Celebrating Student Achievement 2026
Each year, the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences honors outstanding students whose academic performance, leadership, and contributions to the community exemplify the values of CDS. Mark Crovella, Chair of Academic Affairs, presented the following awards:
The CDS Awards for Academic Excellence recognize students—both undergraduate and graduate—who have gone beyond high marks to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, collaborative spirit, and leadership in the classroom. These recipients embody what it means to be a scholar and a citizen of our learning community.
The CDS Service & Community Awards are presented to students who have made a significant impact on the life of CDS through their dedication to service, peer support, and community-building. Their leadership has helped shape the inclusive, vibrant culture that defines our faculty.
CDS Teaching Excellence Awards: We also proudly recognize students who served as teaching fellows, assistants, and class assistants. Their commitment to excellence in instruction and mentorship plays a crucial role in the success of our academic programs. Here is a list of exceptional students and their many achievements.
CDS Undergraduate Student Speaker

Vijay Fisch
CDS Graduate Student Speaker

Kathryn (Katie) Atherton
CDS Award for Academic Excellence in Undergraduate Studies

Zachary Gentile
Konstantinos Ilias
Qingyuan (Carol) Kong
CDS Award for Academic Excellence in Graduate Studies

Hyun Sung Park
Yuchen Li
CDS Academic Merit Award

Sulaf Al Jabal
Anup De
Joseph (Joey) Russoniello
Sean Salvador
CDS Research Excellence Award

Jessica Cannon
Azalea Rohr
CDS Teaching Excellence Award

Johnathan Finizio
Julie Ha
CDS Service & Community Award

Vijay Fisch
Emerson (Freddie) Reiber
Yan (Stella) Si
Charles DeLisi Doctoral Dissertation Award

Katie Atherton