Student Awards, Scholarships & Grants

Abbas Shaikh
B.S. Computer Science 2026
B.S. Statistics 2026

REA Leadership Excellence Award
REA Research Excellence Award

"I am incredibly grateful to receive these awards. To me, these honors validate the dedication I have poured into impactful research at Rice and affirm that the effort I have invested into my leadership roles and serving my community is truly valuable and worth the pursuit. This recognition provides meaningful support as I transition into my professional career beyond the university. It motivates me to work even harder and to seek out new opportunities where I can continue making a meaningful impact through research and service."

Advika Rajeev
B.S. in Computer Science 2026

Phil Layton Award of Excellence in the Arts

"This award will support my academic and professional journey as I continue exploring opportunities in both engineering and the arts. As a graduating senior, the financial support encourages me to invest in my technical and creative pursuits while preparing for the next step in my career."

Ali Raza Sial
B.S. Chemical Engineering 2028

Rodd Selman Scholarship

"This award will help me continue pursuing the opportunities that have shaped my time at Rice so far. It will allow me to fully focus on my academic work, research, and leadership on campus without being limited by financial constraints. More importantly, it gives me the encouragement and support to keep pushing toward my long-term goals of making a meaningful impact through my work and contributing to challenges that matter beyond the classroom."

Amelia Pillar
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2026

Thomas Michael Panos Family Engineering Student Award

"This award will help me further both my educational and career goals by supporting my transition to grad school to get my PhD."

Anderson Roy Phillips
PhD in Electrical Engineering 2026

REA Travel Grant

"This travel grant allowed me to travel to the Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems, and Computers, where I could present my research to researchers from around the world. The research I presented examined the relationship between brain activity measured on the surface of the head and activity measured from within the brain. By sharing our work with other researchers in neural signal processing, we received supportive feedback and avenues for further directions and collaborations. In the future, we will leverage the insights we gained from this research to develop methods to better estimate activity inside the brain with noninvasive measurements."

Andrew Lin
PhD. in Chemical and Biological Engineering 2028

Hershel M. Rich Invention Award

"I am honored to have been selected for this award. It enables me to further my academic training and accelerate progress toward my educational and career goals. At the same time, it supports my efforts to translate research beyond the laboratory into practical, real-world applications."

Anika Kulkarni
B.S. in Bioengineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"I'm incredibly grateful for your support. This scholarship gives me the ability to spend more time on the parts of my education I care most about - especially research and hands-on learning - and it truly makes a difference in my experience at Rice."

Annika Porteous
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship
Walter S. Strang '66 Memorial Award

"I would like to sincerely thank you for your generous support and for the difference it has made in my education. This scholarship will help ease some of the financial burden of pursuing my degree and allow me to dedicate more time and energy to my work, my goals, and giving back to the community. Your generosity has made a real difference in my ability to continue pursuing these opportunities, and I am truly beyond grateful."

Arkin Si
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2026

School of Engineering & Computing
REA Outstanding Student Award

Aurial Teemoi
B.S. in Computer Science 2028

School of Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Support for Student Development Award

"Thank you for making this award possible as it enables students like me to adventure and explore the topics within our field of study beyond what could be imagined by us. For me, I'm able to get a chance to branch out and network in new areas and people that I could only dream of without the financial support to travel and do so. Thank you again, and I really appreciate your support."

Autumn Pepper Rhodes
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2027

Walter S. Strang '66 Memorial Award

"I am deeply honored to receive the 2026 Walter S. Strang Memorial Award. This recognition means so much to me, and I am incredibly grateful to be part of a community that values curiosity, dedication, and innovation. As a mechanical engineering student with a passion for aerospace, this support enables me to dedicate additional time to research, hands-on design work, and leadership within engineering organizations without the same financial constraints. Beyond its financial impact, this award serves as a motivating recognition of my efforts and reinforces my commitment to continued growth, innovation, and contribution within the engineering community."

Bailee Byrd
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2028

Dick and Mary Ellen Wilson Engineering Student Enhancement Award

"Thank you for your gracious donation, and support of my future! I am extremely grateful to be a recipient of this award, and how it makes a study abroad experience possible for me this summer. I look forward to learning more about the world, and myself, in a new environment."

