ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Three New Mexico Tech students won awards as the Engineering Students of the Year at the annual meeting of the Society of Professional Engineers in Albuquerque on Feb. 21.

For the first time ever, the top three honorees are all women and are all from New Mexico. The top winner is Aubrey Hands from Albuquerque of the Chemical Engineering Department. The first runner-up is Michelle Sherman of Santa Fe, of the Electrical Engineering Department (and math). Second runner-up is Elsa Baldonado of Rio Rancho from the Civil Engineering program.

The winners were selected by the engineering faculty at New Mexico Tech, with each department selecting one nominee. Honorable mention students are Danielle Ochoa, Petroleum Engineering; Micaela Olivas, Mechanical Engineering; and Brennan Stubbs, Materials Engineering.

NMT Dean of Engineering Dr. Kevin Wedeward introduced the award winners to the SPE membership at a luncheon during the annual meeting.

Aubrey Hands

Hands (pictured at right) came to New Mexico Tech from Albuquerque and will graduate in May with a degree in chemical engineering.

She currently works as an undergraduate research assistant in biology studying the effects of heaving metals on the environment and as a lab teaching assistant in chemistry. She is president the student chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honors society, and president of the student chapter of American Institute of Chemical Engineers. She is a 2019-2020 Tau Beta Pi national scholar.

Hands plans to pursue a Ph.D. in the field of biomedical engineering with a focus on stem cells, tissue engineering, and drug delivery.

Outside of campus, Hands can be found practicing yoga and credits her background as a ballerina for sparking her interest in math and science.

She was nominated by Dr. Sanchari Chowdhury, assistant professor of chemical engineering.

Michelle Sherman

A native of Santa Fe, Sherman completed two associate’s degrees at Santa Fe Community College before coming to New Mexico Tech. She he will complete dual degrees in electrical engineering and mathematics this May.

Sherman is the president of the Student Government Association and was recently one of the students recognized by New Mexico’s governor in the state-of-the-state address.

(Pictured at right are Elsa Baldonado (left), Dean of Engineering Dr. Kevin Wedeward, and Michelle Sherman).

She has an ongoing internship with Los Alamos National Laboratory, and after graduation plans to pursue a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at New Mexico Tech.

Outside the classroom, Sherman plays guitar and flute, and currently is taking piano lessons.

Michelle was nominated by Dr. Aly El-Osery, chair of the department of electrical engineering.

Elsa Baldonado

Baldonado hails from Rio Rancho and will complete her degree in civil engineering this May.

She has served as president of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers for two years and has been active representing her department and the university at outreach activities.

After graduation, Baldonado plans to work this summer at Bohannan Huston in Albuquerque and then pursue a master's degree in civil engineering with a concentration in structural mechanics. She will soon be touring such a program at University of Colorado, Boulder.

When not studying, Baldonado can be found crafting and listening to podcasts.

She was nominated for the award by Dr. Claudia Wilson, associate professor of civil engineering.

-- NMT --