Meet the Spring 2025 CECS and CEHHS Medallion winners

This year’s Dean’s Medallion winners from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and College of Education, Health and Human Services are an inspiring bunch — with stories about everything from participating in advanced biomedical research to conquering the unique challenges of returning to college in your 30s as a single parent. 

The award recognizing students' academic achievements, leadership and contributions to the community is given to three students in each college, with one student receiving the Chancellor’s Medallion, the university’s top student honor. Here are the Spring 2025 Medallion winners from CECS and CEHHS. You can also meet the awardees from the College of Business and College of Arts, Sciences and Letters, including this year’s Chancellor’s Medallion winner. 

College of Engineering and Computer Science

Shams Fatma Ahson

Degree: Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity and information assurance (cybersecurity and privacy concentration), minor in law and society; certificate in practical aspects of computer security (2024)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: UM-Dearborn Difference Maker (2024); James B. Angell Scholar (2023, 2024); William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize; Dean’s List (F21-F24); University Honors (F21-F24), Honors Scholar (2025)

Scholarships: Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship (2023)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Shams has excelled through high-impact academic and professional experiences in cybersecurity, demonstrating technical expertise, leadership and innovation. Shams’ outstanding leadership was recognized with the 2023 Alan Mulally Leadership in Engineering Scholarship, a competitive award honoring students worldwide for exceptional leadership in academic or community settings. Shams conducted research in the Information Systems, Security and Forensics Lab under the supervision of Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Hafiz Malik. She played a pivotal role in implementing an automotive ethernet testbench featuring simulated electronic control units. Shams also led the CanQuest capstone project, where her team developed a mixed-reality cybersecurity game to educate engineers on protecting CAN bus communication. Shams served as a supplemental instruction leader beginning in January 2022, supporting her peers and reinforcing her own mastery of complex cybersecurity concepts. Shams has also been a cybersecurity testing intern at ETAS since May 2023 and served as a product cybersecurity intern at Bosch from May 2022 to May 2023.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Google Developer Student Club (president); Women in Cybersecurity (chapter president); co-led CECS’ 2025 Engineering Week

As president of the Google Developer Student Club, Shams helped secure over $100,000 in funding for campus hackathons attended by students across Michigan, the Midwest and Canada. As co-lead of Engineering Week, she helped launch several innovative initiatives, including two new engineering games. In Chefgineering, student organizations formed teams to build a common solution using mystery “ingredients.” In the Engineering Escape Room, teams tackled a series of puzzles, such as decoding Morse code signals and reverse-engineering a Caesar cipher, to unlock the key and “escape” the room. “Shams is an expert organizer and an inspirational leader. She is quick to volunteer for community outreach activities, especially those that help make STEAM more accessible to younger students,” observed Professor of Computer and Information Science Bruce Maxim.

Future Plans: Shams’ ultimate career goal is not just to be a CEO within the cybersecurity industry, but to be a great leader who reflects the values, ambitions and spirit of her community.

Hawraa Ismail

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering in computer engineering

Awards, Honors and Distinction: Dean’s Honors List at the Lebanese International University, Lebanon (F22); UM-Dearborn Honors Scholar (2023)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Hawraa has actively contributed to projects spanning safety, technology and education throughout her college years. Such experiences have allowed Hawraa to develop innovative solutions, mentor emerging talent and give back to the community. In her two-semester capstone project, Hawraa led the development of an accident alert system that detects risky driving behaviors and delivers real-time alerts. By integrating multiple sensors with advanced artificial intelligence models, this system significantly enhances driver safety. In the Embedded Systems course, Hawraa engineered a GPS-based speed limit warning system that notifies drivers when they exceed limits in designated zones, further demonstrating her passion for technology-driven safety innovations.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Peer tutor at the Engineering Learning Center; Michigan Aeronautical Science Association hardware and avionics team member; Eternal Light Organization volunteer

