Clarkson University

The Clarkson University Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) Equestrian Team concluded an impressive Fall 2024 show season this November at St. Lawrence University. Looking ahead, Clarkson is proud to have three talented riders advancing to the Zone 2 Region 2 Regional competition on March 29, 2025, at St. Lawrence University. The qualifiers are: Lara Van Putten '25 - competing in Limit Fences & Limit Flat Lauren Duchscherer '25 - competing in Novice Nikki Fink '27 - competing in Novice Special recognition goes to Molly Gifford '24, who ended her IHSA career on a high note with a first-place finish. Over her time with the team, she earned an impressive 168 points, served as Vice President of the Equestrian Club for two years, and led as captain of the IHSA Team for four years. Her dedication and leadership have left a lasting impact on both the club and the team. The entire Clarkson community wishes Molly continued success in her professional and riding endeavors. Clarkson University is incredibly proud of these outstanding students and their achievements, both in the arena and beyond. Their hard work and commitment exemplify the spirit of excellence that defines Clarkson.

The Clarkson Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Program Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED) teams brought home four, top-3 wins across three categories in the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Region 1 Competition at the Hilton Albany Downtown from Thursday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 16. Given less than 24 hours to prepare a full proposal/bid on a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on the morning of competition for their category, student teams prepare project plans, schedule of construction, estimated costs and materials, subcontractor lists, and make a proposal presentation. Clarkson University was the only school, among the 15 assembled, to compete in three categories and place in every one of them. Engineering and Management major Alexandria Celia '25 led the team in the pre-construction category, placing second among a field of seven. Team members included Engineering and Management major Erik Andersen '26, Engineering and Management major Sebastien Carroll '25, Supply Chain Management major Samuel Larter '27, Civil Engineering major Michael Moriarty '25, and Engineering and Management major Apirith Sothea '25. Civil Engineering major Zakary Eshelman '27 led the heavy-civil team to a third-place finish in a field of seven teams. Their project focused on a complicated multi-span two-mile bridge project in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This team included Civil Engineering major Paige Cutler '25, Civil Engineering major Tanner Jennings '27, Civil Engineering major Ajay Johnson '25, Civil Engineering major Ryan Lynch '27, and Engineering and Management major Jacob Morrill '28. Finally, in the open concrete category, Clarkson sent one team but landed with two teams that placed in the category. The core team led by Engineering and Management major Zalen Aqueron '25, had one of its members reassigned to another team at the outset, in a challenge unique to the nature of the category being "open" to all sorts of variety. Originally this team consisted of Aqueron along with Engineering and Management major Michael Delwiche '26, Mechanical Engineering major Alexander Kaczynski '26, Civil Engineering major Jevon Malcolm '25, Engineering and Management major Liam Quick '27 and Dinesh Ravindran. This team took third place, competing against the team from Norwich University and a team made-up, on-the-fly, combining two New York University (NYU) students and one student each from the previously formed Clarkson and Norwich teams. In a demonstration of how Clarkson University's culture of teamwork is infectious, Dinesh Ravindran, an exchange student to Clarkson from the Technological University of Denmark (DTU), led them to a second place finish, beating his own former teammates. This resulted in Clarkson yielding a place award in its own right, as well as a joint award with NYU and Norwich. The teams were supported by three coaches, Adjunct Instructor Randy VanBrocklin '90, Adjunct Instructor Nick Sheehan, and Industry Volunteer Grace Girard '24. "Clarkson's award winning construction program continues to perform at the top of the Northeast Region of the United States," said Associated Schools of Construction Region 1 Director, Erik Backus. "It's significant that these student teams all performed in the top 3 of their given category, that is a level of excellence that is rare at regional competition." For more information about Clarkson's CEM Program, click here.

