Purdue University Fort Wayne recognizes Top 50 Undergraduate Students, introduces new Top 10 Graduate honor

Posted: 04/07/26

Author: Ryan Wooley

Purdue University Fort Wayne is celebrating student excellence with the announcement of its annual Top 50 Awards, along with the introduction of a new recognition this year: the Top 10 Graduate Students honor.

The Top 50 Awards highlight undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to their campus and community. New this year, the Top 10 Graduate Students recognition honors graduate students for their academic excellence and dedication to their field of study.

"This recognition represents some of the very best of Purdue Fort Wayne," said Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer. "The achievements of these students reflect not only their hard work in the classroom, but their drive to lead, serve, and make an impact beyond campus. From undergraduate leaders to our inaugural Top 10 Graduate Students, they are shaping the future in meaningful ways."

In addition to these honors, Purdue Fort Wayne recognizes Exemplars: students selected by their academic colleges and schools for their exceptional achievements, leadership, and service. Exemplars are recognized during the annual Top 50 and Exemplar Dinner and Awards Ceremony and receive a special stole to wear at commencement.

Together, the Top 50 Undergraduate Students, Top 10 Graduate Students, and Exemplars showcase the strength, talent, and future impact of Purdue Fort Wayne students.

2026 TOP 50 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS:

AJ Agnew
Program: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Borden, Indiana

Lara Alfadhli
Program: Political Science
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Abhisar Anand
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Pepperell, Massachusetts

Aria Baker
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Ella Branneman
Program: Communications Sciences and Disorders
Hometown: New Paris, Indiana

Lauryn Brucchieri
Program: Biochemistry
Hometown: Brunswick, Ohio

Celah Dunn
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology
Hometown: Augusta, Michigan

Jenna Ellsworth
Program: Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hometown: Erie, Pennsylvania

Caleb Evers
Program: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Fort Recovery, Ohio

Breehonie Felger
Program(s): Anthropology & History
Hometown: Arcola, Indiana

Ava Genovese
Program: Biology
Hometown: Benton Harbor, Michigan

Paul Gongwer
Program: Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Paige Gordon
Program(s): Spanish, Psychology
Hometown: Huntington, Indiana

Lynn Graham
Program: Information Systems
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Steven Graham
Program: Marketing
Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

Isabella Hamed
Program: Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Jaythen Haywood
Program(s): Political Science, History
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Justice Hillery
Program: Psychology
Hometown: Van Wert, Ohio

Mary Isabella Hodges
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology
Hometown: Greenwood, Indiana

Alexander Jennings
Program: Mathematics
Hometown: Portage, Indiana

Prisha Joshi
Program: Data Science and Applied Science
Hometown: Neemuch, India

Jenna Karst
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Brittany Kaufman
Program: Management
Hometown: Winchester, Indiana

Courtney Klopfenstein
Program: Biology
Hometown: Garrett, Indiana

Lauren Klusek
Program: Communication
Hometown: Macomb, Michigan

Rashida Lan
Program(s): Political Science, Anthropology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Rebekah Landstoffer
Program(s): Accounting, Finance, Money and Banking
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Mahelat Lee
Program: Anthropology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Amanda Leonard
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's) Biology
Hometown: Troy, Michigan

Alana Longardner
Program (certificate): Behavior Analysis and Techniques
Program (bachelor's): Psychology
Hometown: Ossian, Indiana

Carter Manz
Program: Biology
Hometown: Paulding, Ohio

Maria Martinez
Program: Spanish
Hometown: Cleveland, Texas

Wendy Maxwell
Program: Accounting
Hometown: Portland, Missouri

Katelynn McPhee
Program: Biochemistry
Hometown: Fredrick, Maryland

Jack Mills
Program: Actuarial Science
Hometown: Columbia City, Indiana

Aung Min
Program: Information Systems
Hometown: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Ye Yint Myint
Program(s): Economics, Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)

Harrison Niswander
Program(s): Computer Science, Mathematics
Huntington, Indiana

Hannah Paul
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Alexis Peruski
Program: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Galesburg, Michigan

Tanisha Raskar
Program: Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Pune, Maharashtra, India

Brianna Revis
Program: Psychology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Arshpreet Singh Sandhu
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Amritsar, Punjab, India

Dorian Soto
Program: Art Education
Hometown: Lebanon, Indiana

Elizabeth Strong
Program(s): Chemistry, Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Kendallville, Indiana

Miranda Thomas
Program: Art and Design
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Nikolas Travis
Program: Management
Hometown: New Haven, Indiana

Surraya Wagner
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor's): Biology, Psychology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Riona Workman
Program: Secondary Education, Mathematics
Hometown: Van Wert, Ohio

Ellie Zagel
Program: Construction Management
Hometown: West Bend, Wisconsin

2026 TOP 10 GRADUATE STUDENTS:

Anastasia Abraham
Program: Professional Communication
Hometown: Takoradi, Ghana

Hasib Ahmed
Program: Biology
Hometown: Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh

Lakyn Balser
Program: Speech Language Pathology
Hometown: Parkersburg, West Virginia

Melissa Brown
Program: Counselor Education
Hometown: Ossian, Indiana

Divya Navale
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Telangana, India

Nasiru Nurudeen
Program: Mathematics
Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana

Allison Renno
Program: Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Tia Rumple
Program: Counselor Education
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Andrea Catalina Vigoya Ruiz
Program: Biology
Hometown: Bogota, Columbia

Myra Witte
Program: Counseling Education
Hometown: Rochester, Indiana

2026 EXEMPLARS:

Rebekah Landstoffer
College/School: Doermer School of Business
Program(s): Accounting, Finance, Money and Banking
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Colin Gasson
College/School: College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
Program: Mechanical Engineering Tech
Hometown: Fort Loramie, Ohio

Colten Gasson
College/School: College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
Program: Mechanical Engineering Tech
Hometown: Fort Loramie, Ohio

Brielle Miller
College/School: School of Education
Program: Human Services
Hometown Decatur, Indiana

Eden Bailey
College/School: College of Liberal Arts
Program: Anthropology, Women's Studies
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Victoria Perna
College/School: College of Science
Program: Communication Sciences & Disorders
Hometown: Hicksville, Ohio

Francesca Carlo
College/School: College of Visual and Performing Arts
Program: Web Design
Hometown: Chardon, Ohio

The Exemplar and Top 50 website includes a page with photos of the recipients. To request a high-resolution, full-color image, or to learn more about the Exemplar and Top 50 classes, email [email protected].

Purdue University Fort Wayne is proud to celebrate these outstanding students and the impact they have made both on campus and in the community. The eleventh annual Top 50 and Exemplar Dinner and Awards Ceremony will take place on April 24, where Exemplar, Top 50, and Top 10 Graduate Student recipients will be honored for their achievements and contributions.