2025 Celebration of Excellence
2025 Honoring our Students, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, and Donors
Siebel School of Computing and Data Science students, alumni, and faculty have long been recognized for their leadership contributions to computing and information technology in the classroom, in the research lab, and in industry. We are honored to celebrate these accomplishments, as well as the work of the staff and the generosity of our donors. We are deeply grateful for these contributions and immensely proud of these collective achievements. We are excited to be gathering for an in-person celebration on Friday, April 25, 2025. Please join us in recognizing all these stellar accomplishments.
Sincerely,
Nancy M. Amato
Director, Siebel School of Computing and Data Science
Abel Bliss Professor of Engineering
Alumni
The Siebel School of Computing and Data Science annually recognizes alumni and faculty members who have made professional, technical, educational, or service contributions that bring distinction to themselves, the department, and the university.
Undergraduate Students
Each year, the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science recognizes several outstanding undergraduate students for their academic achievements and leadership contributions in the classroom, research lab, and the community. Many of these scholarships and awards are made possible by generous donations from alumni, friends, and corporate partners, and make a significant difference in supporting students during their academic and career pursuits.
I am a James Scholar Honors student at UIUC and am majoring in Computer Science and Economics. On campus, I am also a Project Manager for Enactus, a social entrepreneurship organization. I have experience developing projects in several programming languages, and I have a passion for public speaking, and have loved taking part in activities like Debate, Speech, and Mock Trial. In high school, I started using my voice to make a difference, and I have given speeches at various climate conferences and rallies to call for environment protection. I look forward to using CS to continue to make change!
Josh is a freshman studying Computer Science. He conducts research in motion planning and reinforcement learning with Professor Nancy Amato and is an upcoming test engineering intern at Motorola Solutions. He serves as the RT High School Outreach Chair for SHPE and is passionate about using AI to change lives, especially within underrepresented communities.
Sneha is a sophomore studying Statistics and Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Through the CS STARS program, she is conducting research with Dr. Tal August on understanding how the levels of certainty, correctness and exaggeration in a paper impact those levels in the papers that cite it. She is a past recipient of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Regional Award, and has previously interned with Arrcus Networks.
Emily Amezcua-Bravo is a first-generation Latina studying Computer Science at UIUC. She is part of CS STARS, working with Professor Karrie Karahalios on AI research with a focus on social impact. She interned at AbbVie, where she improved hardware workflows and device operations across teams. Emily was selected for Jane Street’s upcoming Focus program, a competitive experience in algorithmic problem-solving and trading. She’s a CBO Scholar and contributes to outreach through SAILea, a global nonprofit supporting AI education in high schools. In her free time, she enjoys badminton, nature walks, and chai lattes.
Alyssa is a senior in Statistics & Computer Science with a minor in Public Health. At Illinois, she is a course assistant for STAT 107, a Statistics Department Ambassador, and an undergraduate research assistant in Pamela Martinez's lab. She has previously interned at AbbVie and performed research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she plans to pursue graduate studies in the fall.
Melissa Aninagyei-Bonsu is a Junior studying Computer Science , where she conducts research on motion planning, algorithms, and interconnect optimization. She is a CS STAR, promoting inclusive excellence in computing, and currently serves as the Vice President of B[U]ILT, a student organization supporting Black, Latino, and Indigenous students in tech. Melissa also leads the NSBE x B[U]ILT Talent Pipeline Project, focused on creating career pathways and mentorship opportunities for underrepresented students in STEM.
Fatih is a junior majoring in Statistics and Computer Science. He has been a course assistant for CS 124, CS 225, and CS 340, each for two semesters. His interests lie at the intersection of data-driven decision making, machine learning, and scalable systems. He enjoys exploring how statistical modeling and algorithmic design can work together to solve real-world problems. He will be interning with Capital One as a Machine Learning Engineer Intern this summer.
Hi, my name is Waidat Bada and I am a senior majoring in Computer Engineering!