In her role as a peer tutor, Hawraa assisted students with programming, circuit design and problem-solving, boosting their confidence in challenging engineering subjects. “Hawraa has jumped in with both feet to support our students. Hawraa needs no supervision as she is a self-starter and wants to assist where she can. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the electrical and computer engineering course material and you can hear her passion in her voice,” observed Elizabeth Edenstrom, assistant director of the ELC. With MASA, Hawraa helped develop flight telemetry system software. Her contributions included creating a real-time data monitoring dashboard that automates flight operations and streamlines data processing. Hawraa also served as a student staff member at the university’s Early Childhood Education Center, where she supported classroom activities and helped craft engaging learning experiences for young children.

Future Plans: Hawraa plans to leverage her expertise in embedded systems and artificial intelligence safety applications to develop smart systems that enhance community welfare and drive technological innovation. She envisions pursuing industry roles in embedded security, earning relevant certifications and advancing her graduate studies to further specialize in this field. Ultimately, Hawraa aims to earn a PhD and become a professor, using her experience as a peer tutor at the ELC to inspire and empower students. Her commitment to giving back stems from her gratitude toward UM-Dearborn, an institution that has profoundly shaped her journey and one that she hopes others will also experience.

Nicole Kormos

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Engineering in bioengineering

Awards, Honors and Distinction: Dean’s List (F21-F24); William J. Branstrom Prize; James B. Angell Scholar (2023); University Honors (F21-W23, W24); Honors Scholar (2024) Scholarships: Chancellor’s Scholarship; Honors Scholarship; James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship

Academic Achievements and Internships: Nicole’s academic excellence drive extends beyond the classroom. During her studies, Nicole actively pursued a series of research projects, all aimed at understanding the male predominance observed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Her research focuses on investigating sex-based differences in the mechanical responses of pulmonary fibroblasts — a challenging endeavor that has led her to achieve significant new results while mastering advanced techniques such as cell culture, qPCR, cell staining and imaging. What began as a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience project at UM-Dearborn following her junior year evolved into an ongoing project supported by the James and Jeraldine Poe Research Assistantship during her senior year. Nicole presented her findings as a poster at both the SURE Showcase and the Biomedical Engineering Society Research Symposium, where her project earned second place. Her promising results are slated for submission for publication at the end of the Winter 2025 semester. “Nicole is an exceptional student whose dedication and work ethic set her apart. As an undergraduate researcher, she not only excels in her own experiments but also goes above and beyond to support and train others, demonstrating leadership beyond her years. She is truly a rock star in every sense, and her future in research is incredibly bright,” observed Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Caymen Novak. Besides her commitment to advancing bioengineering research, Nicole served as a lab assistant for the Biosensors and Instrumentation course, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing research and her field.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Society of Women Engineers; Biomedical Engineering Society; Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, Michigan Iota chapter (vice president, media coordinator)

Nicole’s involvement in Tau Beta Pi will be recognized at the chapter’s initiation this semester, where she will be invested into the chapter for her significant contributions as a leader.

Future Plans: Nicole plans to continue her education in the PhD program in materials science and engineering at UM-Ann Arbor. Her dissertation research will be on functional materials and biomaterials. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a career in applied research in the field of application of biomaterials to medical devices and wearable technology.

