The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering this week honored four staff members and one faculty member with Superior Accomplishment Awards for their positive impact on engineering students.
One winner, Executive Assistant to the Dean Deborah Jones, went on to win a Superior Accomplishment Award at the university level in the Team Collaboration category.
College winners:
- Academic Advisor Eunice Chung Carter, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE)
- Associate Instructional Engineering Professor Amanpreet Kapoor, Department of Engineering Education (EEd)
- Facilities Operations Specialist David Sante, Department of Chemical Engineering (ChE)
- Academic Advisor Michael Todd, Center for Student Excellence
Eunice Chung Carter
Carter was recognized for going above and beyond for students. When her team faced staffing challenges, for example, Carter carved out time for the monumental task of scheduling 175 course sections for the summer and fall terms while balancing her primary responsibilities.
MAE is one of the largest departments at the university, and scheduling requires time and careful attention to detail. Carter secured classrooms and provided accurate, relevant course information for students while maintaining productivity within her own role.
Carter enhanced the Transfer Preview process by creating a welcome kit for new students. Alongside Matthew J. Traum, Ph.D., Carter also led the planning and implementation of career-preparation student workshops.
These events provided guidance on resumes, interviewing and other workforce skills. This initiative culminated with a widely successful MAE career event in collaboration with the Career Connections Center.
Deborah Jones
As part of the Scholarship Universe pilot team, Jones helped implement a new system designed to simplify how students find and apply for scholarships. The platform connects students to internal and external funding opportunities in one place, streamlining what was once a fragmented and often confusing process.
“Now students can go to one place, see what they qualify for and track where they are in the process,” she said.
The system also allows students to monitor their progress, submit materials and even send thank-you notes to donors through a single platform, creating a more transparent and accessible experience from start to finish.
The results have been significant. More than 600 scholarships have been transitioned into the system, with over 65,000 applications submitted by more than 11,500 students, resulting in more than $5 million being awarded.
Jones played a key role in coordinating the process, from identifying scholarship funds and eligibility criteria to working with financial aid and ensuring students completed applications. Her work bridged communication between departments and streamlined operations behind the scenes.
Jones said the initiative’s long-term impact will continue to shape how students access opportunities.
“I think it’s going to make scholarships more accessible,” she said. “It helps students see that those opportunities are out there.”
Amanpreet Kapoor
In addition to winning a Superior Accomplishment Award this year, Kapoor also received the Engineering Undergraduate Teacher of the Year. That award recognizes outstanding teachers who show innovation and excellence in the classroom.
Lisha Zhou, an instructional assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), said Kapoor goes above and beyond with a genuine passion.
“Aman’s commitment to improving the learning experience was evident through the implementation of a bug-bounty program,” Zhou said.
The bug-bounty program allows students to report errors and typos — the bugs — in course materials. When his students catch the bugs, their bounties are credited toward their final grade.
Kapoor also led the team that developed Edugator, a browser-based, AI-enabled tool for teaching engineering and computing education across Florida universities. It was developed to support instructors of introductory computing courses by simplifying how they create and deliver interactive content.
David Sante
A facilities operations specialist with ChE, Sante often can be found changing a lightbulb 20 feet in the air or rebuilding a vacuum pump or setting up costly equipment.
He wears many hats, including a hard hat amid the dust and chaos of the ChE building renovation. Recently, he oversaw moving all the contents of the 32,000-square-foot building into temporary spaces across campus, as well as setting up the new labs.
“Working with David was a highlight of my time as department chair,” said Carlos Rinaldi-Ramos, Ph.D., ChE’s former chair. “Throughout his time in ChE, he has consistently gone beyond the expectations of his role in facilities operations.”
When the ChE Student Center closed for renovations, for example, Sante was essential in keeping that project moving forward. He attended all the project meetings and inspections, helped vacate the building and settled everyone back in after its completion.
Michael Todd
Todd’s work often begins in moments of uncertainty.
When one student faced a medical emergency that forced her off campus, Todd worked to build a modified schedule, coordinating online coursework and special approvals to keep her on track.
“Those are the moments that stand out,” Todd said. “You get to see that immediate relief and know they’re going to be able to keep moving forward.”
Todd, who also won this year’s college International Educator of the Year award, supports more than 500 first-year engineering students each year, helping them navigate everything from course planning to finding resources across campus. He is a consistent point of contact during one of the most challenging transitions in a student’s academic journey.
“Engineering is hard in ways students may not have experienced before,” Todd said. “Having someone there to help them break things down and figure out where to start makes a big difference.”
Much of that work happens in 20-minute advising appointments or through constant communication over email — small interactions that add up to a larger support system for students who are often navigating unfamiliar challenges.
His impact extends beyond his formal role. Todd took on leadership of the Engineering Peer Advisors in 2021, helping rebuild the organization after the pandemic and create opportunities for students to develop leadership skills.
Through the program, Todd sees students gain confidence, take on leadership roles and mentor others.
“That’s probably the most rewarding part of what I do — getting to see students grow over time,” he said.