Barclay Jumet
PhD in Mechanical Engineering 2026

Hershel M. Rich Invention Award

Ben Lindenbaum
B.A. in Computer Science 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

Bess Glenn
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2027

School of Engineering & Computing REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Most Outstanding Junior Award

"I am honored to receive this award and deeply grateful for the REA's generosity. As I continue to study chemical engineering, my interest in the field deepens, and this award gives me the freedom to further pursue academic and extracurricular opportunities on campus. By helping finance my college education, this gift allows me to devote more time to my coursework and student organizations rather than working additional hours. I am thankful to be part of a community so committed to student success and look forward to staying involved with the REA beyond graduation."

Rahul Arora
B.S. in Computer Science 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award allows me to fully immerse myself in the intersection of Mathematics and Computer Science without the weight of financial stress. It ensures I'm graduating with a skill set that is just as valuable in a research lab as it is in industry, giving me the freedom to choose the path where I can make the most impact."

Soham Atkar
PhD in Applied Physics 2030

REA Travel Grant

"Receiving the REA Travel Award is a pivotal milestone in my transition to graduate research at Rice University. Presenting my work on magneto-optical x-ray interferometry at the APS conference allows me to showcase a methodology that uniquely resolves the complex refractive index of magnetic materials in a technique directly applicable to my current doctoral focus in applied physics. By engaging with the broader physics community, I will refine my ability to communicate sophisticated concepts like XMCD-based fringe shift analysis to experts in the field. This experience not only provides critical feedback on my undergraduate findings but also fosters the professional network necessary to establish my research identity and accelerate my career as a physicist specializing in coherent x-ray spectroscopy."

Katie Barcak
PhD in Mechanical Engineering 2029

REA Travel Grant

"This award enables me to attend the THERMAG XI Conference in Slovenia. This will be an exciting and meaningful step in my development as a researcher and future academic. As an international conference focused on thermal and magnetic phenomena, it offers a unique opportunity to connect with researchers from around the world and learn about new directions and ideas emerging in the field. I am especially excited to present my work at THERMAG XI, as this will be my first conference presentation. Sharing my research and engaging in conversations about it is an important milestone for me, and it will help me grow more confident in communicating my work. This experience directly supports my goal of becoming a professor, where collaboration, idea-sharing, and clear communication are central. I am looking forward to the inspiration, connections, and perspective I will gain through this opportunity, all of which will help shape my future research path."

Lavinia Barker
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2026

REA Leadership Excellence Award

"I'm grateful to achieve this award as a recognition of the contributions I've made to Rice Eclipse during my time here, learning rocketry from the ground up to leading the club as Chief Engineer last year! The lessons I learnt in this role will continue to pay dividends as I enter industry after graduation later this year as a Launch Engineer at SpaceX."

Patrick Batsell
B.A. in Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award will allow me to spend more time pursuing research in machine learning and gaining a deeper understanding of how these models behave in practice. Through my current work, I've begun exploring questions around model reliability and the effects of synthetic data, and this support will help me continue building on that. Overall, this award helps me take meaningful steps toward my goal of contributing to more reliable machine learning systems."

Wyatt Bellinger
B.S. in Statistics 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"Receiving this award was an honor, and it has provided me with motivation to continue striving for my goals. It will also be greatly beneficial for my future endeavors by alleviating the cost of tuition and materials."

Christina Bencin
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2027

REA Leadership Excellence Award

Emma Berdou
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2027

REA Leadership Excellence Award

"Receiving the Outstanding Engineering and Computing Student Award from the ECE department is a meaningful recognition of my academic and technical growth. This support plays an important role in helping me build a strong foundation in electrical and computer engineering through advanced coursework, research, and design projects, preparing me for future graduate study and a career in industry. The recognition from my department also inspires me to keep pushing myself to grow as an engineer, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact in the field."

Edi Berisha
B.S. in Computer Science 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award will help me continue pursuing my studies in computer science and mathematics with greater focus and stability. It gives me meaningful support as I keep building the technical skills, problem-solving ability, and hands-on experience I need for a career in software engineering. It also motivates me to keep pushing myself academically and to make the most of the opportunities Rice has given me."

