Pioneers of progress: UNC Charlotte celebrates visionary leaders at the 2026 Engineering Alumni Awards

Posted 9/23/2026

On Thursday, September 10, the UNC Charlotte community gathered at the Harris Alumni Center for the William States Lee College of Engineering 2026 Alumni Awards celebration. The annual reception brought together university leadership, industry partners, faculty, alumni and students to honor an exceptional class of awardees whose professional achievements, public service and philanthropy embody the transformative power of Niner Engineering.

Categories: College Administration

Tags: Alumni General News

On Thursday, September 10, the UNC Charlotte community gathered at the Harris Alumni Center for the William States Lee College of Engineering 2026 Alumni Awards celebration. The annual reception brought together university leadership, industry partners, faculty, alumni and students to honor an exceptional class of awardees whose professional achievements, public service and philanthropy embody the transformative power of Niner Engineering.

The award winners represented a dynamic spectrum of high-tech industries, from advanced biomanufacturing and aviation infrastructure to nanotechnology, power grid automation and motorsports.

A legacy of record-breaking momentum forging the future

Opening the evening, Dean Rob Keynton welcomed guests and reflected on the college’s historic momentum and record fall enrollment of 4,882 students. He highlighted key milestones positioning Charlotte as a national leader in engineering, including the launch of the nation’s first School of Energy alongside the Albert School of Construction, thanking the alumni for their role in bringing success to the college.

“Our awardees represent a vast array of high-tech industries, but they share a singular, powerful connection: they are the pioneers driving the high-impact, advanced technology that shapes our modern world,” said Keynton. “They design the cutting-edge systems that power, secure and accelerate our lives and they bring that same visionary leadership back to our campus.”

Emcee Emmanuel Wallace ’21, an electrical engineering alumnus and Chair of the W.S. Lee College of Engineering Alumni Council, guided the program. In a tradition highlighting student success, each honoree was introduced by a current student engineer whose scholarship, lab research or career trajectory directly connects to the awardee’s legacy.

Honoring excellence: The 2026 award recipients

Outstanding Alumni Award: Mark Boomgarden ’01 B.S. Electrical Engineering

Mark Boomgarden, president and CEO of Moore Nanotechnology Systems, received the Outstanding Alumni Award, the highest honor bestowed by the college, in recognition of his leadership in ultra-precision manufacturing and his decades of dedicated service to UNC Charlotte. He has served for 16 years as board vice chair for the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) and has chaired the Electrical and Computer Engineering Advisory Board. Known as a passionate mentor for student-led startups and veteran entrepreneurs, he was named Energy Mentor of the Year in 2015.

Boomgarden was introduced by Heather Pike ’27, an electrical engineering senior concentrating in power and energy systems, an EPIC Student Fellow and an alumna of the Engineering Leadership Academy. “Mr. Boomgarden, your journey from serving on Navy submarines to becoming a leader in technology and innovation shows us what is possible with an engineering degree from UNC Charlotte,” said Pike.

Outstanding Alumni Award: Ashton Watson ’06, ’09 M.S. Civil Engineering

Ashton Watson, director of engineering at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), was also honored with the Outstanding Alumni Award for his transformative impact on regional aviation infrastructure. A double graduate of the civil engineering program, Watson oversees a $3 billion capital investment program at one of the world’s busiest airports, leading a team of more than 90 engineers and consultants. His portfolio includes over 60 completed airfield projects and the development of Charlotte’s new $1 billion Fourth Parallel Runway. Watson also co-founded the Charlotte Aviation Innovation and Research (AIR) Institute, helping secure over $5 million in research grants for faculty and student pavement studies alongside the FAA.

He was introduced by Phillip Watkins ’27, a civil engineering senior, American Society of Highway Engineers Scholarship recipient and student leader in ASCE and NSBE. “Seeing a fellow Niner civil engineer leading a transformational $3 billion infrastructure program right here in Charlotte is incredibly inspiring,” Watkins shared.

