At the end of each academic year, UIowa’s Department of Computer Science awards one student the Academic Excellence in the Master’s Program Award. The 2025-26 award goes to Evan Finken, who graduated with his MCS in May, 2026. 

Evan is currently working as a software engineering consultant at Source Allies in Urbandale, Iowa. During his time in the master’s program, he worked with Dr. Octav Chipara as a research assistant.

“I would say the best part of the MCS program at UIowa for me was the freedom in course requirements for the degree. It allowed me to take courses I was actually interested in and wanted to learn more about. I wouldn't have found out that I really enjoy formal verification had I not taken Theorem Proving in Isabelle/HOL — which may have been the case if the course requirements were stricter.” ~ Evan Finken

Before entering the MCS program, Evan earned both his B.A. in Mathematics and B.S. in Computer Science at UIowa, graduating with highest distinction in both degrees. The Department of Computer Science is proud of its graduate students who not only excel academically, but participate in research, like Evan, and go on to excel in their profession.