2013-2014 ChBE Undergraduate Awards

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ChBE professor and chair Sheryl Ehrman (left) congratulating Marta Cherpak. Photo by Alan P. Santos.

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) undergraduates were among the award recipients at the 2013-2014 A. James Clark School of Engineering's Honors and Awards Ceremony, held April 10. The event honors students from all departments who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance, research, and contributions to their departments or fields. Clark School professor and associate dean William L. Fourney, ChBE professor and chair Sheryl Ehrman, and ChBE Assistant Director of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies Kathy Gardinier presented the awards.

This year, the awards and their recipients were:

David Arthur Berman Memorial Award
Presented to the student majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with the highest cumulative scholastic average at the end of the first semester of his or her junior year, and who has been elected to Tau Beta Pi.

Awarded to Sudi Jawahery.

Sudi Jawahery, a senior, was recognized for her excellent academic record as well as her contributions to the department. Sudi is an executive board member for the Maryland Beta Chapter of Tau Beta Pi, an undergraduate teaching fellow, and the treasurer of Alpha Omega Epsilon, the International Engineering Sorority. Her past honors and recognitions include a SEEDS Research Fellowship, a University of Maryland Presidential Scholarship, and appearing on the A. James Clark School of Engineering Dean’s List since Fall 2010. Last year, Sudi was a contributing author to a paper titled “The effects of flanking sequences in the interaction of polyglutamine peptides with a membrane bilayer,” which appeared in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B. Sudi has been a member of Fischell Department of Bioengineering assistant professor Silvina Matysiak’s Biomolecular Modeling Laboratory since April 2011. This spring, she was awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

Chairman's Award
Presented for excellence in academics, outstanding service to the department, or outstanding leadership in the department.

Awarded to Christina Fontanos.

Christina Fontanos, a graduating senior, was recognized for her academic excellence as well and her contributions to the department. Christina has been a member of Assistant Professor Dongxia Liu’s research group since Fall 2013. She is a founding member and secretary of the Chemical Engineering Honors Club, a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Outstanding Senior Award
Presented to a graduating senior for scholarship, leadership, and service to the department.

Awarded to John Daristotle.

John Daristotle was recognized for his outstanding scholastic achievement and demonstrated service to the department, and leadership skills. He has been a member of Assistant Professor Klauda’s Laboratory of Molecular & Thermodynamic Modeling since August 2013, studying the effects of toxic compounds on cell membranes. He has appeared on the A. James Clark School of Engineering Dean’s List since Fall 2010, and is a member of the A. James Clark School of Engineering Honors Program. His honors and awards include being named a Maryland Distinguished Scholar, winning the University of Maryland Honors College Best Honors Research Essay competition, and a University of Maryland President’s Scholarship.

Outstanding Junior Award
Presented to a department junior for academic excellence.

Awarded to Matthew Renault.

Matthew Renault, who is pursuing a minor in Computer Science, was recognized for his academic excellence as well as his contributions to the department. Matthew has appeared on the Dean’s List since Fall 2011, and was the recipient of a Banneker Key Scholarship. This year, he has been leading a research project to create a battery using hydrogel based electrolytes and investigating multi-compartmentalized micro scale capsules. Matthew is the president of the Chemical Engineering Honors Club, a member of the AIChE, and a new member Educator in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.

Outstanding Student Service Award
Presented to a graduating senior for outstanding service to the department.

Awarded to Marta Cherpak.

Marta Cherpak was recognized for her outstanding contributions to the department. She is currently the secretary of the University of Maryland’s student chapter of the AIChE. She is a Clark School Ambassador, a member of Tau Beta Pi, a member of Women In Engineering’s advisory board, a national member of the Society of Women Engineers, and a member of the Chemical Engineering Honors Club. Marta has interned at Krueger-Gilbert Health Physics, MedImmune and the Food and Drug Administration.


Congratulations to all of these exceptional students!

Published April 10, 2014