Each spring, the UC Santa Barbara College of Engineering (COE) bestows a handful of prestigious awards upon graduating seniors, who excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. Each recipient will be honored on stage during the college’s Undergraduate Commencement, which will take place at 1 PM on Commencement Green on Friday, June 13. 

Hynes-Wood Award
Lauren Bajo-Smith, a chemical engineering major, has received the College of Engineering’s 2025 Hynes-Wood Award, which recognizes a student for outstanding contributions to student activities and helping others with professional growth and development. The award is named for Jacqueline Hynes, the former assistant dean for academic programs in engineering, and the late Roger Wood, a beloved electrical and computer engineering professor and former associate dean for academic affairs. Bajo-Smith described the recognition as “a tremendous honor.”

“The award is extremely validating and shows me that the time, energy, and effort I contributed to my peers and the greater campus community over the past four years made a meaningful impact,” said Bajo-Smith. “I try to be the person I wish I had in my own life when I started at UCSB. Seeing my peers grow into themselves as engineers and people is the biggest reward.”

A member of the first cohort to return to campus after the COVID-19 pandemic, Bajo-Smith quickly immersed herself in the campus community. She joined the leadership ranks of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter as social chair and vice president of external affairs. She launched a workshop series that connected lower-division chemical engineering students with faculty and led outreach efforts with companies to organize site and campus visits. Most recently, she held the position of Western Regional Chair of AIChE, representing student chapters of nearly twenty universities in the division. She also acted as the external vice president and president of the Engineering Student Council and scholarship chair of Phi Sigma Rho, a STEM-focused sorority. For years, Bajo-Smith has also volunteered with the UCSB Science Olympiad, an annual regional STEM competition for middle and high school students from four counties, which is part of a national competition. 

“I’m most proud of the lasting relationships I’ve built, and the moments where I’ve seen someone gain confidence or clarity because of something I helped with, whether that was a resume review, a job referral, or encouragement at just the right time,” said Bajo-Smith. “College is a pivotal time in so many people’s lives, and having the courage to go after what you want isn’t always the easiest. I am happy to share that courage with my peers.” 

“It is overwhelmingly clear that Lauren has enriched the social, academic, and professional lives of countless students at multiple levels — in her department, her college, her campus, and beyond,” wrote Todd Squires, a professor of chemical engineering in his nomination letter. “The Hynes-Wood Award seems written for Lauren and is a well-deserved and fitting honor to express our gratitude and appreciation.”

Bajo-Smith adds that her time as an engineering student taught her to think critically, communicate clearly, and approach problems with creativity and discipline. After graduation, Bajo-Smith plans to work in industry, either in chemical production research and development or in energy engineering, before returning to academia to pursue a PhD and continue a family tradition. 

“Both of my parents have worked in education for more than twenty-five years, so in many ways, teaching is in my DNA,” she said. “I want to become a professor not just to pursue my academic interests, but because I truly enjoy helping others learn and grow, just like my parents did for me.”

Tirrell Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Research
Tianle Yu has excelled during his four years at UCSB. He was one of three students named an Outstanding Senior for the Computer Science (CS) Department, a recognition based on academic success and other scholastic pursuits. He will also graduate with highest honors, which means he is in the top 2.5 percent of his graduating class. A committee also selected Yu to receive the College of Engineering’s 2025 Tirrell Award for Distinction in Undergraduate Research. The prestigious award, named in honor of the college’s former dean, Matthew Tirrell, recognizes a graduating senior for showing excellence and promise as a researcher. 

“I see this recognition as a great conclusion to my undergraduate life and as a motivator as I enter the next phase of my academic career,” said Yu, who came to UCSB after graduating from Shandong Experimental High School in China. 

Yu has made significant contributions to CS education research the past two years, focusing on addressing a critical problem in modern education related to the fact that an instructor’s ability to give individual attention is limited in large lectures, leading to one-size-fits-all teaching that can fail to meet the needs of all students. Under the supervision of Maryman Majedi, a computer science assistant teaching professor, Yu created a platform, Innostruction, to provide a better learning experience for students by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics, and a better teaching experience for instructors by providing real-time feedback and AI-powered course planning. Yu designed a question repository, a powerful module that contains more than 1,100 questions categorized by topic that instructors can use to generate exams, practice worksheets, and handouts. The platform is already being used on campus and improving instructional efficiency and student support. Yu is also collaborating with another student researcher to integrate accessibility features into the project, specifically designed to support individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, and non-native English speakers. He is also working as a student research assistant for the Computer Security Group (SecLab) with computer science professors Christopher Kruegel and Giovanni Vigna. 

“The most valuable lesson that I’ve learned while working alongside PhD students and professors is that publications should not be the ultimate goal of research; papers are simply a checkpoint to make sure you are on the right track to discovery,” said Yu, who added that the uncertainty is what excites him the most about conducting research. “I like the process of exploring and navigating through uncertainty, because you will never know if your idea will work until you try it.”

“Tianle’s research contributions, leadership abilities, and dedication to enhancing computer science education set him apart as an outstanding undergraduate researcher,” said Majedi, adding that his work with Innostruction has significant potential to shape future education technologies. "Tianle deserves to be recognized not only for his academic and research excellence but also for the kind of person he is. He honors his commitments, and his work is grounded in ethics, humility, and genuine care for others."

Yu says that undergraduate research has allowed him to develop his technical skills, thrive in a collaborative environment, and gain confidence in himself. Following graduation from UCSB, he plans to pursue a PhD, beginning with the master’s program at Stanford University.