With graduation underway for these seniors, the University of Iowa Department of Computer Science recognizes our students' high achievement as 2024-2025 Distinction Award recipients. The seniors below were kind enough to reflect upon their time at Iowa, offer some valuable insights, and tell us "what's next" for them!

Alex Barloon

High Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science

How do you balance your academics with other responsibilities or extracurricular activities?

It's important to me to have time to work on my passion projects. I have a very messy calendar where I put things that need to be done and when they need to be done. When the time comes to do something, I do it. I find that if I get my stuff done, I'm able to enjoy my time without the worry of academics over my head. That gives me way more energy to do other things!

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My role models are the incredible friends I surrounded myself with. They always inspire me to outdo myself. My CS friends challenge me to make something cooler than them, and my art friends push me to make something I never could have made before.

What is a fond memory or your proudest moment you will remember from your time at Iowa?

Definitely competing at HACKUIOWA. We went from a judge tearing our project apart to somehow placing! Building something with a team felt fantastic.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to move to Chicago to start my CS career!

Nick Hageman

High Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science and Engineering

How do you balance your academics with other responsibilities or extracurricular activities?

Having good time management skills was key for my academic success. I also highly recommend students getting involved in the extracurriculars Iowa has to offer. It's a great way to meet people with similar interests and goals.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

During my time at Iowa, many upperclassmen were mentors and provided me with not only advice for academics, but also for internships and teaching/research assistantship opportunities. Having these experiences early in my career resulted in a snowball effect of even greater opportunities.

What is a fond memory or your proudest moment you will remember from your time at Iowa?

Storming the field after the Iowa vs Penn State football game (2021).

What are your plans after graduation?

I'll be working at Apple as an Software Engineer on the Battery Life QA team.

Isabelle Paulsen

High Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science, U2G in Computer Science
Minor(s): Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies

We'll see you next year Izzy! Read more about the U2G programs the Department of Computer Science offers.

 How do you balance your academics with other responsibilities or extracurricular activities?

Throughout my four years as a CS student at Iowa, balancing academics and extracurriculars has been something I have had to constantly improve at. The main thing that I can think of that helped me is choosing both academics and extracurriculars that I care about deeply. I am passionate about my CS courses, as well as the courses I took in the GWSS department for my minor. It is much easier to do homework when it is interesting and exciting to work on. And of course, I am profoundly passionate about WiCS. Building connections between women and gender minorities in tech has always been something I want to do, and with WiCS I was able to do it firsthand. I got to work with other passionate women to plan fun events and encourage each other. It has never been something I don't want to put time and effort into, making it natural to balance with my academics. Beyond that, I keep a strict calendar and to do list app, plus plenty of coffee!

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My biggest role model is my dad. He has always been my number one supporter. He has taught me to work hard, be kind to people, and seize opportunities when possible. Whenever I have a challenging day or something difficult to figure out, I know for sure that it will be okay because he always has my back. He doesn't really know what CS means, but I can see the pride in his face when he speaks about me. 

Another big role model is my Vice President, peer, and friend, Annalisa Karaçay. I am always trying to emulate the way she takes on CS, a male dominated field, so elegantly and passionately. She helps build my confidence and has my back when I face a challenge. In name, I am the president of WiCS, but she is every bit a leader of the club that I am. I have never had someone who I work with so easily, sharing the same passion and dedication in order to make something that we are proud of. 

What is a fond memory or your proudest moment you will remember from your time at Iowa?

A fond memory I have was watching the Iowa Women's Basketball Team win the Big 10 Championship in Minneapolis in 2024. I was wearing my Hawkeye bibs and temporary tattoos, celebrating with my family. I knew that Caitlin Clark and her team were changing the game and elevating Women's Sports to a whole new level. I felt so proud to be a Hawkeye in that moment!

What are your plans after graduation?

I am in the U2G program, so I will be a Hawkeye for one more year as I get my master's in computer science!

How did being in these organizations and helping lead them affect your experience at Iowa?

WiCS has been a major part of my time at Iowa. It has connected me with numerous peers, as well as professionals in my field. It has taken me to conferences (both MINK WIC in KC and WECode at Harvard), helped me do fun events like pottery painting or watching hockey, and solidified my passion for creating community for and with women in tech. 

Any final takeaways or thoughts you want to share with current or future (ACM or WiCS) members?

Work hard, attend as many events as you can, and apply to be on exec. It is super fun and beneficial! As the number of women and gender minorities in CS grows, I hope WiCS will too!

Randy Zhang

Highest Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science
Minor(s): Statistics

How do you balance your academics with other responsibilities or extracurricular activities?

I always wanted grad school to be an option for me after I graduate, so I was pretty motivated to maintain high academic standings because I didn't want to have that door closed in the future.

I always try to plan my next semester carefully. If I know that I might not have as much free time due to an internship or if a class is really hard, I might take 12 credit hours instead of 15. This allows me to balance my workload with my other responsibilities better. It also helps me mentally because I don't feel as overwhelmed. I also make sure to prioritize my mental health. If I know I need a day to recharge, I may decide to not attend lectures for the day and instead spend time outdoors in the sun.

I would recommend all students take advantage of office hours and interacting with their professors. They're here to help you and are a great resource if you're ever stuck or don't understand a concept.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My dad has always been a role model for me. He's taught me a lot about hard work and how putting in the effort will lead to good results. He's also always been super supportive of my goals and what I want to do.

What is a fond memory or your proudest moment you will remember from your time at Iowa?

Some of my fondest memories are me climbing outdoors with my friends eating candy. It's always super relaxing and everyone brings a good energy. Even if I don't make much progress on the project I'm working on, I still have a good time.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan on working at State Farm as a software engineer starting this summer after graduating; however, before that, I plan on traveling to China to visit some family and potentially climbing in Colorado with my roommate.

