Clemson IE recognized its 2026 students and faculty award recipients, highlighting excellence across the department.
by Kathy Snipes April 27, 2026
Awards were presented during the department’s 2026 End of Year Celebration, held April 23 at the Madren Center Ballroom. The annual event brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends of the department to celebrate achievements of the Clemson IE community.
This year’s recipients were recognized for excellence in academics, research, leadership, teaching, service and professional development.
Undergraduate Awards
The department recognized several undergraduate students for their academic achievement, leadership, service, research and contributions to the Clemson IE community.
Academic Achievement Awards
The Academic Achievement Awards recognize superior academic performance by undergraduate students in the department.
- Sophomore Academic Achievement Award: Samantha Morin
- Junior Academic Achievement Award: Elizabeth Dulaney
- Senior Academic Achievement Award: Abigail Esh
Outstanding Junior Award
The Outstanding Junior Award recognizes a student in the junior class who exemplifies all-around excellence through academic performance, engagement and contributions to the department and university community.
Recipient: Jackson Plas
Elisabeth and Delbert L. Kimbler Undergraduate Research Award
Established through the Edwin J. Freeman Endowment by Dr. Del Kimbler and the late Elisabeth Kimbler, this award encourages undergraduate research in industrial engineering and recognizes a student who has demonstrated excellence in research.
Recipient: Amy Maffei
Janine Anthony Bowen ’89 Undergraduate Scholar
Established through an endowment by Janine Anthony Bowen, along with family and friends, this award recognizes exceptional academic achievement by an undergraduate student in industrial engineering.
Recipient: Baylie Mazyck
Karen and Carl R. Lindemeyer Leadership and Public Service Award
This award is presented to a senior in industrial engineering who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, a commitment to public service, strong character and integrity.
Recipient: Hannah Baum
IISE Award of Excellence
This award recognizes outstanding leadership and service to Clemson University’s student chapter of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
Recipient: Gillian Banks
IE 4670 Senior Design Awards
The IE 4670 Senior Design Awards recognize students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, collaboration and contributions to their senior design teams.
- IE 4670 Team Member of the Year: Aidan Graves
- IE 4670 Team Leader of the Year: Stayton Brown
Graduate Awards
Graduate students were recognized for excellence in research, teaching, scholarship, leadership and service.
Outstanding Graduate Research Assistant
This award recognizes exceptional performance in the role of a graduate research assistant and honors contributions to the department’s research mission.
Recipient: Rahul Narasimhan
Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant
This award recognizes exceptional performance in supporting instruction, engaging students and contributing to the department’s educational mission.
Recipient: Emma Arnold
Student Memorial All-Around Excellence Award
Established in memory of Sunanth Anand and Da Deng, this award honors a graduate student who exemplifies all-around excellence through academic achievement, positive spirit resilience and leadership.
Recipient: Md Rashedul Islam
Student Development Award
The Student Development Award recognizes outstanding scholarship by a current industrial engineering graduate student whose work has been accepted for publication in a high-profile refereed journal.
Recipient: Vishwajeet Ransing
Janine Anthony Bowen ’89 Graduate Fellow
Established through an endowment by Janine Anthony Bowen, along with family and friends, this award supports graduate education in industrial engineering and recognizes outstanding academic performance.
Recipient: Farhatul Janan
Faculty and Student-Voted Awards
The department also recognized faculty and teaching contributions that support student success and strengthen the Clemson IE community.
IE CIVIC Award
The IE CIVIC Award recognizes a faculty or staff member who exemplifies the department’s core values: Innovation, Excellence, Communication, Integrity, Vibrancy, Inclusiveness and Collegiality.
Recipient: Dr. Jessica Avilés
Professor of the Year
The Professor of the Year Award is a student-voted honor, recognizing a faculty member whose teaching, mentorship and commitment to student success has made a meaningful impact on the student experience.
Recipient: Dr. Jeffrey Kharoufeh
Teaching Assistant of the Year
The Teaching Assistant of the Year Award is a student-voted honor, recognizing a teaching assistant who has gone above and beyond to support students, strengthen their understanding of course material and contribute to a positive learning experience.
Recipient: Chloe Munn
Clemson IE congratulates each of this year’s award recipients and thanks them for the many ways they contribute to the department. Their achievements reflect the academic excellence, leadership, service, mentorship and community that continue to define Clemson Industrial Engineering.
