2025 SWE Awards Honor Outstanding Engineers and STEM Leaders

0 Shares

Today the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) announced the recipients of its annual awards program, celebrating the trailblazers driving progress within the STEM community and championing the advancement of women in engineering.

The SWE Awards Program celebrates high levels of achievement among those who identify as women and allies at all career stages in engineering, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The 2025 SWE awards honorees include collegiates and professionals from leading companies, organizations, and academic institutions around the world.

“We’re thrilled to recognize this year’s SWE award recipients at WE25 in New Orleans, where the theme is ‘Embrace Your Story,’” said Inaas Darrat, FY26 SWE President. “These honorees exemplify the mission of SWE through their achievements, leadership, and service to the engineering and technology community across the globe. Each of their stories is a powerful reminder of the impact engineers can have in shaping our world and inspiring others. Congratulations to all of our winners!”

This year’s award recipients will be recognized at WE25, the world’s largest conference and career fair for women engineers and technologists on Oct. 23-25 in New Orleans. More than 18,000 professional and collegiate individuals in engineering and technology are expected to attend WE25 for professional development, networking opportunities, inspiration, and on-site job interviews.

The SWE Awards Program consists of two levels:

APEX Awards: Represents SWE’s highest level of awards, honoring individuals with 20+ years of professional experience.
ASCENT Awards: Encompasses all other significant achievements. These awardees range from students to mid-career professionals and typically have less than 20 years of experience.

You can find the full list of recipients below and on the SWE awards website.

APEX Awards

Achievement Award

This is the highest award given by the Society of Women Engineers. This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman, who has made significant and progressive technical contributions for at least twenty (20) years in the fields of engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Priti Wanjara, Ph.D., National Research Council Canada

Advocating Women in Engineering Award

This award honors an individual who has demonstrated professional excellence for at least twenty (20) years in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering and has proven to be an advocate of women in engineering. The nominee must be in a position of influence within their current organization and/or community and have demonstrated passion in supporting women in engineering and SWE’s Mission.

Michelle Carey, The Boeing Company
Deanna Duram, Trinity Consultants
Aileen Fahme, Solar Turbines
Kelly Meredith, Lockheed Martin
Anne Ryerson, John Deere

Distinguished Engineering Educator Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman, who has made significant contributions for at least twenty (20) years, with at least ten (10) years of instructional experiences in the fields of engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Marca Lam, Ph.D., Rochester Institute of Technology
Tsu-Jae Liu, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley
Anne Lucietto, Ph.D., F.SWE, SWE Members at Large

Entrepreneur Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman, who went out on their own to start and/or maintain their own engineering, engineering technology or science related to engineering-based business, and in doing so, serves as a role model to all women who have ever risked financial security for the possibility of uncertain rewards. The entrepreneur has demonstrated a conviction to dreams and a willingness to make them happen. The nominee will be an entrepreneur who is skilled in technical, business planning, administrative, and financial techniques, and excels in business leadership

Emily Morris, Emrgy Inc.

Resnik Challenger Medal Award

This award was established in 1986 to honor SWE’s Dr. Judith A. Resnik, NASA Mission Specialist on the ill- fated Challenger space shuttle flight on January 28, 1986. It is awarded only as merited for visionary contributions to space programs to an individual who identifies as a woman with at least ten (10) years of experience. This award acknowledges a specific engineering breakthrough or achievement that has expanded the horizons of human activities in space.

Cindy Schulz, Lockheed Martin

Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a man, who has contributed significantly for at least twenty (20) years to the acceptance and advancement of women in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee may have increased the recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention of women engineers or women engineering students. The nominee may also have encouraged, sponsored, developed professional training/development programs, and created a supportive environment for women engineers in the workplace or women engineering students in a college or university.

Azad M. Madni, Ph.D., University of Southern California
David Parrillo, Ph.D., Dow
Manoj Verma, John Deere India Pvt Ltd.

Spark Award

This award honors an individual who has contributed to the advancement of women by mentoring those around them. The nominee will have made a difference in the lives of many by affecting women at a variety of levels ranging from primary and secondary schools through more senior levels in relation to their position. The nominee must have at least twenty (20) years of experience in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Ramak Asgari, Lockheed Martin
Delia Contreras, Honeywell
Deepa Krishnan, IBM
Annita McCurdy, Exxon Mobil Corporation
Kay Taylor, Cummins Inc.

