Purdue ME Student Awards

Purdue ME Student Awards

Recognizing student excellence at every level

The School of Mechanical Engineering is pleased to announce the following awards, given to deserving sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students.  These students have demonstrated academic excellence, exemplified personal integrity, and exercised involvement in the community of Purdue University.

These include:

• Outstanding Sophomore / Junior / Senior
• Core Values Awards
• G.R.I.T. Awards

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The John M. Starkey Prize in Mechanical Engineering

The John M. Starkey Prize in Mechanical Engineering celebrates the top all-around graduating ME senior every year, as exemplified by the school’s core values of Character and Personal Integrity, Academic Excellence, and Community Engagement and Leadership. The award comes with a cash prize of $3,000. Must meet the following criteria:

• Outstanding contribution to the School of Mechanical Engineering
• Demonstrated leadership and involvement
• Record of academic excellence

The John M. Starkey Prize in Mechanical Engineering is named after John Starkey, who served as a professor in Mechanical Engineering from 1982 to 2017.  He served as faculty advisor for Purdue's SAE auto racing teams, and also director of the ME463 senior design capstone class, where he oversaw the final Purdue experience for hundreds of students.

And the winner is...

Joseph Bellofatto

Joey is the President of Purdue's chapter of ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), one of the oldest and largest student chapters in the country. He started off joining their Grand Prix team, then became their chief engineer, and then elevated to President, where he serves as a welcoming face and passionate leader for mechanical engineering students. He has had internships with Caterpillar, BR+A Consuting Engineers, and Pratt & Whitney; and also conducted research on turbines at Zucrow Labs.

Previous winners

• 2024: Emma Balevic
• 2023: Adia Raya
• 2022: Jennifer Ascher
• 2021: Tanmay Das
• 2020: Emily Nadler
• 2019: Kaan Ardic

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Frederick Morse Award for Outstanding Juniors

Presented to a student in junior level curriculum (they must have taken ME 308, ME 365, and ME 323); based on dedication to the School of Mechanical Engineering, in recognition of leadership within the community and department; examples of leadership include: club involvement, mentoring program, co-op/internship opportunities, etc. The award comes with a cash prize of $1,000. Must meet the following criteria:

• Outstanding contribution to the School of Mechanical Engineering
• Demonstrated leadership and involvement
• Record of academic excellence

The Outstanding Junior Award is named after Frederick Morse, who served as a professor in Mechanical Engineering from 1947 to 1985.  He is best known for creating Purdue's first cooperative education (co-op) program in 1954, and in the decades since, guiding hundreds of students through their first work experiences.

And the winner is...

Tanmaee Ledalla

Tanmaee is a prolific ME student. She serves as racing director for ASME's Grand Prix team, and also participates in Women in Mechanical Engineering (WiME) events. She helped to create the Women in Motorsports Council (WiMC), and serves as its first president. She serves on the Community and Belonging Task Force, and helped to create the monthly "Global Bites" events that celebrate a different culture in ME every month. She has also conducted two undergrad research projects in compressors and lithium-ion batteries, and had an internship at ZF.

Previous winners

• 2024: Maitri Pandya
• 2023: Jessica Howell
• 2022: Jack Walsh
• 2021: Marcus Lannie
• 2020: Abby Grillo

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George Elwood Rhoads Award for Outstanding Sophomores

Presented to a student in sophomore level curriculum (they must have taken ME 200, ME 270, and ME 290); based on dedication to the School of Mechanical Engineering, in recognition of leadership within the community and department.  The award comes with a cash prize of $500.  Must meet the following criteria:

• Outstanding contribution to the School of Mechanical Engineering
• Demonstrated leadership and involvement
• Record of academic excellence

The Outstanding Sophomore Award is named after George Elwood Rhoads, who graduated from Purdue Mechanical Engineering in 1900; the funds were provided by his son, Albert B. Rhoads (BSME 1933).

And the winner is...

Jacob Retek

Jacob excels both inside and outside of the classroom. He is a part of Purdue Solar Racing, and is also a Professional Practice Ambassador. He had an internship at Modineer, and is currently working at GE Appliances as a co-op student. Jacob’s integrity, reliability, and willingness to mentor first-year students exemplify his character and passion for engineering.

Previous winners

• 2024: Greta Schantz
• 2023: Mackenzie Misterka
• 2022: Sajon Seaberg
• 2021: Meredith Meyer
• 2020: Jordan Harris

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Core Values Awards

We also give awards for students who best reflect our Purdue ME Core Values:

1. Persistently pursue excellence: Jeremy Schumacher
   • ME faculty, staff and students are forward-thinking, determined, rigorous, and driven.  We go above and beyond the regular call of duty and exhibit excellence in all that we do.  We continuously improve and strive for innovation in our research, educational and professional endeavors, and our outcomes are second to none. 
2. Act with integrity and compassion: Emerson Zubb
   • ME faculty, staff and students are ethical, honest, and kind above all else.  We do things the right way without compromise.  We are reliable and true, and we do what we say while reflecting the highest standards.
3. Collaborate within and outside Mechanical Engineering: Victor Johansson
   • ME faculty, staff and students actively listen, communicate, and work together. We are eager to break down institutional silos.  We create and value relationships that change the world for the better.
4. Foster a diverse, inclusive, and respectful environment: Matias Alvarado
   • ME faculty, staff and students are empathetic, positive, encouraging, and treat others well.  We respect ALL voices and firmly acknowledge that everyone’s contributions matter.  We value diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and strongly support people from all backgrounds.
5. Provide service to all: Amanda Feeley
   • ME faculty, staff and students use our skills, expertise and experiences to make a difference and foster change locally, regionally, and globally. We strive to do this with consideration and impact.  We help those around us to achieve their goals and those in need without expecting something in return.  We uphold the land grant mission of our university.

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The G.R.I.T. List

GRIT stands for Global, Research, Industry, and Teams. In the School of Mechanical Engineering, all students should strive to participate in all four experiential learning activities, pursuing 100% GRIT. Learn about all the opportunities available for you to pursue 100% GRIT!

Here are the 2025 graduating seniors who have accomplished all four, and achieved “True GRIT.”

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Interested in funding a Purdue ME Student Award?