Five engineering students were honored with the Outstanding Women in Engineering Award. This award recognizes students who go above and beyond in their education and in the industry.
Nidhi Raviprasad, Computer Science
Raviprasad is described by one of her faculty members as not only talented and technically adept, but also as an incredibly positive and uplifting classmate and team member. She has served as the president of the student club Women Involved in Software and Hardware (WISH) for two consecutive years and has held multiple officer positions, including treasurer and scholarship director within the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), all while maintaining a nearly perfect GPA. Beyond Cal Poly, Raviprasad has had numerous internships, including at Atlassian and Aethon Labs.
Sakiko Pizzorno, Electrical Engineering
Pizzorno has established herself as a pioneer and leader on campus, founding the Women in Electrical Engineering club and holding leadership roles within Theta Tau and the Electrical Engineering Department’s technical service group. Beyond Cal Poly, she has gained impressive professional experience at Rantec Power Systems and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. She recently accepted a co-op position with NASA at the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Pizzorno is recognized by faculty for her technical precision, reliability and ability to perform under pressure. Described as both a gifted engineer and a natural leader, she exemplifies excellence in every way.
Belen Martinez Espinoza, Architectural Engineering
Martinez Espinoza is an exceptional student whose perseverance, work ethic and passion for engineering set her apart. Before transferring to Cal Poly, she attended five community colleges to meet the rigorous requirements of the Architectural Engineering Program. Since arriving at Cal Poly, she has excelled academically, earning Dean’s List honors every eligible quarter while supporting herself financially. She distinguished herself in demanding coursework, including structural steel design, where she was recognized as the most outstanding student in her class. Beyond the classroom, Martinez Espinoza has been active in the Structural Engineers Association of California and gained professional experience through an internship at Labib Funk + Associates. Faculty describe her as an inspiration to her peers and a future leader in the profession.
Santina Gatti, Environmental Engineering
Gatti is an extraordinary student whose academic excellence, research innovation and passion have truly set her apart. She is an international student who came to the U.S. to study environmental engineering. Beyond the classroom, she has made remarkable contributions to engineering and sustainability research at Cal Poly, including co-founding CarbonCatch Technologies and leading a carbon capture project that earned first place at the WERC Engineering Design Competition and resulted in peer-reviewed publications. She is praised by faculty for her intellectual independence, creativity and ability to translate complex theory into meaningful impact.
Reagan Denny, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering
Denny’s impact spans engineering, policy and campus leadership. During her time at Cal Poly, she has served as chair of the Associated Students Inc. Board of Directors, leading a 24-member governing board and representing 24,000 students. In this role, she helped oversee a $22 million annual budget. Denny has also built a professional record through internships with organizations like Stantec, Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, the Agricultural Council of California and the Northern California Water Association. Prior to Cal Poly, Denny served as a California FFA state officer, one of six selected statewide to lead and represent more than 100,000 members. Praised by faculty for her analytical strength, professionalism and civic-minded leadership, she will continue her path to law school after graduating.
Congratulations to these incredible engineers for their hard work and recognition!