Suzanne Jenniches Upward Mobility Award Endowed by Northrop Grumman Corporation

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman, who has made outstanding contributions for at least twenty (20) years in the field of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, and/or science related to engineering, and has succeeded in rising within their organization to the level of, at a minimum, general manager or equivalent upper management position. The nominee has created a nurturing environment for other women in the workplace. Northrop Grumman Corporation has endowed this award.

Guayente Sanmartin, HP Inc.

ASCENT Awards

Beacon Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman, who has made significant contributions for at least twenty (20) years in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee must have demonstrated a variety of outstanding career leadership activities in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Maria Teresa Cordero Homad, Bechtel Chile Ltda.
Virginia Counts, P.E., Ph.D., SWE Phoenix Section
Christina Eggert, Sc.D., Sikorsky Aircraft, A Lockheed Martin Company
Marilyn Gaska, Ph.D., Lockheed Martin
Katarzyna Hogendorf, Jacobs
Bindu Krishnan, Ph.D., Dow
Tina Lin, Ph.D., HP Inc.
Jd Marhevko, ZF Group
Tamaira Ross, F.SWE, SWE Pacific Northwest Section

Catalyst Award

This award honors an individual who has contributed to the advancement of women by mentoring those around them. The nominee will have made a difference in the lives of many by affecting women at a variety of levels ranging from primary and secondary schools through more senior levels in relation to their position. The nominee must have less than 10 years of experience in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Kruti Newalkar, MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune
Dallas Quinones, Lockheed Martin
Maxine Taylor, DuPont

Distinguished Global Leader Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made a significant contribution as a global leader for at least 15 years in their engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related engineering organization. The nominee has created a nurturing environment for women of different cultures in the workplace, as well as demonstrated leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Gainy Duisenova, Wabtec Corporation
Chris Huang, P.Eng, HP Inc.
Esugasini Subramaniam, Micron Technology

Emerging Advocate Award

This award honors an individual who has demonstrated professional excellence for less than 10 years in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering and has proven to be an advocate of women in engineering. The nominee must be in a position of influence within their current organization and/or community and have demonstrated passion in supporting women in engineering and SWE’s Mission.

Alyssa Fielitz, Ph.D., Dow
Aakanksha Gadh, Micron Technology
Erin Hong, The Aerospace Corporation
Kristen Keyes, Hill Air Force Base
Ashley Sierra, John Deere

Emerging Ally Award

The award honors an individual who identifies as a man and has contributed significantly for less than 10 years to the acceptance and advancement of women in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee may have increased the recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention of women engineers or women engineering students. The nominee may also have encouraged, sponsored or developed professional training/development programs, and created a supportive environment for women engineers in the workplace or women engineering students in a college or university.

Vikram Kumar, Cummins Inc.

Emerging Engineering Educator Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made contributions for five to 10 years, with at least three years of instructional experiences in the fields of engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Vanessa Nappi, Ph.D., Santa Catarina State University

Emerging Global Leader Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made a significant contribution as a global leader for five to 10 years in their engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related engineering organization. The nominee has created a nurturing environment for women of different cultures in the workplace, as well as demonstrated leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Fernanda Mendes de Morais, Whirlpool Corporation
Doris Moreno Maldonado, Kellanova
Kalyani Pani, John Deere

Employer Champion Award

This award honors an employer that has contributed significantly to the acceptance and advancement of women in the fields of engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The employer may have increased the recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention of women engineers or women engineering students. The employer may also have developed professional training/development programs and created a supportive environment for women engineers in the workplace or women engineering students in a college or university.

Fisher Chennai Engineering Center, Emerson

Engaged Advocate Award

This award honors an individual who has demonstrated professional excellence for 10-20 years in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering and has proven to be an advocate of women in engineering. The nominee must be in a position of influence within their current organization and/or community and have demonstrated passion in supporting women in engineering and SWE’s Mission.

Stephanie Busch, SWE Phoenix Section
Stacey Darling, Johnson & Johnson
Yin Wai Vanessa Li-Davis, Novelis
Megan Stewart, GE Vernova
Inga Urbina, Keysight Technologies

Engaged Ally Award

The award honors an individual who identifies as a man and has contributed significantly for 10-20 years to the acceptance and advancement of women in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee may have increased the recruitment, hiring, promotion, or retention of women engineers or women engineering students. The nominee may also have encouraged, sponsored or developed professional training/development programs, and created a supportive environment for women engineers in the workplace or women engineering students in a college or university.

