Congratulations to the Yale Engineering Class of 2026
Members of the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science community celebrated the awarding of 309 undergraduate Engineering degrees Monday.
Degrees in Applied Physics were conferred upon 5 members of the Class of 2026; in Biomedical Engineering, 25 degrees; in Chemical Engineering, 17 degrees; in Computer Science, 196 degrees; in Electrical & Computer Engineering, 17 degrees; in Environmental Engineering, 8 degrees; and in Mechanical Engineering, 41 degrees.
Yale Engineering Dean Jeffrey Brock also announced Shaun Pexton, of Silliman College, as the winner of the Josiah Willard Gibbs Prize, awarded to a graduating senior for excellence in engineering and the applied sciences. Pexton graduates cum laude, with distinction in both Applied Physics and Computer Science. His research accomplishments include co-authoring a paper on mobile logical qubits at Quantum Motion Technologies in Oxford and a manuscript on error mitigation in fault-tolerant quantum circuits. Beyond research, he serves as a board member at Code Haven, helping teach computer science to over 200 students across New Haven public schools.
Class of 2026 Prize Winners:
Applied Physics:
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Shaun Pexton - Applied Physics Prize, awarded to a senior who has exhibited superior accomplishment and scholarly achievement in Applied Physics.
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Ishan Narra - Department of Applied Physics Prize, awarded to a senior based on criteria established by the Applied Physics faculty.
Biomedical Engineering:
- Chiraag Sachdev - D. Allan Bromley Prize in Biomedical Engineering, awarded to a senior who has exhibited superior accomplishment and scholarly achievement in Biomedical Engineering.
- Maddie Lamm - Department of Biomedical Engineering Prize, awarded to a senior based on criteria established by the Biomedical Engineering faculty.
Chemical Engineering:
- Nicolas Liu - Harry A. Curtis Prize, awarded to a senior who has contributed the most to the academic life of his or her class.
- Jaime Cha - Walker Prize in Chemical Engineering, awarded to a senior for outstanding scholarship in the field of Chemical Engineering.
Computer Science:
- Rohan Thakur - Computer Science Prize, awarded to a senior who has exhibited superior accomplishment and scholarly achievement in computer science.
- Nina Liu - Department of Computer Science Prize, awarded to a senior based on criteria established by the computer science faculty.
Electrical & Computer Engineering:
- Joshua Kerner - Edward O. Lanphier Memorial Prize, awarded to a senior who has a superior accomplishment in fields related to electricity and its applications and who has demonstrated initiative in the field of research.
- Derek Pancratz - Franz Tuteur Memorial Prize, awarded to a senior who has accomplished the most outstanding senior project.
Environmental Engineering:
- Brian Ly - D. Allan Bromley Prize in Environmental Engineering, awarded to a senior who has exhibited superior accomplishment and scholarly achievement in environmental engineering.
- Paloma Lenz - Environmental Engineering Prize, awarded to a senior based on criteria established by the environmental engineering faculty.
Mechanical Engineering:
- Kidus Abebe - Donald Warren McCroskey Memorial, awarded to a senior who is deserving of the greatest distinction for scholarly achievement in fields related to mechanics and its applications.
- Thomas Venarde - L.C. Lichty and E.O. Waters Prize in Mechanical Engineering, awarded to a senior for high scholarship and original research.
Pictured (L-R): Yale Engineering Dean Jeffrey Brock; Shaun Pexton, winner of the Josiah Willard Gibbs Prize; and Yale Engineering Deputy Dean Vincent Wilczynski.
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Published Date
May 18, 2026