From October 23 through October 26, five students in Clarkson University's Bioengineering Research Education to Accelerate Innovation in STEM (BOREALIS) Scholars program, Rose Leader, Ciara Nuesi, Youse Garcia, Joshuana Korvie, and Habiba Boureima, attended the 2024 Biomedical Engineering Society National Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. A part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Educational Diversity (ESTEEMED) Research Education Experiences programs, the BOREALIS Scholars program is a research education program designed to advance the diversity of the bioengineering research workforce by creating a pathway to graduate study and research in bioengineering for students from sociodemographically diverse backgrounds. This competitive cohort program currently enlists six Clarkson University undergraduate students in their first and second years. As part of the conference programming, the students had the opportunity to attend plenary and keynote talks, network with peers from other institutions as well as faculty and industry leaders from around the world, and attend concurrent scientific oral and poster presentations. Three of the BOREALIS Scholars had scientific abstracts accepted for presentation and presented posters on research conducted in their first and second years at Clarkson University. Rose Leader, a second-year student majoring in Mechanical Engineering, presented on 'Novel Method of Delivering Low Dose Ionizing Radiation to Breast Epithelial Cells,' work done in collaboration with Ron and Jane Lindsay Family Innovation Professor and Chair of Bioengineering at Clemson University Delphine Dean during a summer National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. Ciara Nuesi, a second-year student majoring in Civil Engineering, presented on 'RNAi Analysis of Patterning Factors in the Drosophila Thoracic Peripheral Nervous System', work done in collaboration with Clarkson University Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biology Ginger Hunter. Youse Garcia, a first-year student majoring in Aerospace Engineering, presented on 'Evalulation of Grasps and Manipulation to Advance Prosthetic Hands', work done in collaboration with Clarkson University Associate Professor and Executive Officer of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Kevin Fite. As part of BOREALIS support, the Scholars also had the opportunity to have a private networking dinner with Clarkson University alum Deja Robinson, who currently works as a Medical Device Reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as Adjunct Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Laurel Kuxhaus, who currently serves as a Program Officer at the NIH, allowing the scholars to explore bioengineering careers and build networks outside of academia and industry. For more information on the BOREALIS Scholars Program, click here.

Clarkson University's Baja SAE Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design (SPEED) team showcased its creativity and engineering skills on Saturday, Sept. 28, placing first in the Baja Cross competition and fourth overall. OktoBAJAfest is an exhibition race, hosted by Clarkson University and organized by Clarkson Baja Alumni, for student-built vehicles conforming to the rules of the Mini Baja series. Events like OktoBAJAfest provide invaluable hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios. These opportunities foster teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation - skills that are essential for their future careers. This event invites student Baja teams from across the U.S. and Canada to travel to Colton, NY to Clarkson's Seven Springs, an 85 acre property formerly used as a downhill and cross country ski location from 1974 to 1990. The property has a 250' vertical drop and is home to miles of mountain biking and Baja trails. This festival includes five separate events including short track, Baja cross (suspension and maneuverability), hill climb, technical inspection, and a final endurance race.

Jide Oyerinde, a Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering PhD graduate student, won second place in the 2024 Fluxtrol Student Research Competition and a $1000 prize at the just concluded 29th IFHTSE2024/IMAT2024 World Congress. Jide's work focuses on the microstructural evolution in high-entropy alloys and its effect on their mechanical properties. His research supervisors are Prof. Ioannis Mastorakos, Prof. Philip Yuya, and Prof. Ajit Achuthan. He also serves as the president of Clarkson University's Material Advantage club. The International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering (IFHTSE) World Congress and International Materials Application & Technologies (IMAT) recently hosted the conference/exposition in Cleveland, Ohio. The Fluxtrol Student Research Competition is a mark of excellence in the field of thermal processing. This prestigious accolade, with a monetary value courtesy of Fluxtrol Inc., is bestowed upon student winners whose research is deemed by judges to be of extraordinary quality and impact. It is a testament to the high standards and innovative spirit of the field. The Fluxtrol Student Research Competition is a competition-based award and recognition program for young, innovative scientists/professionals seeking to encourage participation in the ASM International Federation for Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering and to provide attractive offers and opportunities in the worldwide Thermal Processing community. Fluxtrol and ASM solicits abstract submissions based on thermal processing of metal/metal-containing components for this competition. Review/Format: This is a two-phase competition/award. Phase 1: students will prepare a poster highlighting their work and present it during a special poster session during IFHTSE World Congress 2024. The submitted posters will be evaluated by an international team of thermal processing professionals from both academia and industry. The student posters with the highest cumulative scores from the judges will be named semi-finalists, and the student authors will be invited to present their work orally in a special session during IFHTSE World Congress 2024. Phase 2: Semi-finalists selected from the poster session will then give an oral presentation. Presentations will be no more than 7 minutes in length, with 3 minutes for questions from the judges. Each oral presentation will be evaluated and scored for originality, experimental and research results, and presentation style. To be eligible, a researcher must be a student who is currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree at a University, Institute, or College (University) or is within one year of graduation but conducted the research while still enrolled at a University, having completed an aspect of thermal processing research.

