News

Britton Award

Trevor Shooshan and Emily Dill have received the Britton Award, granted annually to freshmen at the University of Rochester who excel academically and demonstrate a keen interest in optics.

Trevor graduated from Fairport Senior High School in 2023 with a Summa Cum Laude diploma, scoring an impressive 98 out of 100. During high school, he held several leadership roles, including captain of the math team and president of the physics club. Moreover, he also attended the Photon Camp at The Institute of Optics. These rich experiences well-prepared him for the transition to college life.

Sharing his feelings about the award, Trevor said, "I feel greatly blessed and honored to receive this award. I feel very lucky to be recognized, but the real award was all the knowledge and connections I gained this past year." He acknowledged the challenges of adapting to the different academic settings between high school and university, advising not to let minor errors derail one’s learning process.

For incoming freshmen, Trevor encourages exploring beyond the classroom: "Explore as much as you can outside of class. If something catches your attention during a lecture, ask about it, or look into it yourself later." He emphasizes that independent research and asking questions are critical to academic success.

“have fun! Optics is really cool and anyone who enjoys learning will have a great time meeting new people and working in one of the most interesting fields in all of science and engineering."

The second recipient is Emily Dill. Before joining the university, Emily had already shown her talents in athletics, and she continued to excel in her academic pursuits during her first year.

"I’m incredibly honored! Being part of such a distinguished program and learning alongside intelligent and hardworking peers, it’s very special to be recognized by The Institute. This award motivates me even more to stay involved, work hard, and contribute to the department throughout my undergraduate career,” Emily said.

For advice to incoming students, Emily emphasizes the importance of building relationships with classmates, teammates, and upperclassmen, which she believes is as crucial as studying hard. She advises new students to engage deeply with the community.

"Take all the opportunities you can! I'm very grateful for this one. This past year has flown by for me, and it only goes faster in the coming years."

The Institute of Optics looks forward to hearing more great stories from Emily and Trevor as they continue their journey at the University of Rochester. Congratulations!

Kevin P. Thompson Award

Kevin P. Thompson Award recognizes individuals' contributions to lens design, optical engineering, and metrology. This year, it was awarded to Benjamin Margulies and Kendall Smith, who had just graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor's in Optical Engineering. Upon receiving the award, they expressed their joy at being jointly recognized.

The first recipient, Benjamin Margulies, has extensive experience as a Workshop leader within the University of Optics and has undertaken challenging internships at optical companies. In his personal life, Benjamin is passionate about the arts and photography, which enrich and fulfill his life outside of academics.

When discussing advice for future students, Benjamin shared a meaningful quote from his professor, Julie Bentley: "The best way to learn something is to try to teach it to someone else." He encourages everyone to utilize and enjoy this tight-knit and incredibly capable community fully.

The Institute of Optics is pleased to share this good news and looks forward to Benjamin continuing his studies in the master's program at The Institute this fall. We anticipate many more wonderful stories as he progresses. Congratulations!

The second recipient of the Kevin P. Thompson Award, Kendall Smith, has amassed at least ten job and internship experiences inside and outside the university, including roles as a workshop leader/teaching assistant and many engineering-related internships. Despite her busy schedule, Kendall maintains her drive and focus.

Discussing the award, she expressed gratitude towards her colleague Benjamin, saying, “I am honored to share this award with Ben. We have both put in a lot of work the past four years, and it is nice to know that our keen interest was noticed.”

Kendall also shared her learning methods over the past four years: “Make sure you prioritize things that make you happy outside of your courses, even when you are busy. Also, get to know upperclassmen because they can help support you and become great friends.”

This summer, Kendall will intern at Apple in the Exploratory Design Group. Afterward, she will pursue a PhD in Optics at The Institute of Optics, where she will research absentia at Stanford University. The Institute of Optics looks forward to more great news from Kendall. Congratulations!

The Optics Faculty Prize

The Optics Faculty Prize is awarded annually to a senior at the University of Rochester who best exemplifies character, scholarship, and service ideals. The 2024 award winner is Joanna Rosenbluth, who recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Optics and a minor in Business. Joanna has also made significant contributions as a research intern at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE).

Joanna says, "I am not the student who gets A's in all classes, so I appreciate that the faculty recognized my efforts and passion." Her academic and extracurricular engagement at the university was marked by solid relationships with faculty and a pivotal internship at LLE, which she secured during the summer after her sophomore year. This internship allowed her to apply the complex material learned in classes, significantly boosting her motivation and practical understanding of the field.

