The University of Georgia College of Engineering sets aside a special time each year to recognize the achievements of its students, faculty, staff and alumni. This tradition is known as the Celebration of Excellence.

Together, the college community celebrates individuals who are helping the UGA College of Engineering fulfill its mission through their unyielding pursuit of excellence.

Held April 13, the following individuals were honored at this year’s celebration. View a full album of photos from the event.

IMPACT AWARDS

Alumni Impact Award
Ronnie Lee, BSAE ’69
Retired President and CEO, Walton EMC

Friend Impact Award
Mark Bennett, BSA, ’91
Public Affairs Executive, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation

Young Alumni Impact Award
Kengelle Chukwurah, BSBE, ’13; MS, Engineering, ’16
Product Manager, Ernst & Young LLP

YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS

40 Years
Thiab Taha, Ph.D.
Professor

35 Years
Krzysztof Kochut, Ph.D.
Professor

25 Years
John Schramski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

15 Years
Mark Haidekker, Ph.D.
Professor

Leidong Mao, Ph.D.
Professor

John Mativo, Ph.D.
Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor

10 Years
Diana Beckett
Academic Advisor

Mi Geum Chorzepa, Ph.D., P.E., LEED AP
Associate Professor

Mable Fok, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Margaret Sapp, M.Ed.
Director of Graduate Affairs

Matt Tiffany
IT Professional Principal

Samantha Varghese, M.Ed.
Graduate Program Administrator

XQ Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Brock Woodson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Merit Award for Service
Victoria Lam

Merit Award for Research
Andres Villalobos

Merit Award for Athletics
Riley Scruggs

Academic Excellence Awards
Stephen Garlon Rogers, Agricultural Engineering
Fred Lee, Biochemical Engineering
Emma Tharp, Biological Engineering
Jace Johnson, Civil Engineering
Celena Michaud, Computer Systems Engineering
Sudhan Chitgopkar, Computer Science
Xander Lilly, Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Ava Wonn, Environmental Engineering
Maxwell Morlan, Mechanical Engineering

Chair’s Award for Excellence – Best Personal Statement
Jessica Lopez, School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering
Catherine Tan, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
John Morris, School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering

Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence
Sophia Olson and George Tharpe

University of Georgia Presidential Award of Excellence
Celena Michaud and Andres Villalobos

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS

Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching
Joshua Dunlap

Brahm Verma Award for Academic and Leadership Excellence
Lori Estes-Bright

Award for Excellence in Graduate Research
Nicholas Winter

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & FACULTY HONORS

U.S Patents awarded FY 2022-23

Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicles
Inventor: Tsz Ho Tse
Utility Patent 11207989

Methods of Igniting a Fuel Source, Lighter Fluid Compositions and Self-Lighting Charcoal Briquettes
Inventor: Ryan Adolphson
Utility Patent 11268041

Peanut Maturity Grading Systems and Methods
Inventor: Tsz Ho Tse
Utility Patent 11311916

Peanut Maturity Grading Systems and Methods
Inventors: Kyle Johnsen, Donald Leo, Tsz Ho Tse
Utility Patent 11317570

Surfaces and Coating Compositions Having Antifouling, Antithrombotic, and Antibacterial Properties and Methods of Making
Inventors: Hitesh Handa, Jason Locklin
Utility Patent 11370934

Identification and Classification of Traffic Conflicts
Inventor: Jidong Yang
Utility Patent 11380105

Indoor Occupancy Estimation, Trajectory Tracking and Event Monitoring and Tracking System
Inventor: WenZhan Song
Utility Patent 11495111

Faculty Honors

American Society of Agricultural & Biological Engineers Fellows
Sudhagar Mani, Ph.D.
Professor

American Society of Civil Engineers Fellows
Bjorn Birgisson, Ph.D., P.E.
Chair, School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Fellows 
Eric Freeman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Xianqiao Wang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Association for the Science for Limnology & Oceanography Sustaining Fellow
C. Brock Woodson, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Institute of Transportation Engineering Fellow
Jidong Yang, Ph.D., P.E.
Associate Professor

National Academy of Engineers
S. Jack Hu, Ph.D.
Sr. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

S. Edward Law, Ph.D.
D.W. Brooks Distinguished Professor Emeritus

J. Marshall Shepherd, Ph.D.
Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor and Director

National Academy of Inventors
Leidong Mao, Ph.D.
Professor

Hitesh Handa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor National Academy of Sciences

J. Marshall Shepherd, Ph.D.
Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor and Director

MacArthur Grant Award
Jenna Jambeck, Ph.D.
Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering

National Science Foundation CAREER Awardees (2022-2023)
Cheryl Gomillion, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Le Guan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Rawad Saleh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

STAFF AWARDS

Staff Award for Excellence
Aaron Chastain
IT Professional Associate

New Staff Award for Excellence
Tanesha Hitchcock
Administrative Associate

Award for Excellence in Student Services
Lauren Anglin, M.Ed.
Director of Experiential Learning and Outreach

FACULTY AWARDS

Award for Excellence in Instruction
Stephan Durham, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor and Assistant Dean for Student Success and Outreach

Award for Excellence in Research
Hitesh Handa, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Faculty Fellow Award
Thirimachos Bourlai, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award
Brian Bledsoe, Ph.D., P.E.
Professor

Lowry Gillespie, Jr. Engineering Curriculum Enhancement Award
Renny Badra, Ph.D.
Lecturer