Fifteen Kettering University graduating students have been recognized as recipients of prestigious President’s Medal, Sobey Scholar and Leaders Fellow awards this year. The students will be recognized at an honors dinner and reception at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan, June 17.

The awards recognize a variety of academic, service, leadership and professional achievements. The awards dinner will be held the night before Kettering University’s Commencement ceremony, which is at 11 a.m. June 18, in the Connie and Jim John Recreation Center.

The President’s Medal recognizes scholarship, professionalism on the job and community involvement.

Sobey Scholars awards are a distinction presented to students elected to the Robot Honor Society and one of Kettering’s academic honor societies.

Leaders Fellows awards recognize students who demonstrate significant leadership potential and personal integrity while committing to perpetuating the development of Kettering students through post-graduation involvement with the University.

Here are this year’s recipients:

Amy Allison

• Awards: President’s Medal, Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Ortonville, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering with an Automotive Design Specialty
• Co-Op: IAV Automotive Engineering Inc.
• Activities: Robot Society, Society of Women Engineers, Alpha Gamma Delta International Fraternity, Kagle Leadership Initiatives, Model United Nations, Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi, Rho Lambda, Lives Improve Through Engineering (LITE), Panhellenic Council, Girl Genius, Automotive Women's Alliance Foundation, Engineers Without Borders, The Technician, Oswald Study Abroad Fellowship, Unit Buddy.
• Post-graduation plans: Currently an Engine Calibration Specialist for V8 Light-Duty Truck at General Motors and actively pursuing graduate school opportunities at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor for Controls Engineering or Engineering Management.

Zach Beavers

• Award: President’s Medal
• Hometown: Tawas City, Michigan
• Majors: Biochemistry & Applied Biology (double major)
• Co-op: Lead Medical Scribe at Hurley Medical Center
• Activities: President of Kettering's Pre-med Club, Vice President of Green Engineering Organization (GEO), Vice President of IEEE, a Resident Advisor of Thompson Hall, Intellectual Development Chairman of Beta Theta Pi.
• Post-graduation plans: Incoming medical student at Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine.

Savannah Brown

• Award: Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering with Bioengineering Application Specialty; Minors in Biochemistry & Biology
• Co-Op: Ford Motor Company
• Activities: Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority; Scholarship Chair, Robot Honor Society, Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society Recording Secretary, Pre-Med Club Treasurer, President & Vice President; Student Government Academic Council, Representation Chair; SWE Kettering University Chapter, Special Events Chair & Vice President; Tau Beta Pi Honor Society Vice President & National Convention Delegate.
• Post-graduation plans: Will begin graduate school in August at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, to pursue a Masters of Biomedical Engineering with a concentration in Translational Health Technology.

Rhonda Clarke

• Awards: President’s Medal, Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Flint, Michigan
• Major: Industrial Engineering with minor in Business
• Co-Op: Brose North America
• Activities: National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Institute of Industrial Engineers, MAGIC (Maximizing Academic Growth in College), President's Resource Advisory Committee, Tau Beta Pi, Alpha Pi Mu, Robot Honor Society.
• Post-graduation plans: Working full time at Brose North America and doing missionary work.

Anna Czekaj

• Award: Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Ada, Michigan
• Major: Chemical Engineering
• Co-Op: 1.5 yrs at Perrigo (Allegan, Michigan), 2.5 yrs at Magna Mirrors (Holland, Michigan)
• Activities: Robot Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Alpha, WKUF 94.3 FM, RA for Residence Life, ChemE Club.
• Post-graduation plans: Started at General Motors as a Battery Cell Test Engineer in April.

Jennifer Gmerek

• Award: Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Sterling Heights, Michigan
• Major: Industrial Engineering
• Co-Op: HP Pelzer Automotive Systems Inc.
• Post-graduation plans: Currently working at Brose as an Industrial Engineer. Plans to pursue an MBA in the near future.

Angad Mehrotra

• Award: Leaders Fellow*
• Hometown: Novi, Michigan
• Major: Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering (double major)
• Co-Op: NASA Johnson Space Center
• Activities: Beta Theta Pi, Robot Honor Society, Engineers Without Borders (now S.A.G.E.), KSG Academic Council, Kettering Model U.N., Flint Brush Up.
• Post-graduation plans: Accepted to Johns Hopkins University Engineering Masters program, which he may pursue in the future. Currently working full-time at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Zach Piteo

• Award: President’s Medal
• Hometown: Macomb, Michigan
• Major: Chemical Engineering
• Co-Op: DTE Energy
• Activities: Academic Council, Phi Delta Theta.
• Post-graduation plans: Working full-time at DTE and traveling.

Rochelle Radawiec

• Award: President’s Medal
• Hometown: DeWitt,, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering
• Co-Op: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA)
• Activities: Alpha Phi, Tau Beta Pi, Gamma Sigma Alpha, KSG Operations Council.
• Post-graduation plans: Chrysler Institute of Engineering joint work and masters program with Purdue.

Mark Snyder

• Award: Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Montrose, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering; minors in Business Administration and Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Co-Op: Pratt & Whitney AutoAir
• Activities: Tau Beta Pi, Robot Honor Society, Kettering Student Government, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Gamma Sigma Alpha, Order of Omega, Pi Tau Sigma, FYE Peer Mentor.
• Post-graduation plans: Working for GM right after graduation, attending graduate school to get an MBA in the future.

Ben Spiegel

• Award: President’s Medal
• Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Engineering (dual major)
• Co-Op: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
• Activities: Trap and Skeet Club, Aquaneers, Tau Beta Pi, Pi Tau Sigma, Alpha Pi Mu.
• Post-graduation plans: Chrysler Institute of Engineering Program (CIE) at FCA and pursuing a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University.

Alex Tannahill

• Award: Sobey Scholar
• Hometown: Safety Harbor, FL
• Major: Electrical Engineering
• Co-Op: Continental Automotive
• Activities: Beta Theta Pi, WKUF, FIRST Robotics.
• Post-graduation plans: Working for Ford Motor Company - Electrical Distribution as a Harness Engineer.

Jessica Verhaeghe

• Award: President’s Medal
• Hometown: Essexville, Michigan
• Major: Mechanical Engineering
• Co-Op: Nexteer Automotive
• Activities: Alpha Sigma Alpha Delta Nu-B Chapter, Society of Women Engineers Vice President, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society, Order of Omega Honor Society President, Pi Tau Sigma Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi Honor Society, Lives Improve Through Engineering Mentor
• Post-graduation plans: Currently a Component Owner Product Engineer in the CEPS Core Mechanical Department at Nexteer Automotive; has begun pursuing MBA at Kettering University in pursuit of management; plans to launch catering business in her spare time.

* Note: Hunter Casbeer and Jonathan Dickson also received 2016 Leaders Fellow awards