Reflecting on her four-year journey, Joanna notes, "I was incredibly lucky to be in a graduating class with the most kind, smart, and hardworking people I have ever met. " She advises incoming students to take advantage of the Industrial Associates program and seek a variety of internships across different fields within optics, enriching their academic and professional experience.

This year, Joanna will continue her academic pursuits by embarking on a PhD in Optical Sciences at the Wyant College of Optical Sciences at the University of Arizona, where she aims to deepen her expertise and contribute further to the advancements in optics. Congratulations!

Hook Prize

This year, the G. Harold Hook Prize, awarded to a student demonstrating an outstanding interest in engineering, was presented to Arabella Meacham-Snyder upon graduation. Throughout her undergraduate career, Arabella completed a professional internship at Elbit Systems of America and served as a research assistant on campus. Her leadership and co-authorship on multiple projects attest to her deep involvement in practical experience.

During the interview, Arabella expressed her gratitude, "I feel honored to be selected by the optical engineering faculty. It was very touching and special for me to receive this award." Initially majoring in psychology at the University of Rochester, she soon realized she missed math and problem-solving dearly. "The hardest part for me was switching majors and undertaking a completely different academic load. It was difficult for me to acclimate to a group of students who already were close friends. In the end, I didn’t need to worry because I made some of my closest friends through the optics program, and together, we persevered through the hardest courses."

From her experiences, Arabella shared a key insight: "One of the biggest takeaways I have from The Institute is that it’s okay and encouraged to ask for help. I can’t express how much my TAs and professors were willing to help me through concepts or problems and were instrumental in helping me grasp the subject."

She advises incoming students, "I would suggest that you go in with an open mind and know that it’s okay to change your mind as much as you want to. The faculty and students of each group at the University of Rochester will welcome you with open arms, and it’s never too late to start over."

Arabella will continue her studies in the Master's Program at The Institute of Optics this fall. The Institute of Optics believes that Arabella will continue to excel in her chosen field. Congratulations!

The Barnard Prize

The Barnard Prize is awarded annually to a senior engineering student with outstanding personal qualities and achievements. This year, it has been awarded to Madeleine LaChance, who has shown remarkable talent in her optical engineering studies and extracurricular activities at the University of Rochester. Not only has Madeleine cultivated her creativity in optics courses and laboratories, but she has also actively participated in various campus activities. She has been dancing for fourteen years and serves as the business manager and a choreographer for the campus Ballet Performance Group; she is also a language tutor at the Language Center, tutoring students in Latin and ancient Greek and leading weekly Latin conversation hours.

Discussing her academic journey, Madeleine explained the significant challenge of balancing her rigorous studies with extracurricular commitments. "It is easy to become so absorbed in your studies that you neglect everything else," she noted. Despite the difficulty, she managed to find equilibrium, participating in varsity sports and various clubs and serving as a tutor and a TA, which enriched her academic experience and provided lasting friendships and memories.

Offering advice to incoming students, Madeleine emphasized the importance of finding and sticking to a practical study style early on. She said, "The best advice I can give is to figure out what study style works best for you as quickly as possible, then stick to it." Additionally, she stressed the value of perseverance during tough times: "Also, if you are ever struggling or overwhelmed, and you feel like there is no way to do it all (and believe me, I've been there), keep going. Take a deep breath, maybe step away for a minute and talk to a friend, then come back and try again." She reassured them that resilience is critical to overcoming challenges, as she has proven.

Madeleine will continue her studies in the Master's Program at The Institute of Optics this fall. The Institute of Optics looks forward to more exciting stories with Madeleine. Congratulations!

Norwood Prize

This year, the Norwood Student Involvement Prize is awarded to Natalie Fullerman, who graduated in May with a bachelor's degree in optical engineering. The prize celebrates students who have shown significant commitment and service to the Hajim School by building community and belonging.

Throughout her undergraduate career, Natalie had a fulfilling experience, holding various positions such as Teaching Assistant, club leader, and Tour Guide. She also completed internships every summer, including positions at MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Northrop Grumman.

As the class of 2024, Natalie faced challenges during her first year in the middle of the pandemic. However, she quickly formed connections due to some in-person lab courses at The Institute of Optics. She mentioned, "The bonds I forged with professors, students, and alumni at The Institute of Optics will last a lifetime."

Discussing advice for students, Natalie said, "Spend time doing the activities and studying the topics that bring you joy. If something isn't interesting to you, that's okay – keep trying until you find things that energize you. I searched until I found endeavors that I truly enjoyed participating in, and then added to my involvements as I discovered new passions."

Natalie is an optical design intern at NASA this summer. In the fall, she will continue her studies in the Master Program at The Institute of Optics. The Institute of Optics looks forward to Natalie bringing more surprises as she progresses. Congratulations！