Meet UF Engineering’s International Student award winners
During its 30th annual awards ceremony, the International Center at the University of Florida last week honored 15 international students – from Italy to the Ivory Coast – for building cultural bridges across campus.
Two winners of the International Student Achievement Awards are from the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering: Ph.D. student Karthik Boregowda from India and Industrial and Systems Engineering senior Yousef Bani Ahmad from Jordan.
Boregowda was one of five recipients of the prestigious Alec Courtelis Award, named for the former chairman of the Board of Regents. It is given to international graduate students who demonstrate academic excellence, service on campus and community involvement off campus.
“His innovative research addresses critical issues in water safety, benefiting marginalized communities that rely on local water treatment facilities,” said Pingchien Neo, Ph.D., director of International Engineering Programs at UF.
Ahmad, a diehard Gator football fan and former equestrian athlete, was nominated by many in the college who cited his community volunteer service (particularly with aging horses at Millcreek Farm) and his always-available mentorship of international students.
“He guides new international students through everything, from cars to places to live,” said Melony Goldsmith, Ahmad’s academic advisor in the department of Industrial Systems and Engineering. “He’s just very kind-hearted.” Here is a closer look at HWCOE’s 2024 Internal Student Achievement Award recipients.
