With graduation underway for these seniors, the University of Iowa Department of Computer Science recognizes our students' high achievement as 2025-2026 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!

Meredith Onions

High Distinction Award

Major(s): Informatics (Art)

Minor(s): Computer Science, Sociology

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

Honestly, it really comes down to time management! I have a Google Sheet where I track all of my assignments I need to do for the week, and I also have a Google Calendar where I keep track of other responsibilities and extracurricular activities. I map out specific times to work on homework, giving myself more time for larger assignments. Blocking out my schedule has worked well for me and has allowed me to stay organized with my work! Additionally, I’m a perfectionist who will work on one assignment for super long periods of time if I don’t monitor myself. Setting time limits for how long I plan to work on an assignment or project helps me have more time for other aspects of my life.

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

I really enjoy learning, so in a way, I have mainly just been motivated to learn as much as I can to the best of my ability. I am really proud of the grades that I obtained, but I think they are only a small picture of everything I have learned at my time here. I will also say that my friends and family have been very supportive of me throughout my college experience, which has motivated me to do well academically!

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

Get involved in your department! I am involved in research here at the university, and it has truly been a highlight of my college career. Also, make friends with classmates; being able to talk to other students about course material/assignments outside of class really helps your academic performance overall. Lastly, participating in departmental clubs can also be incredibly beneficial. I am a member of Women in Computing Sciences, and it is super fun!

Don’t be afraid to get involved in other non-major-related clubs, either. I participate in Quiz Bowl and have made a lot of friends through that organization. I’ve also volunteered at the campus food pantry and done lighting design for a variety of shows in the theater department. All of these experiences have been great! There are so many opportunities on campus to explore your interests, so take advantage of them. I think this curiosity really serves you well in your courses, too – it keeps your mind active!

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

Take care of yourself! Academics are important, but also make sure you save some time for rest/fun. It’s hard to do well if you get burned out.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My research mentor, Juan Pablo Hourcade, has definitely influenced my success! He has been very supportive of both my academic career and my research work. I am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work in his lab.

Also, I mentioned this before, but my friends and family have supported me a ton! They for sure have positively influenced my academic success.

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

It was awesome to get chosen for the 2026 Dare to Discover Campaign for excellence in research! My face is on a banner in downtown Iowa City; it’s right across from the Target. I feel proud of myself whenever I walk by it!

What are your plans after graduation?

This summer, I am going to work as a Web Product Manager Intern at Exact Sciences in Madison, WI! Then, I plan to stay at Iowa an extra year to pursue the 4+1 Undergraduate-to-Graduate (U2G) program in informatics. This means I will graduate with my master’s next spring. I am going to keep working at my current lab next school year as well.

I am really excited for what my next year will bring, and I can’t wait to learn even more in my master’s program!

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

Lauren Tetzlaff

Distinction Award

Major: Data Science

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

I balance my responsibilities by reviewing my exam and assignment schedule a few weeks in advance to allocate the necessary time required for each one. This was especially difficult in my last semester, as I had a part-time internship on top of a full course load, but pre-planning allowed me to be aware of the deadlines ahead of time; I just had to start studying or start assignments a bit earlier than I was used to. I also try not to focus on grades; instead, I focus on putting forth my best effort and accept that the outcome is out of my control after that.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My friends are a big inspiration to me. They are all in vastly different fields, yet they share a passion for what they do and a strong work ethic that motivates me. Seeing how hard they work at what they love naturally pushes me to want to have the same level of dedication in my own field. I also find inspiration from my parents. They never pressured me to achieve specific grades or results, which allowed my work ethic to stem from my own motivation. This mindset has helped me throughout my entire educational journey and will likely continue to do so in my future.

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

One of the proudest moments from my time at Iowa was winning the 2025 Datathon. I was in a group with some incredibly talented peers, and the knowledge and skills I gained from collaborating with them that week were invaluable. We ended up winning first place for the Datathon, and I learned so much from the experience and was super proud of our team's success.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I will be coming back for one more year to complete my master's in data science through the U2G program.

