Emily Wong (left) and Lahari Lingam were awarded Co-op and Intern of the Year, respectively, by the Office of Professional Practice.

Each year, the Purdue University Office of Professional Practice recognizes outstanding undergraduate students through the Co-op and Intern of the Year awards. Students are nominated based on their performance during a registered work experience completed in spring, summer or fall 2025. 

To be eligible, students must have completed a structured co-op or internship experience and submitted a one-page reflection describing their professional growth, the value of the experience and the impact they made within their organization. Nominees are also required to provide letters of reference from workplace supervisors. Selected recipients represent some of the most impactful student contributions across industry, government, research and nonprofit settings. 

This year’s recipients demonstrate how Purdue engineers are applying classroom learning to real-world challenges while developing as leaders, problem-solvers and innovators. 

Collegewide Award Recipients 

Co-op Student of the Year: Emily Wong (Multidisciplinary Engineering)

At GE Appliances, Emily Wong led high-impact manufacturing improvements that significantly reduced costs, increased efficiency and improved production reliability. From developing an automated lubrication system that saved hundreds of thousands of dollars to supporting maintenance optimization and product performance initiatives, her work delivered measurable results across operations. She also expanded her technical expertise and took on mentorship roles, reflecting her ability to both execute and lead. Her experience demonstrates a strong commitment to building efficient, sustainable manufacturing systems.

"I originally chose to pursue co-op experiences because I was still trying to understand what type of industry and engineering role would best fit me," Wong said. "Through these experiences, I was able to explore different areas of engineering, grow technically and professionally, and discover how much I enjoy work related to manufacturing, process improvement and design.

"Being selected for this award means a great deal to me because it recognizes the projects and work I have been genuinely excited and passionate about."  

Intern of the Year: Lahari Lingham (Mechanical Engineering) 

As a test and integration intern at SpaceX, Lahari Lingham applied classroom engineering principles to real aerospace systems while leading projects that improved production processes and long-term workflow sustainability. She developed standardized documentation systems for specialty tools and contributed to design decisions that increased production efficiency through cross-functional collaboration. Her ability to combine technical analysis with systems thinking and communication allowed her to drive meaningful change. This experience solidified her passion for pursuing a career in the space industry.

"I'm incredibly honored to receive the Intern of the Year award and to represent the College of Engineering. My internship experience gave me the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned at Purdue in a real-world setting while also growing both technically and professionally," Lingham said. "It gave me the opportunity to work alongside inspiring mentors and teammates, build confidence in my abilities and better understand the impact engineers can have through their work. 

"I’m very grateful for the support from Purdue, my peers and my mentors throughout the experience." 

Award Recipients by Major 

Aeronautics and Astronautics (AAE) 

Co-op: Jessica Jittu | Intern: Arabella Crivello 
At Cummins, Jessica Jittu contributed to engine testing, emissions analysis, and data improvement efforts, strengthening performance accuracy and reliability across complex systems.

Arabella Crivello completed a six-month internship as a mechanical design engineer at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Austin, where she gained experience in large-scale manufacturing and fast-paced product development following a prior Tesla internship experience. 

Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) 

Co-op: Eryk Chazares | Intern: Amy Tang 
Eryk Chazares improved process control and automation systems at Cargill, contributing to increased efficiency, safety and measurable cost savings in a highly automated manufacturing environment.  

At Elanco Animal Health, Amy Tang enhanced testing reliability, analyzed large datasets to optimize vaccine production, and developed innovative solutions to improve operational efficiency. 

Biomedical Engineering (BME) 

Co-op: Lexi Whitinger | Intern: Evan Wildenmann 

Through Cook Research Incorporated, Lexi Whitinger supported medical device testing and development, contributing to data analysis, fixture design and regulatory documentation within a highly collaborative research environment.  

At CTI Clinical Trials, Evan Wildenmann worked in a Good Clinical Practice–compliant clinical research setting, assembling clinical trial kits, supporting quality control processes and ensuring accuracy in regulated workflows. His experience strengthened his attention to detail, professional judgment and understanding of how engineering supports patient safety and global clinical research. 

Chemical Engineering (ChE) 

Co-op: Olivia Holley | Intern: N/A 
At Sun Chemical, Olivia Holley led a major boiler upgrade project that improved efficiency, increased production capacity and reduced operational downtime, shaping her passion for project and process engineering. 

Civil and Construction Engineering (CCE) 

Co-op: Jocelyn Silva | Intern: Dominic Demiana 
Jocelyn Silva gained both estimating and field experience with The Walsh Group, developing strong leadership and coordination skills across office and on-site construction environments.  

At Woolpert, Dominic Demiana contributed to real-world civil engineering design projects, quickly taking on responsibility and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. 

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) 

Co-op: Ashwin Vazhayil | Intern: Ju Na Lee 
Ashwin Vazhayil led automation and reliability projects at Marathon Petroleum, improving safety systems and contributing to significant cost-saving initiatives.  

Through internships at Tesla and Micron, Ju Na Lee developed manufacturing and product strategy solutions that shaped her path toward building large-scale technologies. 

Environmental and Ecological Engineering (SEE) 

Co-op: Alyssa Rizzardo | Intern: N/A 
At Carollo Engineers, Alyssa Rizzardo supported water infrastructure projects through data validation, regulatory documentation and asset management improvements, reinforcing her interest in sustainability and environmental systems. 

Industrial Engineering (IE) 

Co-op: Alayna Skidmore | Intern: Eurim Hur 
At GE Appliances, Alayna Skidmore developed automation tools and improved manufacturing data systems, generating significant cost savings and operational improvements.

Eurim Hur built confidence in applying data-driven decision-making within fast-paced production environments, strengthening both technical and professional skills. 

Materials Engineering (MSE) 

Co-op: Keshav Nagubandi | Intern: Pratyush Chettri 
Keshav Nagubandi contributed to materials testing and product evaluation at Parker Hannifin, supporting real-world engineering decision-making while growing professionally.

As a research fellow, Pratyush Chettri developed a real-time monitoring system that significantly improved research efficiency and shaped his path toward a career in materials research. 

Mechanical Engineering (ME) 

Co-op: Chase Kaplan | Intern: Lahari Lingham 
Chase Kaplan combined engineering and business strategy at Stoke Space, helping bridge technical design with commercial viability in a fast-paced startup environment.

See above for Lingham.

Multidisciplinary Engineering (MDE) 

Co-op: Emily Wong | Intern: N/A 
See above for Wong.