The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering proudly announces that senior Hannah Rockwell has been recognized with two prestigious honors: the 2025 Pharos of Alexandria Global Learning Award from the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and selection as a 2025 Knight of St. Patrick in the Grainger College of Engineering, University of Illinois.

Hannah, who will graduate in May 2025 with a B.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering and a minor in Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment, earned the Pharos of Alexandria award for "advancing global food security through photosynthetic efficiency research while building international partnerships and mentoring diverse engineering communities."

The Knight of St. Patrick award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Grainger College of Engineering, recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, outstanding character, and significant contributions to the College and its students. Hannah's selection for this honor reflects her extensive leadership within the ABE department and across the Grainger College of Engineering.

Since her sophomore year, Hannah has conducted research with Dr. Laurie Leonelli, assistant professor in ABE, under the Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project, working on mutating violaxanthin de-epoxidase to enhance plants' efficiency in high-light conditions. She expanded her research experience through an NSF-funded program at Cornell University's Boyce Thompson Institute, where she studied the effects of replacing and co-expressing a photosynthetic protein in maize to develop chilling-tolerant varieties.

Hannah has demonstrated exceptional leadership within ASABE, serving as President for three semesters (spring 2023, fall 2023, spring 2024), as well as holding positions as Secretary, Social Chair, and Engineering Council Representative. She chaired the 2024 Midwest Regional Rally Committee and is a voting member of the Natural Resources and Environmental Systems committee.

Her campus leadership extends to her role as Head Engineering Learning Assistant for the Grainger First-Year Experience and Core Programs Assistant for Women in Engineering, where she mentors female engineering students. Hannah also serves as ABE Lead Ambassador within that program.

Hannah has received numerous scholarships, including the prestigious Kirkwood Women in Engineering Scholarship, ABE Excellence Scholarship, Engineering Visionary Scholarship, and several others recognizing her academic achievements and leadership potential.

"As an out-of-state student, it was important for me to find and nurture community at the University of Illinois," Hannah reflects. "My research and leadership experiences here have allowed me to explore my interests in agricultural and biological engineering and engage with students of all disciplines. These recognitions from ASABE and Grainger validate my commitment to fostering relationships between students and their peers, the ABE department, and the College. I am especially grateful for the collaborative culture in the ABE department that has provided me and other student leaders with the resources and support to develop academically, professionally, and socially."

Both awards celebrate Hannah's commitment to sustainable agricultural innovation and her dedication to the engineering community, reflecting our department's emphasis on developing well-rounded engineers with technical expertise and leadership skills.