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

Benjamin Hourcade

Highest Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science, Statistics (Statisical Cop & Data Sci
Minor(s): Mathematics

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

There are a few things that I find important when balancing schoolwork and the rest of my life. First, I find that having a strict division between where I work and where I relax is important. When I work at the university, I am in work mode, and it is easier for me to focus on schoolwork. Whereas, when I am at home, I’m in relaxation mode and my mind is at rest. Secondly, getting enough sleep is really important. Typically, I get 10 hours of sleep each night. This gives me enough energy to focus effectively on my work and pay attention in class to learn material well. Thirdly, planning and organization are very helpful because they optimize the time I spend working for my classes. For example, I like to take my in-class notes and summarize them intermittently throughout the semester to alleviate the pressure of learning material before exams.

My advice to incoming students in computational sciences is to prioritize classes that are interesting rather than ones that are convenient. I have found that being intrinsically motivated keeps me engaged and more willing to put in the work to do well in my classes and learn the material. I also recommend going to office hours because I’m able to ask detailed questions that go beyond the curriculum and efficiently clarify points of confusion.

I think incoming students should explore some of the research opportunities here at the university. It’s a great way to try to become familiar with or specialize in certain topics that classes might not provide frequent opportunities to learn about. For example, I do research with the CompEpi group, and I really like the work, but to my knowledge, a computational epidemiology course is taught only every 2 years. So, opportunities related to research are limited only to those who proactively search for them.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

I would like to thank Dr. Pemmaraju for helping me develop the independent thinking skills necessary for research. Research lacks the guardrails that classes typically have, so developing skills related to research, like reading papers, making weekly presentations, and determining what to focus on next, has allowed me to become more confident in working independently. I will continue to do research with the CompEpi group this summer as I prepare to submit a paper to AAAI.

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

The most memorable moment I remember as an undergraduate is when I was invited, along with a handful of other students, to go to the president’s mansion. With only a few months in college, I got to socialize with the other guests, observe the fancy interior of the mansion, and have some delicious food. Shaking the president’s hand and receiving a signed award was a great way to start off my college experience. I hope this memory will encourage me to end my undergraduate adventure on a high.

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?

After three years of doing a double BS in Statistics and Computer Science with a Minor in Math with honors, I have really enjoyed the interdisciplinary connections in advanced coursework and research. To deepen my knowledge of these areas and serve for ACM, I will return next year for a Masters in Computer Science.

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

Mia Dukle

Highest Distinction Award

Major(s): Informatics (Bioinformatics), Biomedical Sciences

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

Balancing academics with other responsibilities was something I had to learn quickly. One of my favorite ways to do so is to keep an updated calendar and planner. Every assignment, project, deadline, and exam would get added right away so I could effectively plan my time. There are a lot of opportunities I have learned to take advantage of here at Iowa. While pushing through tough informatics assignments is important, office hours often saved me hours of frustration. More than once, a project that appeared "broken" was fixed in minutes, all because I was missing a single word.

My biggest piece of advice to students is to get involved! Iowa has endless opportunities across disciplines--research, volunteering, clubs--and the more I participated, the better I got at time management. Finally, learn from your peers! Double majoring in Biomedical Sciences and Bioinformatics exposed me to classmates who expanded my perspective in ways I never expected. I'm so grateful for how much they taught me, and for seeing the many amazing ways they impacted the world. 

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

So many people influenced me during my time here! My Informatics professors taught me to approach problems from multiple angles, while my Biomedical Sciences professors guided me along the premedical path. My peers constantly reminded me of the different ways people can make an impact. And during my time working at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital, the staff and patients continuously showed me just how powerful empathetic and inclusive environments can be. I plan to take these lessons forward and be intentional in the way I interact with others. 

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

My fondest and proudest memory has been working with the kiddos at Stead Family Children's Hospital, here at Iowa. As a Child Life Student Employee, I've had the privilege of helping ease children's anxieties during their hospital stay and supporting our long-term patients. I've had kiddos tell me the funniest stories, share their worries about school and life, and share countless small moments that meant so much. I feel incredibly fortunate to have played even a small role in creating a more comfortable environment for them, and it's an experience I'll always cherish. 

