Class of 2026 graduates earned prestigious awards and special honors during Rose-Hulman's 148th Commencement, recognizing their excellence in their classrooms, campus, and community and reflecting four years of dedication and discovery.

Rebecca Testa, from Irwin, Pennsylvania, received the John T. Royse Award for being considered the most outstanding graduate, in the opinion of Rose-Hulman's faculty and staff, based upon academic achievement, student leadership, participation in co-curricular activities, and general campus citizenship. As part of the Rose Squared program, Testa graduated with both a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering, as well as a minor in mathematics and certificates in integrated circuit testing and communication systems.

Chong-Yi (Charlie) Su, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, received the Herman A. Moench Distinguished Senior Commendation for distinguishing himself as a commendable influence on members of the Rose-Hulman community. Su graduated with bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics.

Thirteen students, including Testa and Su, earned the prestigious Heminway Gold Medal for attaining the highest academic achievement during their Rose-Hulman careers.

Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Erik Hayes commended Testa during the commencement ceremony for her "dedication, commitment, and intellectual curiosity." During her time at Rose-Hulman, Testa worked on three different scholarly projects with three different faculty members, which Hayes noted was a testament to her exceptional academic endeavors.

Outside of the classroom, Testa was a four-year varsity letter winner in both cross country and track and field, and also served as team captain. As a member of the Noblitt Scholars Program, Testa led the community service committee as its chair, building strong relationships with several Terre Haute community organizations. Testa also served as an orientation leader for the last two years, fulfilling a critical role in supporting new students as they transition from high school to college. Testa established a new role, serving as the "resident assistant" for commuter and transfer students, and Hayes remarked he had never seen transfer students so engaged at Orientation as he had under Testa's leadership.

Testa's post-graduation plans include working for Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, building upon skills she gained at Rose-Hulman and through her three internships: two at Huntingdon Ingalls Industries, in Dayton, Ohio, and at Marathon Petroleum in Anacortes, Washington.

Dan Morris, PhD, professor of chemistry and biochemistry and Herman A. Moench Distinguished Professor, praised Su for his ability to earn the respect of his student peers by displaying exemplary character including honesty, self-discipline, compassion, and moral conviction, as well as service to the Rose-Hulman community. Su, inspired by the selfless heart of servitude at Rose-Hulman, challenged himself to ask what he could give to the community. Morris noted that Su created "a culture of trust where those around him felt safe, respected, and valued."

Su has served as both a sophomore advisor and a sophomore resident tutor for electrical engineering and physics, holding regular tutoring hours each week, developing review packets, and hosting in-person review sessions prior to exams. Su served as the secretary for the Society of Physics Students, as well as a small group leader and president within the Rose-Hulman InterVarsity chapter.

Su has also been involved in multiple research projects with Rose-Hulman faculty, including one that resulted in publication in the journal AIP Advances.

Testa and Su were also recognized as two of 13 Heminway Gold Medal Award recipients for the top grade-point averages in their graduating class.

The 2025-2026 Heminway Gold Medal Award recipients include:

• Tommaso Calviello, a Milan, Italy, native graduating with degrees in biomedical engineering and data science & artificial intelligence

• Andrew Cameron, a chemical engineering graduate from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada

• Kevin Cotellesso, from Yellow Springs Ohio, a mechanical engineering graduate with minors in economics, robotics, and artificial intelligence

• Cynthia Gallegos Rodriguez, from El Paso, Texas, a computer engineering graduate with a minor in mathematics

• McKenna Gumerson, a Henderson, Nevada, native graduating with degrees in chemical engineering and data science & artificial intelligence, and a minor in art

• Jared Kagay, from Grayslake, Illinois, who earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Master of Engineering Management, with a minor in entrepreneurial studies

• Edward Kang, from San Jose, California, who earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science and a Master of Science in engineering management, with minors in artificial intelligence and entrepreneurial studies

• Lauren Marquardt, from Savage, Minnesota, an electrical engineering graduate with a minor in Spanish

• Connor O'Connell, from Fort Myers, Florida, a biomedical engineering graduate with a minor in data science

• Cale Royer, from Clinton, Indiana, a mechanical engineering graduate

• Hayden Simmons, from Clarkston, Michigan, a physics graduate with minors in astronomy, chemistry, and math

• Chong-Yi (Charlie) Su, from Taipei, Taiwan, graduating with degrees in electrical engineering and physics

• Rebecca Testa, from Irwin, Pennsylvania, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a minor in mathematics, certificates in integrated circuit testing and communication systems

John T. Royse served as a member of Rose-Hulman’s Board of Trustees for several years and his son, John N. Royse, is an emeritus member of the board. Herman Moench was a distinguished alumnus, electrical engineering professor and administrator who twice served as Rose-Hulman’s interim president. He was a member of the campus community until his death, at 81 years old, in 1990. The late Sarah Heminway established the Heminway Gold Medal in 1888 to recognize graduates for their academic achievements.