A close-up tabletop display shows a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet program alongside a commemorative medallion, highlighting the event’s focus on recognition and honors.

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology honors faculty, staff and students

Monday, April 20, 2026

Media Contact: Kristi Wheeler | Manager, CEAT Marketing and Communications | 405-744-5831 | kristi.wheeler@okstate.edu

The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology recognized faculty, staff and students for outstanding teaching, research, performance and service during the 2026 Faculty, Staff and Student Awards Banquet.

“I’m honored to celebrate the people who make CEAT exceptional, who answer the call every day through teaching, research, service, leadership and a shared commitment to our students,” said Dr. Hanchen Huang, dean of CEAT.

The Faculty/Staff award recipients were:

Excellent Teacher Award

Recognizes significant achievements in teaching, as evidenced by innovative pedagogy, strong undergraduate student engagement, student success and feedback, course development, teaching load and other areas.
Dr. Nate Lannan (Junior Status Category) – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Dr. Weili Zhang (Senior Status Category) – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Excellent Faculty Award

Recognizes overall excellence as a faculty member, as evidenced by teaching excellence, scholarly achievement, collegiality, contributions to professional societies, student engagement and other areas.
Dr. Zheyu Jiang (Junior Status Category) – School of Chemical Engineering
Dr. Jeffrey Spitler (Senior Status Category) – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Excellent Scholar Award

Recognizes significant contributions in scholarship, as evidenced by publications, citations, research expenditures, graduate student mentoring and other areas.
Dr. Katie Jurewicz (Junior Status Category) – School of Industrial Engineering and Management
Dr. D.A. Lucca (Senior Status Category) – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Outstanding Performance Award

Acknowledges and rewards staff members for their superior service to the college and students. The recipients of the Outstanding Performance Award go above and beyond expectations for their positions.
Danielle Miller (Academic Unit Category) – CEAT Online Learning
Em Cunningham (Academic Unit Category) – mechanical and aerospace engineering
Jana Metcalf (Engineering Extension Category) – Center for Local Government Technology
Jodi Prouty (Engineering Extension Category) – New Product Development Center
Yaha Morin (Administrative Unit Category) – CEAT Sponsored Programs
Erin Portman (Administrative Unit Category) – CEAT Marketing and Communications

Dean’s Leadership Excellence Award

Recognizes sustained, demonstrated transformational leadership in one or more areas that enhance the impact of CEAT’s academic, research or extension mission, creates enduring, positive change in the college and supports the achievement of faculty, staff and students.
Gary Snyder – Center for Local Government Technology

Outstanding Team Achievement Award

Recognizes the collaborative efforts of a team that has demonstrated achievement in an academic, research or extension initiative or program furthering the land-grant mission of the college.
CEAT Prospective Student Services

Engineering Extension Excellence Award

Recognizes sustained performance beyond the expectations of the individual’s role and responsibilities, and who directly contributes to achieving the goals of their respective units and the land-grant mission of the college.
JW Snell – Fire Service Training

Outstanding Academic Advisor Award

Recognizes a strong commitment to helping undergraduate students during their academic journey by forming positive, individual relationships, encouraging academic excellence, nurturing personal growth, promoting extracurricular experiences, reviewing academic policies and providing timely counsel and resources.
Kristal Soderstrom Junkens – CEAT Student Services

Outstanding Administrative/Academic Staff Excellence Award

Recognizes a strong commitment to helping undergraduate students during their academic journey by forming positive, individual relationships, encouraging academic excellence, nurturing personal growth, promoting extracurricular experiences, reviewing academic policies and providing timely counsel and resources.
Ryan Mouser – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Annie Buford – CEAT Marketing and Communications

Years of Service Awards (5 years of service)

Beth Ann Fulgenzi, Dannie Caldwell, Diana Rodriguez Coca, Hamid Nazaripouya, Jacob Bair, John Carpenter, Jorge Gonzalez Estrella, Joseph Nuamah, Kasey Trammell, Katie Jurewicz, Lisa Leach, Margaret Nelson, Mohammed Al Dushaishi, Ryan Miller, Ryan Paul, Soojin Yoon, and Tom Marcum

Years of service Awards (10 years of service)

Austin Buchanan, Do Young Kim, Ehsan Moallem, Hitesh Vora, Jeffrey Young, Mike Melancon, Misty Lockman, Mohamed Soliman, and Seok-Jhin Kim

Years of Service Awards (15 years of service)

Andrea Haken-Hughes

Years of Service Awards (20 years of service)

Daching Piao, Imad Abouzahr, James Stine Jr., Jay Hanan, Michael Rabens, Nathan Cragun, and Tieming Liu

Years of Service Awards (25 years of service)

Bennett Brock, Brandy Noel Mays, Bryan West, Gary Snyder, Jefferey Blocker, and John Phillips

Years of Service Awards (35 years of service)

D.A. Lucca, David Alan Tree, and Jeffrey Spitler

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop shaking hands during a formal award presentation, with one holding a framed certificate to document an academic or staff recognition.