What are your plans after graduation?

I'm excited to share that I'll be heading to medical school! It still feels surreal thinking back to freshman year, when the future felt so overwhelming and uncertain. I'm so grateful to everyone here who helped make this dream possible--your support made all the difference!

Zach Mulholland

Highest Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science and Engineering

Minor: Mathematics

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

I always try to study and work on assignments as early as possible. This gives me extra time to think on it as well as ask any questions that are necessary. There is a famous saying in psychology known as Parkinson’s Law- "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion." If you give yourself until the deadline to complete something, you will find yourself pressed on time and rushing to finish before the deadline. If you try to finish it as early as possible, you’ll be surprised by how much time you save.

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

I would highly recommend reading as much nonfiction as possible. I was surprised by the significant overlap between my coursework and popular STEM literature. Gaining familiarity with a concept has helped me immensely when the subject comes up in my classes, because I don’t have to spend the time and energy re-learning it and can focus on the specifics of the topic for the class. Even if I think I don’t remember the material, the knowledge comes back quickly whenever I need to learn it again.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

Every person in history who has contributed to STEM advancements has been a role model for me. Learning about their thought process, philosophy, and accomplishments has motivated me to be more like them and has given me confidence to continue even when it seems like there is no path forward.

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

Iowa basketball’s run to the elite eight this year was the happiest I can ever remember being.

What are your plans after graduation?

I will be working for Epic Systems as a software developer in Verona, Wisconsin.

Carlo Tran

Highest Distinction Award

Major(s): Computer Science

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

To me, one of the best ways to be productive in work is to be productive in rest. By this, I mean do things that actually help you recover, like enjoying a hobby, hanging out with friends, or going outside. When we rest well, we are happier and more well-rounded. We are able to turn around and work better as a result. Something that helped me to rest was to delete Instagram and stop doom-scrolling. 

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

I was motivated to maintain high academic standings because I think that whatever we do, we should do as excellently as time allows. Although schoolwork won't always feel relevant, the critical thinking and work ethic you develop will help you throughout your life and career.

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

I think that students should take advantage of the Newman Catholic Student Center and other religious student orgs. Encountering Jesus during my freshman year transformed my life, and I think He can transform yours as well.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

I owe a lot to Dr. Oscar Hernandez-Murcia and Dr. Phil Polgreen. The lessons I learned from these two about professionalism, data, and software engineering are things I'll take with me for the rest of my career. A huge thanks to both of them for trusting me enough to offer me research positions as a first-semester freshman.

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

A fond memory from my time at Iowa was the Iowa State Swan Hacks Hackathon - 24 hours with no sleep and absurd amounts of caffeine, pizza, and snacks. The team had a ton of fun, and we ended up taking first place back to Iowa City. Go Hawks!

What are your plans after graduation?

Alison Baldwin

Distinction Award

Major(s): Informatics (Economics), Music

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

I personally find myself to be much more productive during the day, rather than the nighttime. Therefore, I stay engaged with my coursework by completing assignments in the morning and afternoons outside of class time. Planning ahead is just as important, so taking steps to complete projects gradually rather than at the last minute allows me to balance my academics with extracurriculars. It’s also important to find activities to stay grounded during stressful time periods, even if it’s doing something as small as going on a brief walk or reading a few pages of a good book.

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

I was motivated to maintain high academic standings because I think that whatever we do, we should do as excellently as time allows. Although schoolwork won't always feel relevant, the critical thinking and work ethic you develop will help you throughout your life and career.

Any role models or mentors who influenced your success?

My biggest role models are my family members. They have always encouraged me to put my best work into all that I do.

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

My proudest moment was when I completed my senior piano recital. It was a culmination of my undergraduate music studies that reflected the time, discipline, and effort I had spent in preparation for it.

What are your plans after graduation?