CSC News

Computer Science Seniors Shine in College of Engineering Outstanding Senior Awards

Four College of Engineering students were honored with Outstanding Senior Awards at the 2025 Engineering Awards Banquet for their achievements during their time at NC State University.

The banquet was held on April 23 at Duke Energy Hall in the James B. Hunt Jr. Library. The College of Engineering’s Office of Academic Affairs recognized students, faculty members and partners from around North Carolina.

The Outstanding Senior Awards categories are Citizenship & Service, Humanities, Leadership and Scholarly Achievement. Seniors are nominated by their respective academic departments, and winners are chosen by a selection committee made up of faculty and staff members in the college.

Congratulations to the winners: Naomi Bouedo for Citizenship & Service, Caroline Causey for Humanities, Jalen Lucas for Leadership and Asher Hancock for Scholarly Achievement.

Humanities

Caroline Causey
Department of Computer Science

Caroline Causey brings a multidisciplinary perspective to everything she does. Causey, who is a dedicated and insightful student graduating with a double major in computer science and international studies, currently serves as an ambassador for the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

As a student, she studied artificial intelligence and data science and hopes to continue working in these fields in ways that are both sustainable and ethical. She created several innovative technologies in her classes, including the Trail and Landmark Reporting System and the Café Beverage Ordering and Pickup System.

After graduation, she will start a consulting career at the intersection of technology and business with Deloitte, a multinational professional services network that aligns with her desire to experience a broad range of industries and innovative solutions.

Humanities Nominees:

• Perry Berlin, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Henry Fosnocht, Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Madeline Nusbaum, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Brynn Hosey, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Safina Luu, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Landon Hodgin, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Nethra Vasudevan, Department of Materials Science and Engineering

Citizenship & Service

Naomi Bouedo

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Naomi Bouedo is as dedicated to her community as she is to her classes. As a member of Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority, she made a meaningful impact both on and off campus through 50 hours of community service each semester.

Those projects included food drives, community cleanups and handing out meals in downtown Raleigh, among others. Through these projects, she learned the power of intentional service, as she saw firsthand how consistency can bring support to individuals and strengthen a community.

Additionally, Bouedo led the fall 2024 and spring 2025 NC State alternative service break trips and was a co-op ambassador with the NC State Career Development Center.

Citizenship and Service Nominees:

• Ellen Benitez, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Carolina Bolnykh, Department of Computer Science
• Bradley Clardy, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Anna Davis, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Hope Ketola, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Ethan Raughley, Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Kierra Shook, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Leadership

Jalen Lucas

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

If there’s an organization on campus, chances are that Jalen Lucas has been a part of it.

Lucas served as the vice president of the National Society of Black Engineers, as the discipleship group coordinator for the Black Campus Ministry, and as a first-year student retreat facilitator and class liaison for the Park Scholarships. He is known by his peers and leaders on campus as reliable and responsible.

He cited his involvement in the Krispy Kreme Challenge, a five-mile race that has raised over $2.3 million to support the University of North Carolina Children’s Hospital, as his most transformational leadership experience. Over the years, he has gone from committee member to race director and eventually to a member of the Board of Directors.

Leadership Nominees:

• Seeva Cherukuri, Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering
• Audrey Ellertson, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Cole Flowers, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Grace Kiel, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Mario Rosas Nava, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Evelynn Wilcox, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Zeiad Yakout, Department of Computer Science
• Andrea Zamudio, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

Scholarly Achievement

Asher Hancock

Lampe Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering at NC State University and UNC-Chapel Hill

On top of being an Abrams Research Scholar at ImmunoEngineering Lab, an experiential intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Department of Global Pediatrics and a medical assistant and scribe with Carolina Developmental Pediatrics, Asher Hancock also maintained a 4.0 GPA as a biomedical engineering student. He will graduate as a Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society member.

As a student, Hancock developed a chitosan microneedle patch for sustained vaccine antigen release and self-vaccination, aiming to enhance vaccine coverage in low- and middle-income countries. To do this, he used microscopy and biomaterial-based strategies to design and optimize an engineering product, ensuring it met customer requirements.

After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and continue the research that began during his time at NC State.

Scholarly Achievement Nominees:

• Madison Book, Department of Computer Science
• Derek Geiger, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Khing Masaya-anon, Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
• Caitlyn Obrero, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• Dawson Payne, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
• Katherine Shilling, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Audrey Westlund, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering
• Abigail Woodring, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Adapted for the NC State Department of Computer Science, original article by Danielle Herman, College of Engineering News