Lisa Cassedy, a Jones College senior, was named one of the publication’s top four students in its December 2002 issue, finishing ahead of students from other top schools such as Duke, Columbia, Princeton, and the University of California–Berkeley.

“As hard as I’ve worked, it felt good to be recognized for it,” Cassedy said. “I started looking at the caliber of the other students, and to be chosen as one of the top four was pretty exciting.”

Cassedy said she plans on going to graduate school when she has finished with her undergraduate work, but once she is ready to enter the working world, she wants to apply her knowledge toward structural design, which includes designing skyscrapers and bridges.

Joe Hughes, the civil and environmental engineering department chair, said the department decided to nominate Cassedy for the Star Student award not for one specific reason but because she excels inside and outside of the classroom. “She is very deserving of this recognition,” he said. “Her efforts go well beyond the classroom—where naturally she excels—and I think that is rare at a lot of institutions.”

Hughes said Cassedy’s recognition as one of CE News’ Star Students shows the quality of work done by the students, faculty, and staff of his department. “The fact that two of our students have received this attention in the last three years, coupled with the small size of civil engineering at Rice compared to other schools, speaks volumes about the quality of people in our program,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

—Greg Okuhara