Liao Zhu

Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science, Mathematics

How do you balance your academics with other responsibilities or extracurricular activities?

A friend once told me, “If you want to mess around, mess around. If you want to focus, focus.” I used to multitask—like watching a show while doing homework—thinking I was being productive, but it just took away from both and I ended up wasting my time. Learning to prioritize and dedicate focused time to academics, extracurriculars, and hobbies helped me find balance. When things got overwhelming—like planning ACM events—I leaned on my friends for support.

What motivated you to maintain high academic standings throughout your studies?

I’ve always had high standards when it came to my grades, but after COVID hit, it became difficult to stay motivated. What helped me refocus were two things: the support and drive of my friends, many of whom were in the same classes, and the decision during my third year to focus more on graduate school which requires a high GPA. These two reasons were big motivations for me to maintain my high academic standings.

What opportunities should students take advantage of during their time here?

Everyone says this—but join a club. Not just to explore an interest, but to build structure and balance in your life. For me, attending ACM meetings helped me get out of the house and into a routine. I didn’t take it seriously at first, but by my second year, I was fully invested—and it shaped a big part of my college experience.

Other opportunities I’d recommend: taking advantage of the CRWC, HTRC, or Field House (you technically pay for them already so use it up), looking into research or internships through people like Alli (for CS) or by simply talking to professors,  and attending Career Fairs that happen every semester.

Are there other advice/tips you would give students to incoming or current CS students?

Figure out your goals early. Ask yourself why you’re doing CS and if it’s for research then go find research opportunities, if it’s for industry then start applying, etc. but figuring this out earlier is better. To find internships / jobs, there’s several resources you can use (friends / family, UIowa alumni (find them on LinkedIn), ACM@UIowa, CS Dept. emails, PittCSC on Github, and for research either go to NSF or go to a University / Lab’s respective site to learn more on how to join those. Best study spots on campus that I found have been Lindquist Center, Main Library, and PBB. [I suggest making a] Github + LinkedIn and [also practicing with] Leetcode.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

I won’t name anybody in particular, but I have many friends who have set the bar extremely high and have opened my eyes to the possibilities that CS has. Friends who keep trying to improve even though they’re already the top 1%, always making me play catchup. I hadn’t realized it, but looking back I feel as though I’ve come a long way and I know it would not have been possible without these people in my life.

What is a fond memory or your proudest moment you will remember from your time at Iowa?

One of my fondest memories was landing my first internship. I found the opportunity through an email from Alli to CS students, but when I reached out, the position had already been filled. Luckily, the POC referred me to a colleague who was also looking for a CS student. It wasn’t a coding-heavy role, but it was the first job related to my degree—and the start of the journey that brought me to where I am today.

What are your plans after graduation?

I will be joining a startup based out of San Francisco called Samsara as a Software Engineer starting in September.

How did being in these organizations and helping lead them affect your experience at Iowa?

Being part of ACM had a huge impact on my experience at Iowa, especially when it came to connecting with incredible people. As a member, I met Mitchell Hermon (now a PhD student at UIUC), who really sparked my interest in the world of Computer Science. I also discovered that two of my friends from high school were serving as ACM executives at the time—which made me realize that I could step into a leadership role too. 

When I became president, I had the chance to build strong connections with [staff and] faculty like Matthieu Biger, Alli Rockwell, Alberto Segre, and Bijaya Adhikari. It was an amazing experience to be able to talk so closely with people who help shape the CS department.

Beyond faculty, I also got to connect with alumni while organizing meetings and planning the University of Iowa Computing Conference (UICC). Hearing their stories—working at places like Spotify, Epic Games, research labs at top universities, and all the FAANG companies—was really inspiring and gave me a real sense of the opportunities that could lie ahead.

Any final takeaways or thoughts you want to share with current or future ACM members?

Just showing up to ACM is already more than enough! It’s totally okay if you don’t understand everything or aren’t interested in every topic—just being in the room exposes you to ideas and conversations that might be useful later on.

Also, don’t be afraid to talk to people at meetings. Everyone there—executives included—are students just like you. I used to be intimidated by the execs when I first joined, but once I started talking to them, I realized they’re just regular CS students figuring things out too. They’re some of the best people to reach out to if you’re ever stuck or need advice—they’ve been in your shoes and are always happy to help.

What can members gain from this experience?

Connections. And not just in the networking or “referral” sense—I mean real, meaningful connections with people who are going through the same journey as you. Birds of a feather flock together. CS is full of learning moments and challenges, and being around others who are navigating similar experiences helps you grow. You gain different perspectives, support when you need it, and a stronger sense of community in the CS world. It’s much easier and more fun when you’re not doing it alone.

Any favorite events of yours that you'd like readers to know about?

Definitely attend UICC, it’s a great place to hear from professionals out in academia and industry all for free at your own University. Being able to ask questions and even talk to the speakers afterwards is an invaluable learning experience (not to mention the free food and prize giveaways).

What are your hopes for the future of the organization?

I’d love to see ACM@UIowa grow in three key ways. First, I hope it develops its own career fair—similar to what used to happen at UICC with local companies, but on a larger scale, involving national companies and research labs. It would be a great opportunity tailored specifically for ACM members.

Second, I’d like to see continued growth in diversity. Nancy Nahra, who led ACM this year, is a great example—she started as one of the few female members and went on to do an amazing job. While groups like WiCS already do fantastic work, recurring joint events could help promote inclusion across the CS community.

Lastly, I’d love to see ACM adopt a structure like ACM@UIUC’s, where general meetings are complemented by “Student Interest Groups”—sub-groups focused on specific CS topics. I think this would make the organization more engaging and accessible for students with diverse interests.