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Both Academic Excellence and Overall Achievement department awards were conferred during the department’s Pre-Commencement Reception May 14.

Academic Excellence Awards

Tyler Cascalho Cox was a double major in aerospace engineering and physics. He took part in internships at the University of Michigan Biomedical Engineering Department in addition to Collins Aerospace and at NASA’s Goddard Space Center. He engaged in aerospace engineering research with Dr. Bella Kim and was treasurer of the Buchanan Hall student residence. Tyler graduated Summa Cum Laude and will soon begin a graduate program at Georgia Tech.

In addition, Cox was also named the Outstanding Senior in Aerospace Engineering by the College of Engineering

Layton Howerton participated in an Iowa Space Grant Consortium internship with the NASA Ames Research Center in rotorcraft aeromechanics. He was also a NASA Glenn Research Center Nozzles and Inlets Pathway intern for multiple years. He was a calculus supplemental instruction leader and a teaching assistant for the Mechanics of Materials course taught at Iowa State. He was involved with the Make To Innovate program, SAE Aero Design, Freshman Leaders in Engineering, and the aerospace mentorship program.

Howerton was a member of the Cardinal Key Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society, Sigma Gamma Tau Aerospace Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta. He graduated Summa Cum Laude. After graduation he will be part of the Purdue University Ph.D. program in applied hypersonic aerodynamics and plans to continue work at the NASA Glenn Research Center as a civil servant in the Inlets and Nozzles branch.

Conner McElroy participated in internships with Colins Aerospace, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Sierra Space and the NASA Johnson Space Center. He was a team lead in the Department of Aerospace Engineering senior design program. Other activities included: Cyclone Rocketry propulsion team member; research in the Intelligent Aerospace Systems Lab for two semesters; research in the Energetic Materials Combustion Lab for three semesters; and honors FHP leader and a Boeing research fellow for two semesters. He participated in study abroad experiences in Spain and Israel. He was a student leader in The SALT Company student organization and a frequent intramural sports participant. He has graduated Summa Cum Laude and will move to Madison, Wisconsin where he will begin full-time employment as a propulsion engineer at Sierra Space.

Overall Achievement Awards

Jacob Fields worked as an intern with Collins Aerospace for multiple years and was a Collins student ambassador. He conducted undergraduate research with Dr. Joshua Peschel in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering and with Dr. Ossama Abdelkahlik in Aerospace Engineering. He was team leader for the Department of Aerospace Engineering senior design program, was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society and was part of the dean’s list for multiple semesters.

Jacob was part of the university honors program and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Following graduation he will begin a job with Pratt & Whitney in the Commercial Engine Design and Systems Integration (EDSI) Rotation Program in East Hartford, CT.

Noah Hamblen was part of the dean’s list for numerous years. He was part of the Tau Beta Pi honor society and received the Tau Beta Pi chapter performance award for the highest academically ranked engineering student as a sophomore in December, 2019.

Noah was a teaching assistant for the department’s statics class and the became lead teaching assistant coordinator. He was aerodynamics lead for the senior design program and a drone flight engineer and flight test lead for the Pioneer 10 intercollegiate startup team. He served on the aerostructures team and was lead boattail designer for Cyclone Rocketry. Noah has graduated Magna Cum Laude and will work for Spirit AeroSystems as a defense structural analysis engineer.

Luke Schaekenbach was involved with an internship with Honeywell and has contributed leadership experience in many programs, including The SALT Company (Connection Group Leader), First Year Student Honors Program (research assistant), the Make To Innovate program (avionics team lead and operations team lead) and Collegiate Chess Club (president). He graduated Summa Cum Laude and plans to begin a graduate program in aerospace engineering at Iowa State in the fall.

David Seals was part of the Iowa State University honors program and a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. He worked as part of various undergraduate research progams including orbital trajectory optimization, and as a research assistant with microwave enhanced boron combustion for solid fuel ramjets. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and will work at Northrop Grumman as a software engineer on spacecraft simulation and flight software.

Brandon Serovy worked as an intern at Collins Aerospace and is a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. He was a Being undergraduate research fellow, part of the Department of Aerospace Engineering mentorship program and a College of Engineering Career Fair ambassador. Brandon has graduated Summa Cum Laude and will work as a systems engineer at Boeing.

Andrew Sezwc received numerous military awards as an undergraduate, including the Iowa State Distinguished Naval ROTC Graduate Award, Chief Of Naval Operations Distinguished Graduate Award, American Legion Military Excellence Medal, Reserve Officers Association National Defense Medal, Community Adviser of the Year, Academic Excellence Medal and Physical Fitness Excellence Medal.

He served as Naval ROTC Unit Commander, Naval ROTC Color Guard Commander, Naval ROTC Drill Commander, Semper Fi Society president, and as ISU Hall Council secretary, Department of Residence community advisor and Student Volunteer Services treasurer. He has graduated Magna Cum Laude and will enter Marine Basic School in Quantico, Virginia. He will then begin Marine Corps pilot training in Pensacola, Florida.