graduating civil or environmental engineering senior judged by the faculty to have conducted the most outstanding independent study project.

  • Qingqi Katherine Li
  • Jenny Z Liang

Electrical & Computer Engineering

David Randall Fuller Prize for Achievement in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Presented annually to the graduating senior who has shown the most improvement in academic performance over the first three years.

  • Isabella Michelle Knox
George Sherrerd III Memorial Award in Electrical and Computer Engineering

Awarded annually to the senior in electrical and computer engineering who, in the opinion of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty, who has attained the highest level of scholastic achievement in all subjects and has simultaneously has rendered significant service to the Pratt School of Engineering and the university at large. Established in 1958 by the parents of Class of 1955 graduate George Sherrerd III, to recognize outstanding undergraduate scholarship.

  • Alexander Xinliang Oesterling
  • Juliet Amallia Marzella Yznaga
Marie Foote Reel Undergraduate Research Award

Awarded each year to the most outstanding undergraduate research project and presentation as judged by the faculty in Duke Electrical & Computer Engineering as part of the Graduation with Departmental Distinction presentation session. Established in 2021 in honor of electrical engineer Marie Foote Reel ’46, one of the first women to graduate from Duke’s College of Engineering.

  • Doherty Guirand
Charles Rowe Vail Memorial Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Award

Established in 1997 by former students and colleagues of Charles Vail, a graduate of the Class of 1937, a professor from 1939-1967, and chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering from 1956-1964, recognizes the most outstanding undergraduate teaching assistant in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering.

  • Sanika Girish Gupte

Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Pi Tau Sigma Scholarship Award

Established in memory of T.C. Heyward, Sr., and presented annually by Pi Tau Sigma to an outstanding senior in Mechanical Engineering at Duke. Selection by a committee of the engineering faculty is based on academic excellence, engineering ability, and leadership.

  • Zhiting Mei
  • Shannon Cassidy Smith
Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science Faculty Award

Presented annually in recognition of academic excellence to the graduating Mechanical Engineering seniors who have attained the highest level of scholastic achievement, as determined by the faculty.

  • Jack Edward Horton
  • Vincent Yuchen Wang
Raymond C. Gaugler Award in Materials Science & Engineering

The Raymond C. Gaugler Award in Materials Science and Engineering recognizes the senior who made the most progress in developing competence in materials science or materials engineering. The basis for selection is scholarship record, research or design projects completed at Duke, and interest in a materials-related career. The award was established by Patricia S. Pearsall in memory of her grandfather, who was president of American Cyanamid Company prior to his death in 1952.

  • Rebecca Ann Lau

Graduated with Departmental Distinction

Biomedical Engineering

* The Howard G. Clark Award

  • John Douglas Boom
  • Molly Antara Chakraborty
  • Leandro Christian Choi
  • Grace Ellen Dessert*
  • Yesh Satyajit Doctor
  • Rishabh Jain*
  • Gabrielle Kathryn Marushack*
  • Ramona Sonia Naseri
  • Ethan J Nicklow*
  • Jonathan Jude Shamindra Edward Perera*
  • Zewei Shi
  • Claire Szuter
  • Michael Qianjun Tian
  • Simone Adrienne Wall*
  • Jaclyn Zhimei Xiao

Civil & Environmental Engineering

  • Qingqi Katherine Li
  • Jenny Z Liang
  • Zehua Wang

Electrical & Computer Engineering

  • Guangyu Feng
  • Simon Gorbaty
  • Doherty Guirand
  • Adrian Lopez
  • Megan Elisabeth Lee Richards
  • Alex Quan Xu
  • Michael Yuanyi Xue

Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

  • Jonathan Donald Inge
  • Leaf C Kalikow
  • Rebecca Ann Lau
  • Zhiting Mei
  • Shannon Cassidy Smith

Undergraduate Fellows and Scholars

A. James Clark Scholars

  • Filip Bartel
  • William Chase Carlson
  • Lingyi Fu
  • Marcellus Anthony Jordan III
  • Philip Wang Liu
  • Sophie Rubin
  • Hosam Tagel-Din
  • Kayana Tyson
  • Christian Welch
  • Juliet Amallia Marzella Yznaga

Pratt Research Fellows

  • William Chase Carlson
  • Yi Chen
  • Leandro Christian Choi
  • Phoebe Sarah Dijour
  • Ankitha Durvasula
  • Rishabh Jain
  • Rebecca Ann Lau
  • Qingqi Katherine Li
  • Gabrielle Kathryn Marushack
  • Zhiting Mei
  • Ethan J Nicklow
  • Alexander Xinliang Oesterling
  • Kevin Ryan Peng
  • Katherine Dejing Tang
  • Michael Qianjun Tian
  • Danielle Iman von Briesen
  • Simone Adrienne Wall
  • Everett M Werner
  • Daniel Wei Zhang
  • Celina Gu Zhou
  • Yi Zhou

Katsouleas NAE Grand Challenge Scholars

  • Arushi Biswas
  • John Douglas Boom
  • Anish G. Karpurapu
  • Rebecca Ann Lau
  • Qingqi Katherine Li
  • Jonathan Jude Shamindra Edward Perera
  • Michael Qianjun Tian
  • Valerie Tsao
  • Simone Adrienne Wall

Biomedical Engineering Design Fellows

  • Jake Emmett Cariello
  • Harshitavenkat Devisetty
  • Phoebe Sarah Dijour
  • Tinatin Gergaia
  • Sanika Girish Gupte
  • Rebecca Duncan Hogewood
  • Khue Thanh Huynha
  • Jacob Benjamin Key
  • Rachel Lopez
  • Jack Clifford Nastas
  • Jonathan Jude Shamindra Edward Perera
  • Caroline Grace Salzman
  • Zewei Shi
  • Haley Elena Snyder
  • Claire Szuter
  • Vanessa Tam
  • Zachary David Edwin Thomson
  • Kayana Tyson
  • Manav Mayank Vakil
  • Jingyi Xin