Outstanding Graduate Student Award Recipients
GradSWE aims to promote the accomplishments of graduate students and GradSWE group through the awards program. Starting with commemorating our Outstanding Graduate Student Member Award. The year 2024 was the first inaugural year of this award separate from the Outstanding Collegiate Award within the Society of Women Engineers.
Since there is not a formal “thank you” speech during WE24, GradSWE reached out to each award recipient to give them a platform to share their gratitude and what this award means to each of them.
This award honors a SWE graduate student who has made an outstanding contribution to SWE, engineering societies, the community, and their campus.
Get to know our 2024 recipients
Ivy Kwok, University of California, Los Angeles
“Thank you to my partner, parents, family, dearest cousin, best of friends, SWE-LA, GradSWE @ UCLA, my UCLA Graduate Student Orientation team, and the First-Generation Students & Professionals Affinity Group for being just as much a part of this journey as I was! Being a graduate student is one of my most salient identities, and it feels absolutely magical to be a part of this inaugural group of awardees. I am ever grateful to my professional section’s inspirational president, Kiyomi, for nominating me and it was beyond full-circle to win a SWE award alongside her this year, since we’ve gone from elementary school acquaintances to reconnecting through SWE to this very moment!”
Lucero Lopez, University of Michigan
“I want to thank my mom, dad, brother and sister, my partner, my friends across the globe, and the Latinos Affinity Group in SWE that have shaped me into the engineer and leader I am today. Your support has empowered me to become an advocate and champion for Latinas in Engineering and Academia. While this journey has not always been easy, your support has helped my find purpose and motivation in the difficult moments. As I continue in my career, I will always remember what this moment meant to me. To the next generation of Latinas in Engineering: Si Se Puede!”
Bukola Oni, Ph.D., Iowa State University
“I am deeply thankful to my family, friends, the leadership team and faculty advisor of GradSWE at ISU & SWE ECP AG, and everyone who has inspired me to strive for excellence and impact in my engineering journey and leadership path. With immense gratitude to my mentors for their steadfast support and for celebrating every milestone, this recognition will continue to propel me toward greater achievements and commitment to empowering my engineering community.”
Jiachun Shi, Ph.D., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“Receiving this award is definitely a milestone in my academic journey, and this recognition reinforces my commitment to the SWE mission. I want to express my gratitude to everyone I interacted with daily and during my past involvement in various graduate student-oriented organizations on and off campus because you all inspire me in different ways!”
Amanda Stone, Purdue University
“I am deeply grateful to my family, friends, and everyone in my SWE community who has supported me along this journey. Special thanks go to the ASU and Purdue sections, which have given me invaluable experiences and unforgettable memories. My heartfelt appreciation to my mom, whose constant support and example as a woman in STEM inspire me to pursue my dreams.”
Congratulations to our winners and thank you for your dedication to science and SWE.
To see more about the SWE awards program, see here.
