On Sunday, May 12, 2024, Duke Engineering celebrated about 1,100 graduates from its various programs
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Duke Engineering Celebrates the Class of 2024
The summer-like heat of early May gave way to a gorgeous weekend that lifted spirits and thrown-in-the-air-caps alike as Duke University celebrated members of its Class of 2024 with a string of events and celebrations. After the university-wide event on the morning of Sunday, May 12, Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering gathered at 3:00 pm in Cameron Indoor Stadium to recognize the more than 260 members of this year’s graduating class in a ceremony led by Vinik Dean of Engineering Jerome P. Lynch.
In remarks, Lynch recognized some of the Class of 2024’s unique challenges, having started their collegiate careers during a unique time in American history overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. And leaning into the class’s distinction of being Duke’s 100th, he spoke of the the Dukes of Durham as a true American story, a Horatio Alger tale of a self-made American family that rose from humble beginnings in Orange County, North Carolina to be one of the wealthiest families in all of America by the turn of the twentieth century by embracing of technology and entrepreneurship.
“Do not just be great engineers—rather, be great engineers whose entrepreneurial mindset unleashes the creative power you possess,” Lynch said to a stadium filled with graduates, family, friends and loved ones. “It is the combination of the two that will not only drive your professional success, but will allow you to be visionary leaders developing tomorrow’s technology-based solutions that have true impact.”
Lynch then spoke of the Dukes as being foundational to the school for their socially-minded ambitions to tackle big, transformative challenges that lead to a better society. The family sought to drive greater economic opportunity for the population of North Carolina by investing in the much-needed energy a growing manufacturing sector would need to run its machines. They led a massive initiative to construct dams and reservoirs on the Catawba River to realize their dream of electrifying the region through hydropower. It was a big idea poised for massive impact, and the Duke brothers were fearless in pursuing them because they believed these investments would transform the state and its communities for the better.
Do not just be great engineers—rather, be great engineers whose entrepreneurial mindset unleashes the creative power you possess.
Jerome P. LynchVinik Dean of Engineering
“So the lesson for you is that Dukees should never shy from tackling the problems of their day. In fact, tackle them vigorously with the big and bold ideas they demand,” Lynch said. “Be fearless in deploying them at scales others would lack the courage to try. Only then will your efforts maximize improvements in the human condition”
Vivian Su ’24, president of Engineering Student Government, also spoke during the ceremony as a representative of their classmates.
“While it may be true, that our circumstances make our class unique, I believe it’s our community and collective ability to adapt to these circumstances that truly distinguishes our graduating class,” said Su, who graduated from the electrical and computer engineering department. “It’s a cliche because it’s true, what makes Duke special is the people. And I am so grateful to have learned so much from you all in the last four years.”
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 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.
PhD Awards
Engineering Graduate Student Council Service Award
David Nicholas Fiflis
Ellery Jensen Jones
Karsten Mikhail Poulsen
Natalie Ann Rosman
PhD Plus Program Service Award
Daniel Roberto Adrianzen Alvarez
Rachael Ellen Lau
Hye-In Son
Austin Jacob Wadle
Doctoral Dissertation Award
Timothy Curtis Shoyer, Jr.
Chunxi Wang
Outstanding Service Award
Kay Palopoli
Anthony Alers
Outstanding Scholarship and Service Award
Rachel E. Lau
Celine S. Robinson
Outstanding Dissertation Award
Qitong Gao
Outstanding Service to the Department Award
Natalie Ann Rozman
Outstanding Dissertation Award
Akash Singh
Undergraduate 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.
Brandon Kunjun Bae
Andy Summers He
Alexandra Leigh Hoffman
Benjamin Alfred Johns
Minjun Kwak
Jonathan Caswell Piland
Cathylin Wen Wang
Chengyang Zhou
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.
Keith Alexander Cressman
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.
Kishen Mitra
Jack Stuart Rhodes
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.
Alexandra Leigh Hoffman
Benjamin Alfred Johns
Jonathan Caswell Piland
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.
Joanna Rui Peng
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.
Jacklyn Leah Herzberg
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.
Jacklyn Leah Herzberg
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.
Sarah Ann Bailey
Grace Eunhae Lee
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.
Sarah Ann Bailey
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.
Sarah Ann Bailey
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.
Sarah Ann Bailey
Annie Wollmuth
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.
Ian Marcos Morales
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.
Andy Summers He
Sophia Marie Williams
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.
Arya Kishan Tschand
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.
Claire Yijun Li
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.
Miranda Liu
William Joshua Guanzon King
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.
Benjamin Alfred Johns
Isabelle Warger Sanz
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.
Raymond Kelly Lennon
Spencer Samuel Schutz
Undergraduate Graduation with Departmental Distinction
Duke’s Master of Engineering Management Online program celebrated its 15th anniversary by securing the #3 spot in US News & World Report rankings
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