Bailee Byrd
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2028

Dick and Mary Ellen Wilson Engineering Student Enhancement Award

"Support from the Dick and Mary Ellen Wilson Scholarship award makes a study abroad opportunity possible and impactful for my life. I will carry the lessons and experiences learned into my future, as a representative of the award, sharing them with my campus and community for a greater world, encouraging those with backgrounds alike and different than mine to challenge themselves, and pursue global opportunities with confidence. The global awareness I will gain through this study abroad experience will strengthen my ability to contribute thoughtfully in academic spaces and collaborative environments. I believe this perspective is especially important for students like myself who have had limited exposure to international experiences, as it transforms curiosity into informed understanding. I will learn lessons to carry with me throughout the rest of my life, and return with greater world knowledge."

Eliana Cadena Semanate
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2030

REA Travel Grant

"This award will allow me to present my research in ACS Fall 2026. This will strengthen my confidence, communication, and leadership as an emerging researcher. Moreover, I will be able to expand my network of peers and get feedback from researchers in my field. I also hope to use this platform to represent women in STEM from the Global South and contribute to a more inclusive scientific community. "

Ethan Case
B.S. in Materials Science and NanoEngineering 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Outstanding Student Award

"I am honored to receive this award and am deeply grateful to the REA for their support. It will help me explore opportunities in industry as an aspiring engineer, as well as pathways in research. I also hope to use this recognition to continue contributing to Rice and the MSNE community, growing as an engineer while making an impact in the field of novel materials development."

Karina Chao
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2026

REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers Most Outstanding Senior Award

"This award will help further my goal of further integrating sustainability into the energy industry. I am grateful for the mechanical engineering curriculum and professors that have equipped me with the tools to pursue this challenge."

Elliott Chen
B.S. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2028

Fluor Daniel Scholarship
Rodd Selman Scholarship

Haoming Chen
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award will help me to pursue my career in ECE and beyond."

Eric Chen
B.S. in Bioengineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"Thank you so much. This scholarship inspires me to continue to put my best foot forward with the bioengineering department, and I hope to contribute to the program as much as possible in my remaining years at Rice."

Trisha Chinnimeni
B.S. in Computer Science 2026

Louis & Peaches Owens Fellowship for Professional Masters

"This award will support me as I pursue my Master's in Computer Science and encourage me to fully focus on exploring my academic and career goals."

Nicolas Cooker
B.A. in Computer Science 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"Receiving the Louise J. Walsh scholarship is an incredible honor and will also help to alleviate some of the financial burden of my Computer Science studies. Being recognized for a merit scholarship inspires me to keep working towards my academic and professional goals, all while making them more attainable."

Brady Detwiler
B.S. in Statistic 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award

"I want to thank them for the prize, it is a generous reward, and I will be putting it to use helping to fund my time at Rice."

Maryam Faisal
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

REA Research Excellence Award

"This award serves as a meaningful recognition of my commitment to research and further motivates me to pursue it as a central component of my future career. Additionally, it provides critical support that enables me to attend and present at academic conferences and engage in other research and professional development activities."

Eitan Feldman
B.A. in Computer Science 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"I am so grateful for the Louise J. Walsh Scholarship. It will help me continue funding my education so that I can learn crucial skills I need to make a real impact. It also validates to myself that my hard work is paying off."

Chase Fisher
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This scholarship reduces financial pressure and lets me focus more on my civil engineering coursework and gaining practical experience. It gives me more flexibility to pursue internships and continue building the skills I need for my career, and the award may help give me the opportunities to pursue future internships and job opportunities within my field as I continue to grow in my capacity as a professional engineer."

Charlie Friz
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"I'm honored to receive this scholarship and grateful for the support it provides. It allows me to continue contributing meaningfully at Rice, both in the classroom and through my involvement in club projects. Further, I plan to pursue graduate school after gaining a few years of professional experience, and this award helps me work toward that goal."

Jason Fu
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award acts as a perfect encouragement for me to keep up the good work. I will keep making great contributions to the Rice Community."

