Two MatSE Students Chosen as Knights of St. Patrick

2/23/2017

MatSE was honored to have two students chosen: Grace Pakeltis and Athena Lin, both seniors in Materials Science and Engineering.

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These Knights of St. Patrick Aren’t Driving Snakes; They’re Driving Innovation 

The Knights of St. Patrick award is an annual award given by the College of Engineering to anywhere from 8 to 15 students and is one of the highest honors that can be received as a student. 

MatSE was honored to have two students chosen: Grace Pakeltis and Athena Lin, both seniors in Materials Science and Engineering. They were selected for their exemplary leadership, character, and exceptional contributions to the department, College, and this University. 

Grace Pakeltis

Grace is the president of the University of Illinois chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), whose motto is “Aspire, Advance, Achieve,” and so it is no wonder Grace is leading this amazing organization. 

She had great math and science skills in high school, and discovered GAMES camp at the College of Engineering, and from there the Girls Learning About Materials (GLAM) camp, which inspired her to think about materials as a major and career. 

“Materials are the backbone of innovation… so when I was looking at colleges, I had already fallen in love with the engineering quad when I visited for a basketball tournament and I loved the investment the departments put in to their camps… being in the MatSE department was my first choice,” Grace said. 

Grace plans on continuing outreach to younger students in her career path, which is something she says she has greatly benefitted from as part of SWE. Directly after graduating this spring, she intends to go for a PhD in thin film electronic materials and is still looking through offers. 

“It’s been a great four years; I’m really honored to have received this award, and this Knights class I’m being inducted with is full of great leaders.” The MatSE department is excited to see what Grace has in store for the world of engineering and beyond. 

Athena Lin 

Athena is a member of Material Advantage, tutors other students while fostering a learning community, and has concentrated her senior thesis on social responsibility in engineering. 

Athena is from Urbana, and was able to work with MatSE Professor John Rogers’ Group in the 5th grade as part of a nanotechnology team. She was intrigued by the idea that if you made any material thin enough, it would stretch — she knew she was meant to be in engineering from that point on. 

“The Knights of St. Patrick essay process was really great to help me reflect on the past four years here… I am committed to doing more to further improve the engineering experience for everyone,” Athena said. “MatSE is a smaller department, so you can get to know people easily… students are going through a lot, and I have tried to do my part to create welcoming environments.” 

She said she has learned a lot from the professors as well as other students and finding out what others are interested in can help you learn about yourself — she wants to remind other students that college is the time to discover what interests you have that may initially come as a surprise. 

Athena intends to work at Texas Instruments upon graduation, and she plans to eventually go to graduate school and someday be a professor. 

Athena says she has greatly been inspired by the Angela Davis quote, “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” MatSE is honored to have such a force for positive change as part of its graduating class of 2017. 

Receiving the Award 

Both Grace and Athena will be honored along with the rest of the Knights class at the annual Knights of St. Patrick Ball on Saturday, March 11, in conjunction with Engineering Open House. An engraved plaque of each Knights class is then permanently hung in the main hallway of Engineering Hall. 

 


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This story was published February 23, 2017.