Kevin Brittain, Cummins Inc.
Michael Nevinsky, The Boeing Company
Murali Sekar, John Deere

Engineering Educator Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made significant contributions for 10-20 years, with at least five years of instructional experiences in the fields of engineering, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Amalate Obuebite, Ph.D., Niger Delta University
Mary Kathryn Sewell-Loftin, Ph.D., The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Esteemed New Professional Member Award

This award honors a SWE member with less than ten (10) years as a professional SWE member and who has demonstrated professional excellence in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering, leadership in SWE, as well as professional organizations, and/or the community.

Caroline Agostini, SWE Brazil: Joinville Section
Sakshi Aher, John Deere India Pvt Ltd.
Haley Antoine Grantham, Toyota Motor North America Inc.
Leah Baker, Medtronic
Samantha Billetdeaux, Milwaukee Tool
Mariel Cisneros, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Alice Connelli, BD
Sylvie DeLaHunt, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Claire Dvorak, SWE Greater Salt Lake Section
Ophelia Basil Fernandes, John Deere India Pvt Ltd.
Katia Gomez Argote, P.E., SWE Dallas Section
Wendy Hammond, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Syntyche Koumaglo, Cummins Inc.
Yesica Martínez, Cummins Inc.
Nikki Moore, Otis
Sarah Oldenburg, Williams
Lorraine Piccorelli, Sikorsky Aircraft, A Lockheed Martin Company
Anna Sajer, Intel
Veronica Sanchez Benavides, P.E., John Deere

Esteemed Professional Member Award

This award honors a SWE member with 10-20 years as a professional SWE member and has demonstrated professional excellence in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering, leadership in SWE, as well as professional organizations and/or the community.

Jodi Ashmun, Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business
Fabiane Conrad, John Deere
Juliana Dagnese, John Deere
Amy Gelsinger, SWE Houston Area Section
Abbie Kimerling, Ph.D., Nike Inc.
Gulnaaz Shikalgar, John Deere
Elizabeth Stelzer, Hemlock Semiconductor

Global Leader Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made a significant contribution as a global leader for 10-15 years in their engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related engineering organization in a global setting. The nominee has created a nurturing environment for women of different cultures in the workplace, as well as demonstrated leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Karen Medhat, P.Eng, IBM
Deanna Rockefeller, Lockheed Martin
Zephyr Xie, HP Inc.

Ignite Award

This award honors an individual who has contributed to the advancement of women by mentoring those around them. The nominee will have made a difference in the lives of many by affecting women at a variety of levels ranging from primary and secondary schools through more senior levels in relation to their position. The nominee must have 10-20 years of experience in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering.

Mariana A Pinto, Whirlpool Corporation
Katie Erikson, Dow
Jamie Krakover, The Boeing Company
Kerri Phillips, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Mohan Vadnere, John Deere

Outstanding Collegiate Member Award

This award is presented to an undergraduate SWE collegiate member with at least two years of SWE collegiate involvement and has made an outstanding contribution to SWE, other engineering organizations, the community, and their campus.

Isha Bhandari, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Victoria Brown, University of Michigan
Taylor Carey, Montana State University
Jaime Gleason, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Madeleine Gonley, University of Michigan
Raissa Natacha Ineza, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Anisha Jackson, SWE Rutgers University Section
Alexandra Jensen, University of California, Los Angeles
Thendral Kamal, Purdue University
Callie Lewis, The University of Akron
Jamie Luna, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Naina Makkad, University of San Diego
Abigail Mizzi, SWE Purdue University, West Lafayette Section
Madalyn Nguyen, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Marguerite Smith, Banner Witcoff
Ellie Spiewak, The Ohio State University
Sriya Surapaneni, SWE Georgia Institute of Technology Section
Ananya Thapar, SWE California Polytechnic State U., San Luis Obispo Section
Grace Townley, University of Michigan
Katherine Wu, Carnegie Mellon University

Outstanding Counselor Award

This award honors a SWE member who has made an outstanding contribution to a SWE collegiate section or affiliate as a counselor and served as a link for the SWE collegiate section or affiliate to other SWE groups, such as local professional sections or affiliates, MALs, affinity groups, or society committees.

Wendy Cocke, Georgia Institute of Technology

Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award

This award honors a SWE member who has made an outstanding contribution to a SWE collegiate section or affiliate as an advisor and served as a link for the SWE collegiate section or affiliate to the rest of the educational institution.

Colleen Bush, P.E., Miami University

Outstanding Graduate Student Member Award

This award honors a SWE graduate student who has made an outstanding contribution to SWE, engineering societies, the community, and their campus.

