The following seniors and graduate students were honored with Outstanding Senior Awards for the 2024-25 academic year:
Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Liam Drew
A standout mechanical engineering student in Cal Poly’s blended master’s program, Liam Drew has left a lasting impact through research, innovation and outreach. He co-founded the Advanced Functions Material Lab and secured funding to launch new experiments using laser-induced graphene, contributing to multiple American Society of Mechanical Engineers conference papers exploring shape memory polymers and multi-stimuli self-folding. His design for a fog-harvesting “Garden Harp” earned first place in the 2023 Change the World Challenge, showcasing his creative problem-solving and environmental awareness.
Beyond campus, Drew led a transformative educational initiative with the Skip the Grid project, bringing solar-powered workshops and hands-on STEM learning to hundreds of Navajo Nation students. He also helped install solar power in more than 50 homes, directly improving access to renewable energy in underserved communities.
Drew presented his work at national conferences, graded core ME courses for three years and shared Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy with broader audiences. After graduation, he will join Western Analysis Engineering as a forensic engineer and aims to pursue his MBA to launch his own venture.
Driven, inventive and generous with time and talent, Drew exemplifies the spirit of engineering leadership and community impact.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the College
Nicholas Mackechnie
Nicholas Mackechnie has played a leading role in organizing the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) National Student Championships, one of the largest student-run events in Cal Poly’s history. After helping secure the winning bid, Mackechnie guided a 13-student planning committee that coordinated logistics for more than 550 students from over 40 programs in the U.S., China and India.
He also oversaw a fundraising campaign that brought in more than $200,000 from over 40 sponsors, carefully tracking outreach and writing personalized thank-you notes. When ASCE requested a more comprehensive safety plan, Mackechnie worked with campus experts to implement protocols, including CPR training, first-aid stations and emergency response coordination.
Beyond the championships, he served in leadership positions in the Society of Civil Engineers and contributed to the university’s winning team in the Timber-Strong Design-Build competition, serving first as a member and later as a project lead. He also organized student conferences, completed multiple industry internships and shared his experience through presentations to advisory boards and admitted students.
Known for his thoughtful planning and follow-through, Mackechnie leaves a lasting impression as a student leader who elevated Cal Poly’s reputation on a national stage.
Contributions to the Objectives and Public Image of the University
Ananya Thapar
Ananya Thapar elevated student leadership, advocacy and outreach at Cal Poly, particularly through her work as president of the Society of Women Engineers (CPSWE). In that position, she led a 40-person officer team and oversaw more than 100 annual events that advanced the visibility and mission of the College of Engineering. Her efforts included organizing Evening with Industry, which saw record-breaking attendance, and leading National Engineers Week outreach that reached more than 1,800 fourth-grade students.
Thapar was the lead author on CPSWE’s national award applications, helping the organization earn the Boeing Multicultural Award and the Gold Section Collegiate Award at the WE24 Conference. She also served as mentorship officer for Women in Software and Hardware, where she guided dozens of students, especially those from underrepresented groups, through mentorship and community-building.
Her work reflects a deep commitment to service, equity and excellence. In every position she took on, Thapar helped foster a more inclusive campus environment while amplifying Cal Poly’s national reputation for student-driven innovation. Her influence is both far-reaching and personal, making her one of the College of Engineering’s most inspiring student leaders.
College Inclusive Excellence Award
Vanessa Ortiz
Vanessa Ortiz is a first-generation student pursuing a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering with an emphasis in structural engineering. She has demonstrated inclusive excellence through sustained, culturally responsive STEM outreach targeting historically underserved K-12 communities across the Central Coast. Over the past year, she has organized numerous bilingual, family-centered events in partnership with seven schools, including ongoing engagement with SHPE Jr. chapters at Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria High Schools. She also secured a $1,300 IDEAS Grant to help fund activities and events related to these partnerships.
Through her leadership role in SHPE, Ortiz has significantly expanded STEM outreach across the Central Coast, engaging approximately 500 K-12 students and their families in events such as campus tours, SHPE Jr. chapter activities and Noche de Ciencias (Science Night). Her efforts have been particularly impactful for students from first-generation, Spanish-speaking and historically underrepresented backgrounds. By creating welcoming, culturally relevant programming, Ortiz has helped students feel supported and inspired to explore STEM pathways.
College Academic Excellence
Harvey Perkins
During the 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Program, Harvey Perkins worked with Stephen Kwok-Choon and another student to design, build and test a reaction wheel testbed equipped with an optical tracking camera. Perkins’ contributions included iterating on the design, integrating system components, manufacturing parts, assembling the system, conducting experimental testing and developing the control algorithm to operate the testbed. In August 2024, he and his classmate successfully submitted a conference paper and presented a poster at the Small Satellite Conference at Utah State University.
Perkins is currently a student safety shop technician, a member of the Cal Poly Baja SAE IRA team and a member of the SLO Propulsion Technologies IRA team.
Service to the Community
Shane Meadows-Yaw
Shane Meadows-Yaw has been an active and dedicated contributor to the Cal Poly CubeSat Laboratory since fall 2022. During that time, he helped the program regain momentum after setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. After just two quarters, he was named flight lead, a role that placed him in charge of AMDROHP, a collaborative space mission with Cal State LA and NASA JPL.
Meadows-Yaw presented technical work to industry professionals and led major design reviews, incorporating feedback from Cal Poly faculty and alumni to further refine CubeSat designs.
Don & Paula Heye Safety Award
Ella Perry
Our campus machine shops are vital hands-on resources that support the learning and innovation of thousands of students. In the past year alone, these shops served 1,802 student users, logged 15,897 shop entries, and recorded 45,778 hours of shop use. At the heart of this hub of student creativity and engineering is Ella Perry, the dedicated Safety Supervisor who ensures that every workspace remains functional, safe, and welcoming.
In winter quarter, a fire broke out in the Hangar’s paint booth, triggering an inspection by the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. Ella sprang into action, taking decisive leadership to protect the shop its resources. She led an effort to bring both the Hangar and Mustang 60 shops — as well as student club work areas —up to code. This included organizing large-scale clean-up days, mobilizing club members to tidy and reorganize their spaces, and personally putting in long hours to ensure every area met safety standards.
Thanks to Ella’s determination and work ethic, the Hangar passed the inspection with flying colors. Her initiative ensured uninterrupted access to crucial facilities for senior design classes, engineering clubs, and countless student projects.
Ella’s impact goes beyond emergency response. She manages Safety Data Sheets, updates safety protocols, and provides training for all shop technicians, creating a culture of safety. Her diligence in maintaining organized, hazard-free spaces has transformed the day-to-day experience for students, improving not only compliance but also the overall shop environment.
Under her guidance, both the Hangar and Mustang 60 have become places where students can focus on innovation without compromising on safety.
Ella Perry’s commitment has fundamentally reshaped the culture of Cal Poly’s machine shops. Her tireless work to declutter, organize, and inspire others has created a lasting impact. Because of her, the Hangar is not only open — it’s safer, cleaner, and more efficient.
Ella’s leadership, dedication, and care make her an important part of the College of Engineering. The entire community, from students to staff, benefits from her dedication to safety and student success.
You can find a complete list of 2025 awardees here.