Two people stand in front of a dark backdrop during a formal recognition moment, shaking hands while one holds a framed certificate at an academic or staff excellence award presentation.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop shaking hands while one holds a framed certificate, documenting a formal academic or staff award recognition presentation.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop during a formal award presentation, with one holding a framed certificate while they shake hands to mark an academic or staff recognition.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop shaking hands during a formal award presentation, with one holding a framed certificate to mark an academic or staff recognition.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop during a formal award presentation, with one holding a framed certificate while they clasp hands to document an academic or staff recognition.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop holding a framed certificate together, documenting a formal team achievement award recognition for CEAT Prospective Student Services.

wo individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop holding a framed certificate together, documenting a formal academic or staff award recognition presentation.

Two individuals stand in front of a dark backdrop holding a framed certificate together, documenting a formal academic or staff award recognition presentation.

Two people stand in front of an Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology backdrop holding a framed certificate during a formal academic or staff excellence award presentation.

A group of individuals stand in front of an Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology backdrop, each holding a framed certificate, indicating a formal recognition or award presentation.

A line of individuals stand in front of an Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology backdrop, holding framed certificates during a formal recognition or service award presentation.

Two individuals stand in front of an Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology backdrop, with one holding a framed certificate and a small trophy during a formal recognition or service award presentation.

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Four individuals stand in front of an Oklahoma State University College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology backdrop holding black commemorative plaques during a formal service or achievement recognition photo.

A speaker stands at a clear podium addressing an audience during a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet, emphasizing the formal program and leadership remarks portion of the event.

Two attendees are seated at a round table during a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet, with printed programs, place settings, and a decorative centerpiece visible in a formal indoor event space.

Attendees sit at a round table during a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet, with place settings, printed programs, and a visible event medallion in an indoor dining space.

Attendees sit side by side at a table during a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet, with event materials and table settings visible in a formal indoor dining setting.

A tabletop centerpiece displays orange and blue decorative signs on sticks, including a message reading “We end the day knowing we gave everything we had,” emphasizing the celebratory theme of a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards event.

Two attendees sit at a table during a CEAT Faculty, Staff, and Student Awards Banquet, gesturing with their hands toward the camera, with event programs, place settings, and a medallion visible on the table.

The student award recipients were:

St. Patrick’s Awards

Recognizes the top 10 graduating students for their accomplishments in the areas of leadership, academics and contributions to Oklahoma State University, CEAT and the community.
Lenna Abouzahr, Annie Grace Irlbeck, Charles Bruce, Connor Meissner, Jacob McCoy, Jai Simpson, Kylie Chutek, Sophie Hawkins, Malte Kuhn, and Summer Tate

Freshman Student Council Member of the Year

Maxine Nucom

Student Council Member of the Year

Margaret Bryant

Outstanding Graduate Students

Muhammad Umar Akbar – School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Sudip Kamar Das – School of Chemical Engineering
Allie Thomas – School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Katelin Bean – School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management
Andrew Ash – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Parisa Vaghfi Mohebbi – School of Industrial Engineering and Management
Ashraf Kassem – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Lakshhmi Ramasubramanian – School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering
Sazzadul Islam Sajol – Petroleum Engineering

Dean’s Overall Outstanding Graduate Student

Ashraf Kassem – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Outstanding Seniors

Grant Harrington – School of Architecture
Tatumn Kennedy – School of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
Zachary Seay – School of Chemical Engineering
Lea Hency – School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Chloe Cox – School of Fire, Construction and Emergency Management
Lenna Abouzahr – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Kaegan Reynolds – School of Industrial Engineering and Management
Bruce Lamoreaux – School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Jillian Jones – School of Materials, Mechatronics and Manufacturing Engineering

Dean’s Overall Outstanding Senior

Lenna Abouzahr – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering

“Each of you and the work you do will continue to drive the college to a great future. It is each and every one of you that truly makes this college a special place to be and I look forward to our continued journey ahead.”

— CEAT Dean Hanchen Huang