Nkechi Akinwale, University of Cincinnati
Fatemeh Ganji, SWE Iowa State University Section
Laura Gray, SWE Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Section
Esther Jokodola, Iowa State University
Ju Hyun Lee, Yale University
Jenna Salmen, Georgia Institute of Technology
Ozge Uyanik, University of South Florida
Rachel Varughese, The Ohio State University

Pathfinder Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has been actively engaged for 10-15 years in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee must have demonstrated significant professional leadership in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Aileen Allen, HP Inc.
Ann Beaubien, Keysight Technologies
Savannah Bell, Medtronic
Robyn Broniewski, SWE Dallas Section
Dani Couger, Lockheed Martin
Neethu Elizabeth Simon, SWE Phoenix Section
Hiba Fareed, Collins Aerospace, an RTX Business
Amanda Haapala, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Lindsey Henry, Cummins Inc.
Yang Lei, Ph.D., HP Inc.
Yuka Nomura, IBM
Jessica Rimsza, Ph.D., Sandia National Laboratories
Tania Rodriguez Sanchez, P.E., HP Inc.

Prism Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has made significant contributions for at least 15 years in engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee must have demonstrated a variety of outstanding career leadership activities in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Ekaterina Badaeva, Ph.D., The Boeing Company
Christina Bishop Jackson, Ph.D., Honeywell
Carolina Franzo, John Deere
Kalyn Froeschle, Dow
Jeri Anne Moore, Lockheed Martin
Pamela Morison, P.E., HP Inc.
Dorina Sava Gallis, Ph.D., Sandia National Laboratories
Catherine Stone, Stryker

Rising Collegiate Star Award

This award honors an undergraduate SWE collegiate member with less than two years of SWE collegiate involvement and has made an outstanding contribution to SWE, other engineering organizations, the community, and their campus.

Sabreen Alam, Princeton University
Anna Bartelt, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Hannah Cutler, University of California, Santa Barbara
Grace Pang, University of Michigan
Taylor Sheffield, The University of Alabama
Ishita Shete, MKSSS’s Cummins College of Engineering for Women, Pune
Shaniya Thomas, University of Michigan
Megan Walston, Miami University
Drue Whitson, Georgia Institute of Technology
Jenny Yang, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Rising Technical Contributor Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has been actively engaged for less than five years in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering as a professional or graduate student. The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding technical performance and/or leadership in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Debasmita Banerjee, CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida
Emma Civil, Cummins Inc.
Cassandra Coyle, Diagrid
Ria Dash, 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing Center of Excellence at HP Inc.
Emily Davenport, GE Aerospace
Hanusha Durisety, Iron Mountain
Zoe Husted, Google
Allissa Jones, DuPont
Susan Kihembo, Kiira Motors Corporation
Kyrie LeMahieu, Brunswick Corporation
Yutong Pang, Ph.D., Dow
Maria Cristina Peña Fuentes, Carrier
Arunima Saxena, Ph.D., Dow
Emily Sneddon, Merck & Co.
Caroline Spencer, SWE Savannah Coastal Empire Section
Nujhat Tasneem, Ph.D., Intel
Ana Ulloa Gomez, Ph.D., Dow
Melissa Venedicto, Boston Scientific
Rebecca Vollmann, ABB E-mobility
Alexis Winkle, Spirit AeroSystems

Trailblazer Award

This award honors an individual who identifies as a woman and has been actively engaged for five to 10 years in the fields of engineering, engineering management, engineering education, engineering technology, or science related to engineering. The nominee must have demonstrated outstanding technical performance and/or leadership in a technical field, as well as leadership in professional organizations and the community.

Krissel Cavazos, John Deere
Nisha Hollingsworth, Ph.D., Solventum
Aishwarya Jadhav, Waymo
Lauren Lydecker, Ph.D., Boston Scientific
Swarada Mitragotri, John Deere
Paige Molzahn, Jacobs
Gabrielle Mueller, Mercury Marine, a division of Brunswick Corporation
Mayura Padmanabhan, SEMI
Valentina Palmiotti, IBM
Cato Pappijn, Ph.D., Dow
Yashvi Singh, Micron Technology
Ciara Sivels, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Jordina Torrents Barrena, Ph.D., HP Inc.
Emily Walvoord, RWE

Author

SWE Blog

SWE Blog provides up-to-date information and news about the Society and how our members are making a difference every day. You’ll find stories about SWE members, engineering, technology, and other STEM-related topics.
View all posts

Thanks a lot SWE for this Program, this is an amazing way to engage people and recognize their outstanding work!!!
I’m really glad for receiving the Prism award!!

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.