Clarkson University student teams participate in various college engineering design competitions through the University's SPEED (Students Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) Program. These competitions provide hands-on learning experiences, allowing students to apply their engineering knowledge in real-world scenarios while fostering teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving skills. Through the SPEED Program, Clarkson students continue to demonstrate their engineering expertise and commitment to excellence in design and innovation. The SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge is an engineering design competition that pushes students to reengineer snowmobiles to reduce emissions and noise without sacrificing performance. Competing snowmobiles are tested in various categories such as emissions, noise, fuel economy, endurance, acceleration, handling, cold start, and design. The goal is to create an environmentally friendly snowmobile suitable for use in sensitive areas like National Parks. These redesigned snowmobiles must be quiet, emit fewer unburned hydrocarbons, be cost-effective, and provide a comfortable ride, all while primarily functioning as touring snowmobiles on groomed trails. While modern snowmobiles already meet noise and emission standards, the challenge encourages teams to implement innovative solutions that further enhance performance. There are two categories in the Internal Combustion classification-gasoline and diesel. For the past eight years, the Clarkson team competed in the diesel category, achieving great success. However, with SAE's decision to eliminate the diesel class in 2025, the Clarkson team has transitioned back to the gasoline division and entered the newly established hybrid category. During the 2024 spring semester, the competition returned to the Keweenaw Research Center at Michigan Tech. Clarkson's team placed 8th overall, with notable finishes in the Technical Presentation (4th), Objective Handling (5th), and Noise (5th) categories. Pictured Left to right: Ben Larivee, Henry Swift, Nick Marsh, Brandon O'Neill, Patrick McCabe, Jessie Kavanagh, Josh Segal, Tucker Gabriel, Jeff Hansen, Mike Hewey, Eric Wirger, Zachary Lutzke

Clarkson University's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering recently held its annual MAE Award, and the MAE Awards Committee has announced Sandeep Khadka as the winner of the department's 2024 award for Best Graduate Student Research Paper. This award is given in recognition of exemplary graduate student led research published in the 2023 calendar year. In making the selection for this award, the faculty committee considered both the quality of the paper itself and the importance of its findings to its field. Khadka was lead author on a paper titled, "Laves Phase and Equiaxed Grains Formation in Directed Energy Deposited AlCuFeNiTi High Entropy Alloy." The article was published in Journal of Alloys and Compounds, which is one of the top ranked journals in its field. The work describes an innovative approach to additive manufacturing employing high entropy alloys, which is a class of metals in which five or more elements are combined in nearly equal proportions. The resulting material demonstrated an equiaxed grain morphology, which is typically difficult to achieve in an additively manufactured high entropy alloy and results in superior mechanical properties and thermal stability.

Students from Clarkson University were awarded bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees this spring on May 11, 2024.

The Clarkson University Baja SAE team, now in its 46th year, had a remarkable 2024 season, competing in one SAE event and two non-SAE competitions. The team participated in races held in Williamsport, PA, Quebec City, QC, and their home event, the "OktoBAJAfest" at Clarkson's Seven Springs, organized by Clarkson Baja alumni. Baja SAE challenges students with real-world engineering design projects. Teams design and build off-road vehicles capable of withstanding tough terrain, water, and mud. The competition simulates the process of introducing a new product to the consumer industrial market, requiring students to manage every aspect-from design and manufacturing to promotion and financial support. In May 2024, Clarkson's Baja team entered the Baja SAE Pennsylvania race with a newly redesigned 4WD system, finishing 27th overall out of 107 teams. The team achieved a 21st place finish in the Hill Climb and 19th in the Suspension event. Earlier in February, at the EDN race in Quebec City hosted by Laval University, they finished 10th overall, with standout performances including 4th in Suspension and 8th in Acceleration. Then at the 2023 OktoBAJAfest, the team ran two cars, placing 3rd and 4th overall, with top finishes in the Hill Climb (1st and 2nd), Endurance (2nd), and Baja Cross (2nd). The team consists of 25-30 students from a variety of majors, demonstrating the collaborative and interdisciplinary spirit that defines the Clarkson Baja SAE team. In picture Left to right and front to back: Ryan Truscott, Aspen Tripp, Lucas Ricci, Will Schlosser, Elijah Greenberg, RJ Jacobson, Clay Reagon, James Keach, Akari Harada, Luke Owens (driver), Jacob Cassi, Eli Thetford, Kaitlinn Campana, Taylor Clayton, Damon Brownell, Colin Harrison, Clark White, and Tristian Adrian

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2024 semester at Clarkson University

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Spring 2024 semester at Clarkson University.

