EECS Honors Excellence: Highlights from the 2026 Graduation Dinner and Awards Ceremony
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) gathered on April 30, 2026 to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Class of 2026. The annual Graduation Dinner and Awards Ceremony serves as a premier event to recognize the hard work of our graduates and to honor the alumni and faculty who continue to elevate the department's mission of excellence.
Professor Erik Perrins, Chair of the EECS department, opened the evening by commending the graduates for their resilience and innovation. He emphasized that as they transition from students to alumni, they carry with them a foundation built on rigorous inquiry and a collaborative spirit that will undoubtedly shape the future of technology.
The 2026 KU EECS Distinguished Service (KEDS) Awards
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the KEDS Award, which recognizes distinguished alumni and associates who have advanced the fields of engineering and computer science through outstanding career achievements and service to KU EECS.
Raj Ananthanpillai: A 1987 M.S. in Electrical Engineering alumnus, Raj has built a formidable career as a tech entrepreneur and strategic leader. As the Founder and CEO of Trua, and former CEO of InfoZen and Endera, his work in privacy-first identity and risk screening has set industry standards. His philanthropic commitment through the Ananthanpillai Family Graduate Student Scholarship Fund continues to strengthen our department's ability to support top-tier talent.
Margaret M. Burnett: A two-time KU alumna (M.S. '81, Ph.D. '91), Professor Burnett is a Distinguished Professor at Oregon State University and a global pioneer in End-User Software Engineering. Her work in inclusive design and explainable AI has earned her international acclaim, including being named an ACM Fellow and receiving the 2023 AnitaB.org Technical Leadership Abie Award.
Recognizing Student Excellence
The evening also celebrated the exceptional academic and service contributions of our students, whose hard work and leadership represent the very best of the EECS community.
Outstanding Senior Academic Achievement Awards. A core highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the Outstanding Senior Academic Achievement Awards, given to one graduating senior in each discipline for overall excellence. The 2026 recipients recognized for their achievements are: Sophia Jacob (Computer Science), Daniel Gonzales (Computer Engineering), Luke Rogers (Electrical Engineering), Owen Deines (Cybersecurity Engineering), and Hannah Smith (Applied Computing).
Huebner Memorial Awards. In addition to these honors, the department conferred another award. The Paul F. Huebner Memorial Award, which honors the legacy of a distinguished KU alumnus, was presented to Shalmoli Ghosh, Ben Renner, and M. Momin Rahman, outstanding teaching assistants who best exemplified the role of a teacher and mentor. Together, these awards underscore the department's commitment to academic rigor and the enduring impact of student leadership.
Faculty Excellence in Teaching
The ceremony also celebrated the profound impact our faculty have on undergraduate education. These awards are particularly meaningful as they are voted upon by the graduating seniors themselves.
Harry Talley Excellence in Teaching Award: Presented to Professor Ken Demarest. Voted on by Electrical Engineering (EE) and Computer Engineering (CoE) seniors, this award recognizes Professor Demarest’s significant contributions to undergraduate education and the strong rapport he has built with his students.
Man Cheong Kong Excellence in Teaching Award: Presented to Professor Prasad Kulkarni. Voted on by Computer Science (CS) and Interdisciplinary Computing (IC) seniors, this award honors Professor Kulkarni for his dedication to student success and his excellence in the classroom.
EECS Advisory Board Leadership
The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of the EECS Advisory Board, whose strategic guidance remains vital to the department's growth and industry alignment. Led by Chair Mitch Trope, the board members joined in the celebration to honor the achievements of both students and alumni. Their ongoing commitment ensures that the department continues to bridge the gap between academic excellence and professional innovation.
The collaboration between the department leadership and the Advisory Board was highlighted during the evening's festivities. A special presentation involved (from left) Brian Ruf, Board Chair Mitch Trope, 2026 KEDS recipient Raj Ananthanpillai, Radhika Ananthanpillai and Department Chair Erik Perrins. We are deeply grateful for the time, expertise, and advocacy these leaders invest in the future of KU EECS.
The event concluded with a sense of pride and community as the Class of 2026 prepared to embark on their professional journeys. We congratulate all our award recipients and graduates on their well-deserved success!