Lawrence Deng — Barkmeier Tice

"I come from Ankeny, Iowa, and I became interested in computer science as an area of study during high school. I decided to join the undergraduate computer science program at the University of Iowa, which I graduated from just this spring, and continue my studies in the university’s MCS program. I plan to complete my MCS this school year, before going into the industry to put theory into practice. 

I am deeply grateful for Dr. Barkmeier and Dr. Tice's support in my educational and professional journey through their namesake scholarship, and to the University for providing these opportunities for me to dive deeper into my computer science studies."

Deng completed a data science internship for State Farm over the summer and has since accepted a full-time position with them as a data analyst/engineer. During the 2023-24 academic year, he conducted research regarding data collection under Consent Management Platforms under the guidance of Professor Nithyanand.

Adeola Dokun — Arthur A. Collins Scholarship

"I began the MS Geoinformatics program in Spring 2024, building on my extensive experience as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) professional. My passion for GIS ignited from an internship, and each adventure has developed my skills. 

I hope to use this program to expand my portfolio, engage with industry leaders, and further advance my career in the field."

Dokun will be joining ECS, a consulting firm with longstanding contracts with public and private entities, as a Senior GIS Analyst. In this role, she will be working with big data to develop innovative data products that could be marketed to customers.

Elizabeth Elias— Jason & Leslie Weber Scholarship for Women

"I would like to extend my gratitude to Jason and Leslie Weber for choosing me as a recipient of this award and the CS department for providing me with the background in computer science needed to work at the intersection of computational and biomedical sciences. This award will help alleviate some of the financial burden of being a student and give me more time to focus on some of the amazing research I've been able to be a part of at Iowa."

Elias was a computational structural biology intern in the Babu Lab at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital this summer as part of their Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) program. This fall, she will be continuing her research with Charisse Madlock-Brown in the College of Nursing and with Dawn Quelle in the Neuroscience and Pharmacology department as a student in the MARC program. She will also be working under Dr. Rahul Singh in his biocomputing lab.

Aricin Gilrain — Gerard Weeg Scholarship

"I am extremely thankful for this award; the recognition and support mean so much. I feel encouraged to set ambitious goals for myself and to give back to the university. When I discovered I was chosen for this award I read about Gerard Weeg’s founding of the Computer Science department at the University of Iowa and his significant contributions to the field. His example is highly motivating. I am inspired by the scope of his work and his ambition to pioneer a field as complex as computer science."

Brenden Latham — Sheets Fellowship

"I am deeply honored to be receiving the Lawrence E. Sheets and Susan J. Sheets Graduate Fellowship as I embark on my first year of graduate school. Transitioning into a new area of research, particularly reinforcement learning, is both exciting and challenging. Having previously worked on coalition formation in multi-agent systems, I am eager to dedicate my time and energy to exploring new avenues in reinforcement learning. This fellowship provides me with the opportunity to fully immerse myself in this new area of research, exploring innovative solutions to complex problems. I am truly appreciative of the support and confidence that has been placed in me, and I look forward to contributing to advancements in this dynamic field."

In his prior research, supported by a NASA fellowship, Latham focused on coalition formation in multi-agent systems within uncertain environments. Building on this experience, he is now transitioning into the field of reinforcement learning. His goal is to apply his previous experience to develop innovative solutions that enhance agent learning and decision-making in uncertain environments. Currently, he is engaged in early discussions with his advisor, Prof. Mehrdad Moharrami, to explore potential research directions in reinforcement learning, particularly focusing on theory. 

Eric Lucas — Principal Scholars Award 

"I would like to thank Principal Financial Group for awarding me the Principal Scholars Award. As a Mexican student pursuing a degree in Computer Science, this scholarship brings immense pride to me and my family on top of the financial assistance. It holds special significance to us as it provides opportunities that previous generations in my family did not have. I plan to use this scholarship to finish my degree, continue coaching track and field, and pursue research opportunities."

Lucas worked as a controls engineer for Pactiv Evergreen over the summer.

Zack Mulholland — Frank A. Park Scholarship

"I am deeply honored and immensely grateful to have been selected to receive the Frank A. Park Scholarship for 2024-25. I would like to extend my appreciation to the University of Iowa for providing me an opportunity to study computer science and work toward my degree."

As I work toward graduating in Spring 2026, I am excited to give back and make a positive impact with the knowledge and support I have received."

Mulholland worked as an undergraduate research assistant for the University of Iowa College of Engineering over the summer. 

Anaïs Ponsonnet — Jason and Leslie Weber Emerging Technologies Scholarship

"I am truly honored and deeply grateful to be selected as a recipient of the Jason and Leslie Weber Emerging Technologies Scholarship. Your generous support will play a pivotal role in advancing my academic journey and professional aspirations in the field of web development.

As a passionate student of web technologies, I am driven by the desire to push the boundaries of what's possible in this dynamic field. Your scholarship will empower me to delve deeper into cutting-edge frameworks like React.js, enabling me to develop innovative solutions and make meaningful contributions to the industry in the years to come."

Ponsonnet recently completed an internship as an assistant developer at the Driving Research Institute. She believes this experience, combined with the support of the scholarship, has strengthened her resolve to excel in the realm of emerging technologies and web development.

Molly Riepe — Arthur A. Collins Scholarship 

"I am beyond grateful to have received the Arthur A. Collins scholarship. This will be crucial to my future success in the data science program, and I am extremely excited for the unique perspective I can bring to this quickly growing field."

This fall, Riepe will be starting a new position as a student statistician for the Office of Enrollment Management at the University of Iowa.

Randy Zhang — Jason and Leslie Weber Emerging Technologies Scholarship

"I’m honored to have been chosen as the 2024-2025 recipient of the Jason and Leslie Weber Emerging Technologies Scholarship. I’m thankful for the opportunity it provides, allowing me to focus more on my studies and my personal growth. In the upcoming year, I plan to further my studies of artificial intelligence and machine learning both in university and in my free time. I’m also looking forward to my final year of undergraduate studies and can’t wait to begin graduate school."

For the past two summers, Zhang has been a software engineering intern at State Farm. He plans on interning with them again in the upcoming fall semester while finishing his senior year.

Liao Zhu — David Sprang Award

"I am deeply honored to receive the David Spang Award for 2024-25. This support enables me to pursue my interests in computer science and mathematics, particularly in mentoring and research. Thank you, Keith and Becky Danahey, for investing in my future and allowing me the freedom to explore diverse research opportunities."

Zhu spent the summer as an Amazon SURE researcher at Columbia University.