Students from Clarkson University were awarded bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees this winter on December 16, 2023.

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2023 semester at Clarkson University

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Fall 2023 semester at Clarkson University.

Students from Clarkson University were awarded bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees this spring on May 13, 2023.

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Spring 2023 semester at Clarkson University.

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester at Clarkson University

Students from Clarkson University were awarded bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees this winter on December 17, 2022.

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Fall 2022 semester at Clarkson University.

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the Fall 2022 semester at Clarkson University

Clarkson University awarded nearly 800 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to students from 31 states, 19 countries and 59 New York state counties at its spring 2022 commencement in May. (An additional 189 students received degrees this past winter and summer.)

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Graduating senior Autumn Lennon of Beacon, N.Y., received the Frederica Clarkson Award during Clarkson University's spring 2022 commencement ceremony on May 14. She was selected for the $1,000 award by a vote of the full University faculty based on her scholarship and promise of outstanding achievement. The award was established in 1921 as a bequest in the will of Frederica Clarkson, sister of Thomas S. Clarkson, for whom the University is named. This award and the Levinus Clarkson Award are traditionally given to the two top students in the graduating class. Lennon, a member of the Honors Program, earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. She was a presidential scholar for all of her semesters at Clarkson and graduated with a 3.9 GPA. She served as the President of the Clarkson Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) for three years, served as an ambassador of the Honors Program, and enjoys volunteering for the St. Andrews Food Pantry when home.

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the Spring 2022 semester at Clarkson University

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Spring 2022 semester at Clarkson University.

Graduating senior Kristen A. Goebel of Victor, N.Y., received the Levinus Clarkson Award during Clarkson University's spring 2022 commencement ceremony on May 14. She was selected for the $1,000 award by a vote of the full University faculty based on her scholarship and promise of outstanding achievement. The award was established by University founders Elizabeth and Frederica Clarkson in memory of their brother, Levinus, and was first awarded in 1909. This award and the Frederica Clarkson Award are traditionally given to the two top students in the graduating class. Goebel, a member of the Honors Program, earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science and mathematics. She was a presidential scholar for all of her semesters at Clarkson and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of the Pi Mu Epsilon math honor society. During her time at Clarkson, Goebel has earned the Philip "Pinky" Ryan Memorial Award, the Hamlin/Darraugh Computer Science Outstanding Senior Award, the R. Gerald Bradshaw Award for Mathematics, and the Pi Mu Epsilon Sophomore Award for Mathematics.

Students from Clarkson University were awarded bachelor's, masters and doctoral degrees this winter on December 18, 2021.

Students have been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2021 semester at Clarkson University

Students have been named Presidential Scholars for the Fall 2021 semester at Clarkson University.

Autumn Lennon '22, of Beacon, N.Y., a civil engineering major, and member of Clarkson's Honors program has received the Women and Minorities STEM Scholarship from the Atkins Foundation. The Minority Scholarship Program was created to help students financially pursue their higher education dreams in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM). The scholarship is worth $4000 to help cover tuition-related expenses for the 2021-2022 school year. Autumn is the President of the Clarkson Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), serves as an ambassador of the Honors Program, and enjoys being a part of the Clarkson Union Board. She will graduate in May 2022 and will start working for Kimley-Horn on the Transportation Planning and Traffic Operations Design Team in Fort Worth, Texas. "By awarding this scholarship, the Atkins Foundation recognizes not only Autumn's exemplary performance in the classroom but her significant leadership contributions to the Clarkson community. In her three short years at Clarkson, I have observed Autumn's embodiment of the Clarkson values of growth, teamwork, vision, diligence, service, caring, diversity, and integrity," said Prof. Steve Wojtkiewicz (CEE).