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.
News release from Purdue University Fort Wayne:
Purdue University Fort Wayne recognizes Top 50 Undergraduate Students, introduces new Top 10 Graduate honor
Fort Wayne, Indiana (April 11, 2026) — 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, IndianaLara Alfadhli
Program: Political Science
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaAbhisar Anand
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Pepperell, MassachusettsAria Baker
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaElla Branneman
Program: Communications Sciences and Disorders
Hometown: New Paris, IndianaLauryn Brucchieri
Program: Biochemistry
Hometown: Brunswick, OhioCelah Dunn
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology
Hometown: Augusta, MichiganJenna Ellsworth
Program: Hospitality and Tourism Management
Hometown: Erie, PennsylvaniaCaleb Evers
Program: Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: Fort Recovery, OhioBreehonie Felger
Program(s): Anthropology & History
Hometown: Arcola, IndianaAva Genovese
Program: Biology
Hometown: Benton Harbor, MichiganPaul Gongwer
Program: Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaPaige Gordon
Program(s): Spanish, Psychology
Hometown: Huntington, IndianaLynn Graham
Program: Information Systems
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaSteven Graham
Program: Marketing
Hometown: Louisville, KentuckyIsabella Hamed
Program: Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaJaythen Haywood
Program(s): Political Science, History
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaJustice Hillery
Program: Psychology
Hometown: Van Wert, OhioMary Isabella Hodges
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology
Hometown: Greenwood, IndianaAlexander Jennings
Program: Mathematics
Hometown: Portage, IndianaPrisha Joshi
Program: Data Science and Applied Science
Hometown: Neemuch, IndiaJenna Karst
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaBrittany Kaufman
Program: Management
Hometown: Winchester, IndianaCourtney Klopfenstein
Program: Biology
Hometown: Garrett, IndianaLauren Klusek
Program: Communication
Hometown: Macomb, MichiganRashida Lan
Program(s): Political Science, Anthropology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaRebekah Landstoffer
Program(s): Accounting, Finance, Money and Banking
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaMahelat Lee
Program: Anthropology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaAmanda Leonard
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s) Biology
Hometown: Troy, MichiganAlana Longardner
Program (certificate): Behavior Analysis and Techniques
Program (bachelor’s): Psychology
Hometown: Ossian, IndianaCarter Manz
Program: Biology
Hometown: Paulding, OhioMaria Martinez
Program: Spanish
Hometown: Cleveland, TexasWendy Maxwell
Program: Accounting
Hometown: Portland, MissouriKatelynn McPhee
Program: Biochemistry
Hometown: Fredrick, MarylandJack Mills
Program: Actuarial Science
Hometown: Columbia City, IndianaAung 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, IndianaHannah Paul
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology
Hometown: Toronto, OntarioAlexis Peruski
Program: Criminal Justice
Hometown: Galesburg, MichiganTanisha Raskar
Program: Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Pune, Maharashtra, IndiaBrianna Revis
Program: Psychology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaArshpreet Singh Sandhu
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Amritsar, Punjab, IndiaDorian Soto
Program: Art Education
Hometown: Lebanon, IndianaElizabeth Strong
Program(s): Chemistry, Data Science and Applied Statistics
Hometown: Kendallville, IndianaMiranda Thomas
Program: Art and Design
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaNikolas Travis
Program: Management
Hometown: New Haven, IndianaSurraya Wagner
Program (associate): Chemical Methods
Program (bachelor’s): Biology, Psychology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaRiona Workman
Program: Secondary Education, Mathematics
Hometown: Van Wert, OhioEllie Zagel
Program: Construction Management
Hometown: West Bend, Wisconsin2026 TOP 10 GRADUATE STUDENTS:
Anastasia Abraham
Program: Professional Communication
Hometown: Takoradi, GhanaHasib Ahmed
Program: Biology
Hometown: Brahmanbaria, BangladeshLakyn Balser
Program: Speech Language Pathology
Hometown: Parkersburg, West VirginiaMelissa Brown
Program: Counselor Education
Hometown: Ossian, IndianaDivya Navale
Program: Computer Science
Hometown: Telangana, IndiaNasiru Nurudeen
Program: Mathematics
Hometown: Kumasi, GhanaAllison Renno
Program: Biology
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaTia Rumple
Program: Counselor Education
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaAndrea Catalina Vigoya Ruiz
Program: Biology
Hometown: Bogota, ColumbiaMyra Witte
Program: Counseling Education
Hometown: Rochester, Indiana2026 EXEMPLARS:
Rebekah Landstoffer
College/School: Doermer School of Business
Program(s): Accounting, Finance, Money and Banking
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaColin Gasson
College/School: College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
Program: Mechanical Engineering Tech
Hometown: Fort Loramie, OhioColten Gasson
College/School: College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
Program: Mechanical Engineering Tech
Hometown: Fort Loramie, OhioBrielle Miller
College/School: School of Education
Program: Human Services
Hometown Decatur, IndianaEden Bailey
College/School: College of Liberal Arts
Program: Anthropology, Women’s Studies
Hometown: Fort Wayne, IndianaVictoria Perna
College/School: College of Science
Program: Communication Sciences & Disorders
Hometown: Hicksville, OhioFrancesca Carlo
College/School: College of Visual and Performing Arts
Program: Web Design
Hometown: Chardon, OhioThe 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 top50@pfw.edu.
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 11th 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.
About Purdue University Fort Wayne
Purdue University Fort Wayne is the largest university in northeast Indiana and is part of the Purdue University system. Purdue Fort Wayne is uniquely positioned to serve the region as a crossroads of intellectual, social, economic, and cultural advancement. Rigorous academics are combined with a focus on student success across prestigious degree programs taught by more than 300 full-time faculty. More than 7,400 students of diverse ages, ethnicities, and nationalities pursue their education on the nearly 600-acre campus. A majority of the Mastodon Alumni Community’s 55,000+ living members reside and work in Indiana, which contributes significantly to the state’s economy, vitality, and intellectual strength. The university is a member of the Horizon League athletics conference, and fields 14 NCAA Division I sports teams. For more information, visit pfw.edu.
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