Tia Gandhi
B.S. in Bioengineering 2026

REA Research Excellence Award

"I'm honored to receive this award, which reinforces my career path. I want to pursue research that remains rigorous and discovery-driven but is also closely connected to patient care and clinical impact. Moving forward, I will soon matriculate into medical school, where I hope to work at the interface of science and medicine."

McKinley Garner
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2028

Fluor Daniel Scholarship

"This scholarship will help me continue exploring the plentiful opportunities at Rice and beyond without financial constraints!"

Vera Geppert
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2028

Fluor Daniel Scholarship

"Thanks to this award, I will be able to take advantage of this opportunity overseas and ultimately work towards my goal of innovating on a global scale. "

Viraj Ghosh
PhD. in Bioengineering 2026

REA Travel Grant

"The REA travel grant is supporting me in sharing my research developing biophysical instruments for pediatric cancer research. As I transition into the next phase of my career, the supported conference provides a unique opportunity to network with potential postdoc employers. I thank the REA for their invaluable support."

Sarah Glass
PhD. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2027

REA Travel Grant

"I am incredibly grateful to receive this award to support my travel to the ACS Spring Meeting. This funding allows me to debut my latest findings to a diverse audience and engage with industry and research leaders at the forefront of technological development."

Bess Glenn
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Most Outstanding Junior Award

"I am honored to receive this award and deeply grateful for the REA' generosity. As I continue to study chemical engineering, my interest in the field deepens, and this award gives me the freedom to further pursue academic and extracurricular opportunities on campus."

Eric Grun
B.S. in Computer Science 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"I'm extremely honored to receive the Louise J. Walsh scholarship. It's a meaningful step forward in my academic and professional journey. As a Computer Science and AI dual degree, I'm passionate about building technology and applying AI methods for the betterment of society. This award will help me dedicate more time and energy to the work that matters most to me -- from developing community-serving software through RiceApps to conducting AI research through my Compass project, where I'm using deep learning to improve melanoma prognosis in dermatopathology."

Madison Guerinot
PhD. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2029

Harrianna Butler Scholarship

Lee Guiberson
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award will help me pursue my goals of going to graduate school in electrical engineering and contributing to new advancements in physical electronics."

Peikun Guo
PhD. in Computer Science 2026

REA Travel Grant

"I am deeply grateful to the Rice Engineering Alumni for this travel grant. This award is instrumental in allowing me to attend and present my doctoral research at the premier conference in my field, the 12th International IEEE EMBS Conference on Neural Engineering (NER 2025)."

Krishan Gupta
B.S. in Computer Science 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This scholarship provides the support and motivation for me to focus on my education and research in artificial intelligence. It enables me to pursue further academic and professional opportunities, which will empower my success in the field and allow me to contribute back to the community."

Katherine Han
B.S. in Computer Science 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This award will ease the financial demands of my education as well as my relocation costs for my internship this summer. This allows me to stay focused on classes, extracurriculars, and developing the skills I need for my future career."

Connor Hanula
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2028

Rodd Selman Scholarship

"I am incredibly honored to receive the Rodd Selman Scholarship. This award will help advance my growth as a chemical engineering student and allow me to further explore my academic and professional interests. I am grateful for the opportunities provided by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and for the support of my professors."

Mitchell Harms
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Outstanding Student Award

Miller Harris
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This recognition means a lot to me, as it reaffirms a lot of the hard work I put into my academics and extracurricular endeavors. This award motivates me to take on more challenges and continue my dedication to bioengineering both within the classroom and the lab."

Connor Hanula
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2028

Rodd Selman Scholarship

"I am incredibly honored to receive the Rodd Selman Scholarship. This award will help advance my growth as a chemical engineering student and allow me to further explore my academic and professional interests. I am grateful for the opportunities provided by the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and for the support of my professors."

Mitchell Harms
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award
Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) Outstanding Student Award

Miller Harris
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"This recognition means a lot to me, as it reaffirms a lot of the hard work I put into my academics and extracurricular endeavors. This award motivates me to take on more challenges and continue my dedication to bioengineering both within the classroom and the lab."

