É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ

Ìý

Boston Abrams

Abrams is receiving the Academic Engagement Award for his genuine passion for learning. As an ME major with minors in computer science and history, he is constantly seeking opportunities to expand his knowledge beyond traditional coursework and through an interdisciplinary approach. His nominator also says Abrams is an invaluable course assistant who is a "trusted mentor and leader in the classroom."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I will be pursuing a master's degree in mechanical engineering here at É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ. I am excited to use what I have learned in my classes, research and as a course assistant to succeed in the Bachelor's-Accelerated Master's Program (BAM). During my undergraduate journey, I learned a whole host of technical skills, from heat transfer to coding. I think the most important skill that I learned was managing my time and being efficient in the completion of my work.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice is to get involved. You get to have a period of your life where your main responsibility in life can be learning. This is a great privilege, so make sure you use it. Get involved in clubs and research. This is how you can stand out and build the connections you will need later to get jobs. Don't worry if you don't click with the first project you try—take the time to find a project that you love.

Ìý

Hale Burke

Burke, a Community Impact Award recipient, has put together an impressive resume of community engagement events and responsibilities during her time at É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ. She has served as the director of elementary school outreach for the Society of Women Engineers, participated in numerous volunteer events at Centaurus High School, founded the Emergency Painting Improv Comedy Club and worked with the Pre-College Engineering Outreach Program. She has also pushed herself to help her classmates by becoming a learning assistant for Physics 2: Calculus Based Electricity and Magnetism, a course assistant for Fluid Mechanics, and a curriculum development aide for Heat Transfer. Her nominator says she is a "true team player" and an excellent engineer who will positively impact any community she ends up in.

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

I will be working at BOA in Denver as an associate test engineer. The resources offered by É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ helped me grow both personally and professionally far beyond what I could have imagined four years ago. Becoming involved in research in the Granular Flow Lab, joining the board for the Society of Women Engineers, landing an incredible summer position through the CU Internship for Credit Program, working with the Pre-College Engineering Outreach Program through the ITLL, and getting to know the amazing faculty here have allowed me to develop the skills and mindset I needed to feel confident in taking my next steps.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

Get involved on campus and don't be afraid to reach out for help or advice! Consider every opportunity that comes your way—you'll never know what you'll learn or what connections you'll make. Professors and upperclassmen are almost always happy to help you out, just take the opportunity to ask!

Additionally, take the time to celebrate your accomplishments and reflect on how far you have come. It is so easy to get lost in all of your assignments, projects, and looking to the future. Be kind to yourself—big changes don’t happen overnight. Take pride in what you have done, and what you continue to do!

Ìý

Airyl Van Dayrit

Airyl is receiving a multitude of awards this spring, including the Community Impact Award, the Culture Impact Award and the Perseverance Award.

Airyl's impact on community and culture starts with his strong commitment and demonstrated effort to create a welcoming community for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students here at É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ. As a student leader for Asian Unity, one of the largest AAPI student organizations on campus, he played a key role in developing and bringing back some of the community's signature events, including Passport to Asia. He facilitated collaboration with other student organizations and helped foster an environment built upon relationships and connections. Most importantly, Airyl's work with Asian Unity has helped the AAPI community feel heard and safe on campus.

He is also being recognized for his perseverance and sheer toughness en route to his degree. English is Airyl's second language. He came to the United States at 14 years old and since he's been here, he's had to navigate numerous obstacles. But despite all of this, Airyl's nominators say he is always looking to help others and working hard with a smile on his face. One nominator said they couldn't imagine "a person more deserving of these awards than him."

What's next for you and how did CU Engineering help you prepare for the future?

This summer, I will be working as a field engineer for Mortenson, helping construct and commission wind turbines across the border of Washington and Oregon. In the fall, I’ll be continuing my accelerated master’s in mechanical engineering at É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ, where I hope to deepen my technical foundation in sustainable systems and sharpen my ability to lead in complex, cross-disciplinary environments. In the long term, I plan to pursue an MBA to further expand my leadership and business strategy skillset—ideally at a school where I can bridge clean energy innovation with global impact.

É«ÊÓƵÏÂÔØ and [the college] prepared me for all of this—not just with technical knowledge, but with the confidence to lead, mentor, and advocate for change. I will leave (and return) with a deep gratitude and understanding that engineering isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about serving people, communities, and the foreseeable future.

Now that you are graduating, what's your best advice for other students?

My best advice is for anyone who’s simply trying their best, living day by day and taking any chance they get to survive the harsh realities of life filled with uncertainty and insecurity. Be proud of who you are, where you come from, and what you believe in, while also having a curious and open mind. In every challenge, there will be better days and new reasons to keep fighting, so never stop fighting for your people, your sacrifices, your aspirations, your ambitions, and your values.

In a place as vast as Boulder, don’t just search for where you belong, but try and create that space and invite others into it. Help those who feel lost and offer them the safety and support you once needed. And when you’re tired, remember you are human too. Be open to help, just as you strive to uplift others. You are not alone. Your presence is powerful. Let it silence your doubts. And above all, do what makes you happy and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.