Vermont State University Honors 2026 Student Engineering Leaders
Nomination Dinner Celebrates Student Achievement and the Future of Vermont’s Engineering Workforce
Randolph, VT — Vermont State University (VTSU), in partnership with the Vermont Society of Professional Engineers, proudly celebrated its 2026 nominees for Student Engineer and Student Engineering Associate of the Year at a recognition dinner. The event highlighted students whose talent, dedication, and problem‑solving abilities distinguish them within VTSU’s Engineering Technology programs.
Each year, VTSU engineering faculty select one graduating senior and one sophomore-level student for these honors, recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and hands‑on technical strength. The dinner brought together faculty, peers, and industry partners to celebrate students who are poised to contribute meaningfully to Vermont’s engineering workforce.
Student Engineer of the Year Nominees (Senior)
- Dominic Mazzilli, Architectural Engineering Technology (Winner)
- Gabe Hill, Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Sam Cowan, Electrical Engineering Technology
- Alex Yaggy, Electromechanical Engineering Technology
Student Engineering Associate of the Year Nominees (Sophomore/Technical)
- Jacob Fritz, Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology (Winner)
- Benjamin Boggio, Mechanical Engineering Technology
- Benjamin F. Brown, Architectural Engineering Technology
- Wyatt Jones, Electrical Engineering Technology
“These nominees represent the very best of Vermont State University’s engineering talent. Their work exemplifies the innovation, technical strength, and professional promise that define our programs and our partnership with the Vermont Society of Professional Engineers,” said Scott A. Sabol, P.E., licensed structural engineer, professor in the Architectural Engineering Technology program, and active member of the Vermont Society of Professional Engineers.
For many nominees, the evening served not only as recognition of their academic achievements but also as a reflection on their personal and professional growth.
Senior Dominic Mazzilli, winner of the Student Engineer of the Year award, shared, “Being a student of the Architectural Engineering Technology program has furthered my love for the engineered world in many ways. The highlight of the program is in revealing a hidden perspective on our everyday life; a perspective that reveals intention and passion in every facet of the built environment.”
Sophomore Jacob Fritz, winner of the Student Engineering Associate of the year award, offered, “I was drawn to the CET program from the world of Green Building by the lure of Wastewater Design licensing, hoping to help make more housing happen in Vermont. My time in the program has also opened my eyes to the importance and opportunities of flood resilience, so now the challenge is to develop a practice that will put it all to work. “
Other nominees, including sophomore Wyatt Jones and senior Gabe Hill, reflected on their nominations. Hill expressed gratitude for the opportunities and mentorship that shaped his experience, saying, “I found my strengths at VTSU. I am proud to have been recognized for the skills that I developed here.” Jones added, “Engineering is both a blessing and a curse—the blessing is the ability to solve complex problems, and the curse is the inability to stop.”
This tradition—rooted in decades of history at the former Vermont Technical College and carried forward at VTSU—remains one of the most meaningful distinctions available to Engineering Technology students. Nominees were also later recognized at the Vermont Discover Engineering Week banquet, alongside their peers from the University of Vermont and Norwich University.
For more information about VTSU’s Engineering programs, please visit: https://vermontstate.edu/engineering-programs/