Nikki Hart
PhD. in Computer Science 2029

REA Travel Grant

"The REA travel grant will give me the opportunity to attend the top conference in my field, share my work, and ensure my work has an impact on the field. Through attending workshops, conference sessions, and networking events, I will be able to connect with fellow graduate students and leading researchers in the field alike."

Maria Herrera
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

Nicholas Hu
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2027

Chevron Scholarship

Justin Impelman
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2027

Nazim S. Nathoo Award for Engineering Excellence

"I am incredibly honored to receive this award. This generous gift will help me focus entirely on my studies and my involvement in the Rice engineering community during my time here."

Richa Jayanti
B.S. in Computer Science 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"I'm incredibly grateful to receive this award, which will help cover academic expenses and support travel to different engineering conferences I wish to attend!"

Ellena Jeon
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

James S. Waters Creativity Award

Jacob Jordan
B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering 2027

Chevron Scholarship

"I am greatly honored to receive the Chevron Scholarship, and by the support and nomination of my department. This award will help support me as I continue my teaching and research at Rice, and help me to focus on achieving my post-graduation plans as I enter my final year here."

Milena Jovanovic
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2028

Society of American Military Engineers

Barclay Jumet
PhD. in Mechanical Engineering 2026

Hershel M. Rich Invention Award

Ojas Kadam
B.S. in Bioengineering 2027

REA Leadership Excellence Award

"Receiving this award will support my continued development as a leader in biomedical innovation at Rice. As President of Rice Medical Design, I aim to expand access to hands-on medical device projects, strengthen mentorship within project teams, and grow initiatives that connect students with real-world clinical and industry experts."

Regan Kendrick
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2027

Chevron Scholarship

"This scholarship gives me real financial flexibility as I relocate this summer for my internship. Instead of worrying about setting that money aside for tuition, I can use it to cover moving costs, travel, and professional clothing. Opportunities like this are important for my long-term goals in engineering, and this support helps a lot."

Daniel Kim
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2028

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"Being selected for this award is a significant honor and a huge boost to my academic journey. I'm eager to take the skills I'm developing here and apply them to real-world challenges, and I am incredibly grateful for the support as I work toward that goal."

Simon King
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2028

Rodd Selman Scholarship

"I am honored to receive the Rodd/Selman Scholarship and grateful for the support of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department. I am excited to continue my growth as an engineering student and, more specifically, as a researcher."

Kaitlyn Kirt
B.A. in Statistics 2027

REA Leadership Excellence Award

"This award could not have come at a more meaningful time! I have been considering pursuing an independent research project during my senior year, but I was unsure if it would be feasible due to funding. This prize has given me the financial foundation to move forward with confidence and turn that idea into a reality."

Jasmine Klinkao
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2026

James S. Waters Creativity Award

"I am grateful to win this award as it will help fund further graduate studies as I seek to pursue a PhD in mechanical engineering!"

Anika Kulkarni
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2026

REA Outstanding Student Award

"This award will provide financial support as I transition into graduate school and continue pursuing a career in research."

Maggie Lim
B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2027

REA Outstanding Student Award
REA Most Distinguished Senior Awardee

"I'm extremely grateful for this award, which will support my transition to graduate school and allow me to continue pursuing my research interests."

Andrew Lin
PhD. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering 2028

Hershel M. Rich Invention Award

"I am honored to have been selected for this award. It enables me to further my academic training and accelerate progress toward my educational and career goals. At the same time, it supports my efforts to translate research beyond the laboratory into practical, real-world applications."

Ben Lindenbaum
B.A. in Computer Science 2027

Louise J. Walsh Scholarship

"Receiving this award will support my continued development as a leader in biomedical innovation at Rice. As President of Rice Medical Design, I aim to expand access to hands-on medical device projects, strengthen mentorship within project teams, and grow initiatives that connect students with real-world clinical and industry experts."

Victoria Liu
B.S. in Computer Science 2027

REA Leadership Excellence Award

"I'm truly grateful to receive this award and be recognized for the various endeavors I've had the opportunity to lead throughout my time here at Rice. I plan on continuing to challenge myself and grow as a leader, and this award will enable me to dedicate more time to doing so!"

Edwin Low
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering 2026

REA Research Excellence Award