College of Education, Health and Human Services

Chaymaa Nehme

Degree: Bachelor of Science in health and human services (social work concentration)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Chaymaa has demonstrated academic excellence at UM-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring from Henry Ford College in Fall 2023. Passionate about community engagement, she partnered with the Dearborn Public Health Department on a tree equity project through one of her courses, focusing on environmental justice and sustainability. Through this initiative, Chaymaa engaged with the community in meaningful ways, addressing disparities in tree coverage and advocating for greener, healthier neighborhoods. This included taking the initiative to translate all social media posts about the program into Arabic, greatly increasing the outreach of the posts to target communities.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Seeking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others, in addition to her academic achievements, Chaymaa has been actively involved in community service through organizing initiatives, supporting public service programs and by contributing to outreach efforts. These experiences have reinforced her passion for civic engagement and dedication to advocating for inclusive and equitable communities. Chaymaa remains committed to using her skills and knowledge to drive positive social change through social impact and advocacy, integrating psychology, sociology, and health and human services into her work in order to create meaningful change in both individual lives and broader communities. Assistant Professor of Health and Human Services Finn Bell, who taught Chaymaa in two courses, stated, “Chaymaa is consistently one of the most engaged students, who regularly makes connections for how the materials connect to ‘the real world.’ Chaymaa is an exemplar of what it means to be a good academic citizen with noteworthy curiosity and impeccable integrity.”

Future Plans: Chaymaa currently works at a school as part of the administration team. Following graduation, she plans to apply her knowledge and social work skills to support both students and staff. Her goal is to create a positive environment, providing resources and assistance to help students thrive academically and emotionally. She remains passionate about using her social work education and experiences to build a supportive school community and to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those she works with.

Darci O’Neil

Degree: Bachelor of Science in health and human services (public health concentration)

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Darci has demonstrated academic excellence at UM-Dearborn, earning a place on the Dean’s List as an honors student every semester since transferring in Fall 2023 and receiving University Honors in both Winter and Fall 2024. Prior to attending UM-Dearborn, Darci was a student at both Schoolcraft College and Wayne State University. “Before returning to school as a single mom in my 30s, I was a perpetual college dropout and thought that school just wasn’t for me,” Darci said. Initially, she returned with the intention of only completing certification for her pharmacy technician license. Once introduced to the idea of public health, however, she realized that she had a passion for the field. A six-month certification turned into an opportunity to participate in research with cancer patients and she ultimately continued on for her BS. Darci completed a capstone course project and has continued to work with Associate Professor of Health Communication Nick Iannarino on a research project looking at young adult cancer programs and how they address social support needs. Her contributions have included interviewing health care professionals and analyzing data. Health and Human Services Lecturer Timothy Michling, who has taught Darci, stated, “I’ve very much enjoyed working with Darci. She has a combination of intelligence, determination and compassion that will make her a tremendously effective public health professional.” 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Peer mentor with Wolverine Mentor Collective; Public Health Society (treasurer)

Future Plans: Darci is currently seeking a position in the field of epidemiology and plans to gain work experience before seeking a master’s degree. Darci believes that some experience in the field will help her decide whether to seek further education in epidemiology or, possibly, in public health policy.

Assma Ali Said

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in children and families

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F23-F24)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Prior to attending UM-Dearborn, Assma was a student at Henry Ford College and Wayne State University. While studying at UM-Dearborn, Assma participated in two internships: M&M Academy Great Start Readiness Program classroom in Fall 2024 and a UM-Dearborn Early Childhood Education Center practicum in Winter 2023.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Assma volunteers at a local mosque and helps organize events during Ramadan to promote unity, spiritual growth and community support. One such initiative is Girls Night, a women-only event designed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment, especially for women who face cultural and social challenges. In addition, Assma provides tutoring for preschool students after school, helping them build foundational skills while fostering a love for learning. For the past three years, this role has enabled her to support young children in the community, ensuring they feel seen, heard and encouraged to thrive. She is committed to using her skills and story to uplift others and create lasting change within the Arab and Muslim communities. Assma believes her personal journey has empowered her to create positive change and advocate for those who may feel marginalized or unheard. She strives to create a space where women can come together, share their experiences and find strength in each other. 

Future Plans: Following graduation, Assma plans to further her education by pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood education, with the goal of becoming a professor and educator who can make a lasting impact in the field. Her experience as a preschool teacher has ignited a deep passion for shaping young minds and she wants to contribute to the development of innovative educational practices that can be implemented in classrooms across the country.