Rice Center for Engineering Leadership

Congratulations to the 2026 Catherine Bracken Internship Assistance Scholarship winners!!

Francesca Robert, junior, civil and environmental engineering (Rice University Civil and Environmental Engineering), Civil Engineering Intern, Jacobs
Maria Rosario Konortoff, senior, Industrial Engineering - Associate Consultant Intern at Simon-Kucher
Naayaa Mehta, junior, bioengineering (Rice University Department of Bioengineering) - Krishnan Lab at Stanford University
Faith Zhang, junior, computer science (Rice University Computer Science) - Software Engineer Internship at Salesforce

Catherine Bracken Scholarships are awarded annually to female Rice Engineering and Computing students undertaking summer internships in high-cost-of-living areas to put towards living expenses. These scholarships are made possible by the generous gift from Catherine Bracken '79.

Congratulations!

Leo Marek, senior, electrical and computer engineering, (Rice University Electrical & Computer Engineering) has been named the 2026 winner of the Robert H. Parks Prize for Excellence in Engineering Leadership. Giovanna Veras, senior, electrical and computer engineering, and Megan Worstell, senior, mechanical engineering, (Rice University Mechanical Engineering) will share the 2026 RCEL Engineering Leadership Award (Rice Engineering and Computing).

https://ow.ly/AmWH50YUJXs

“Being an ELITE Tech Live Instructor was pivotal in kick-starting my career journey in tech, as teaching courses such as Deep Learning for Smart Cities piqued my interest in machine learning, and challenged me to truly develop an intuitive understanding of the material so that I could deliver them in an engaging manner. I also gained invaluable experience communicating with students from diverse backgrounds, honing the soft skills and adaptability essential to my subsequent internships working in industry.”

We are so proud of our Rice ELITE Tech Live Instructors! Victoria Liu, a junior in computer science, worked at Rice ELITE Tech in 2024, and this summer she will begin an internship at Visa!

Thank you to the students, faculty, staff, and industry volunteers who joined us for the RCEL Graduates & Gratitude End-of-Year Celebration.

The evening recognized our students' accomplishments over the past year and honored those who stepped forward as student leaders within the RCEL community. We thanked our amazing industry volunteers and campus supporters for their continued support, mentorship, and engagement - the contribution of your time and expertise helps RCEL continue to shape the next generation of engineering leaders.

Thank you for being part of a strong and committed community—we look forward to what’s ahead.

MEML Student Ambassadors hosted a banquet at City Cellars to celebrate the close of the spring semester and honor the 2026 graduating cohort! Students, alumni, and faculty came together for an evening of connection over dinner, followed by thoughtful speeches and a celebratory toast to mark the occasion and send off the graduating class.

Thank you to all the parents and prospective campers who joined us for Summer at Rice to learn more about the Rice ELITE Summer Camp! We loved connecting with you and sharing what makes this experience so special. A big thank you as well to our incredible Live Instructors for taking the time to share their insights and experiences. Your passion truly brings the program to life. We can’t wait for an amazing summer ahead!

We were also excited to be visited by our school mascot, Sammy the Owl, who caused a little mischief, met with guests, and shared plenty of school spirit along the way!

"For Friend, the freedom to pursue seemingly unrelated passions such as data analysis, literature and performance is one of the defining advantages of studying at Rice."

Claire "CJ" Friend worked as a Live Instructor for Rice ELITE Tech Camp 2024 is majoring in statistics and English and minoring in theatre. She was an energetic and positive influence as part of the ELITE team, and we love seeing her chase her passions at Rice! Check out her spotlight from Rice University News!

https://ow.ly/i3bM50YECoF

📣THIS WEEK! Rice ELITE Tech will be at the Rice Summer Camp Kick-Off this Saturday! Come learn more about Rice ELITE Tech and explore the wide range of summer programs and camps being offered at Rice University this summer. RSVP now: https://forms.gle/4ktwXvnA9GbqGtuK6

Career advancement starts with the right preparation! Join an info session to discover how the Master of Engineering Management & Leadership (MEML) degree helps engineers gain the strategic thinking and management skills employers are looking for today — and tomorrow.

Tues., March 24
10:00am
https://gradadmissions.rice.edu/register/MEML_03.24.26

An RCEL student delegation recently attended the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the United States Air Force Academy. The students joined leaders from across the country to explore how character, integrity, and leadership shape the future of organizations and society.

"NCLS was the best conference experience I've ever had. Truly incredible and unforgettable in every aspect. Opportunities like this, made possible through donor support, allow students like me to gain invaluable leadership skills, inspiration, and connections that we otherwise might not have access to." - Giovanna Veras '26, mechanical engineering