CEE honors the class of 2026 at diploma ceremony

On Friday, May 8, Carnegie Mellon University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering celebrated the achievements of its newest graduates during the Class of 2026 diploma ceremony.

Held in front of proud family members, friends, faculty, and staff, the event honored 32 undergraduate students, 68 master’s students, and 17 doctoral candidates as they officially joined the university’s global alumni community.

Hamerschlag University Professor and Interim Department Head Greg Lowry opened the ceremony by reflecting on the significance of the milestone and the journey that led graduates to this moment.

“While obtaining your degree is truly a significant accomplishment, it only represents the beginning of your journey, not the end,” Lowry said. “Today, you leave Carnegie Mellon with a degree, but also with something more important: the confidence that you can tackle hard problems and figure things out along the way.”

Throughout his remarks, Lowry emphasized the resilience, adaptability, and creativity students developed during their time at Carnegie Mellon and encouraged graduates to continue challenging norms and addressing society’s most pressing problems.

“We need smart and motivated people like all of you to tackle the complex challenges facing society — from the need for more sustainable infrastructure and clean water, to public health, to smarter and more connected communities,” Lowry stated.

“From what I know of this graduating class, I’m incredibly optimistic. You are all entering the real world with the technical skills to solve problems and the intellectual curiosity and humanity to provide equitable and thoughtful solutions.”

A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of student awards, recognizing exceptional accomplishments in leadership, scholarship, research, teaching, and service.

Among the undergraduate honorees, Jordyn Le and Lillian Keith received the ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Student Award for their leadership and service. Belle Jiang and Yujun Wu earned the Lawrence G. Cartwright Service Award for exemplary contributions to the department, university, and engineering profession.

Academic excellence was recognized through the H. A. Thomas, Sr. Scholarship Award, presented to Brian Spradley, while Jana Reiser earned the Civil and Environmental Engineering Research Award for outstanding dedication and excellence in research. Jose Echeverria received the James P. Romualdi Civil and Environmental Engineering Award for excellence in traditional civil engineering disciplines. The Community and Engagement Excellence Award was presented to Kenedy Sanchez for exceptional leadership in fostering collaboration and advancing long-term community engagement initiatives.

Graduate students were also recognized for their achievements. Mehul Bapat received the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, and Fiza Jalees earned the Paul P. Christiano Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the department, university, and profession.

At the doctoral level, Albin Wells received the Mao Yisheng Outstanding Dissertation Award, recognizing an exceptional dissertation selected by the department’s Awards Committee. The award honors Mao Yisheng, the first recipient of a Ph.D. from the then-Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1921 and a pioneering innovator in bridge design and engineering education.

Throughout the ceremony, Lowry also acknowledged the dedication of faculty and staff who supported students during their time at Carnegie Mellon. Faculty members from across the department were recognized for their scholarship, mentorship, and commitment to creating an academic experience of the highest caliber.

As graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas, they marked not only the conclusion of their time at Carnegie Mellon but also the beginning of their future as engineers, researchers, innovators, and leaders.

“Civil and environmental engineers leave a lasting mark on society,” Lowry said in his closing remarks. “Your work will improve communities, protect our environment, strengthen infrastructure, and help solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. But your impact will be measured not only by what you build, but how you lead, collaborate, and serve others along the way.”

The ceremony concluded with a traditional bagpipe benediction and a reception celebrating the Class of 2026, now the newest members of the Carnegie Mellon Civil and Environmental Engineering alumni community.