Professional Achievement Award: Gary Thompson ’77 B.S. Civil Engineering Technology

Gary Thompson received the Professional Achievement Award, honoring more than 45 years of distinguished public service in North Carolina. Thompson graduated in 1977 with a degree in civil engineering technology, a program now housed within the new Albert School of Construction. Currently serving as deputy hazard mitigation chief for North Carolina Emergency Management and chief of the North Carolina Geodetic Survey, Thompson is an internationally recognized GPS expert appointed by NASA to the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing Advisory Board. His emergency mapping expertise proved vital during disaster response efforts following Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.

Thompson was introduced by Caden Byers, a civil engineering technology student preparing for a career in surveying. “Knowing that a fellow Niner from our program went on to become a nationally recognized expert, advise NASA on GPS policy and use his expertise to help communities during natural disasters is incredible,” Byers noted.

Alumni Service Award: Andy Gould ’13 B.S. Electrical Engineering Technology

Andy Gould, senior application engineer at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), was presented with the Alumni Service Award for his tireless mentorship and advocacy for student career preparation. Gould earned his degree in electrical engineering technology (now electromechanical engineering technology in the School of Energy) and specializes in power grid automation, working with major utilities such as Duke Energy to enhance grid reliability. Over the past decade, Gould spearheaded the donation of $200,000 in state-of-the-art SEL automation equipment for college labs, personally authored course lab exercises and established an employment pipeline that has hired more than 10 Charlotte engineering students over the past two years.

He was introduced by Jonathan Kroart ’27, an electromechanical engineering technology senior, early entry master’s student and SEL intern who took Gould’s automation class. “Andy shows us that being a great engineer is not just about what you accomplish for yourself, but also about how you use your knowledge and success to help others,” Kroart said.

Industry Partner Award: Eli Lilly and Company

Eli Lilly and Company received the Industry Partner Award in recognition of its landmark investments in engineering education and biomanufacturing workforce development. Kyle Rademaker, associate director of parenteral engineering at the Concord location, accepted the award on behalf of the company. Lilly provided critical support to establish the Industrial Solutions Lab, powered by Lilly in Cameron Hall, where approximately 500 senior engineering students annually tackle real-world industrial challenges across more than 180 sponsored projects. Lilly also established the endowed Lilly Scholars program to create direct pathways for Charlotte graduates into biomanufacturing careers at its new $1 billion Concord facility.

Mechanical engineering sophomore and Lilly Scholar Jackson Deese ’29 introduced the award. “Receiving this scholarship has not only helped support me financially, but it has also made me feel that a company like Lilly believes in my potential and in what I can accomplish as an engineer,” Deese said.

Outstanding Philanthropist Award: Jan Beatty-Hendley

Jan Beatty-Hendley was honored as the 2026 Outstanding Philanthropist for her deep personal commitment to student opportunity and her leadership of the Alan Kulwicki Legacy Fund. Her stewardship directs vital funding to the Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory and the Alan D. Kulwicki Distinguished Endowed Scholarship, preserving the high-performance engineering standards and self-determination of 1992 NASCAR Champion Alan Kulwicki. Under her partnership, Charlotte alumni have risen to key roles across motorsports, including NASCAR Cup Series crew chiefs and national champions.

She was introduced by Ryan Taylor ’27, chief engineering officer of the 49ers Racing FSAE team and Kulwicki Scholar. “Jan ensures that Alan’s name is more than a label on a building,” Taylor noted. “She keeps his relentless pursuit of excellence alive in our students every day.”

Closing the celebration, Keynton reminded attendees that the ultimate strength of the W.S. Lee College of Engineering is reflected in its people and their real-world impact.

“Each of our honorees represents the ultimate springboard of a Charlotte engineering education,” Keynton concluded. “You are proof that a Niner engineer can shape a multibillion-dollar airport, secure our national power grids, manufacture life-changing medicines, advise NASA, scale startups to the stars or build championship-winning race teams.”

As UNC Charlotte continues its trajectory as a major engine for technology, infrastructure and economic growth, the 2026 Alumni Awards stand as a testament to the extraordinary caliber of talent emerging from Charlotte’s engineering college. 

Written by: Monica Hughes

Photos by: Amy Hart