Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Each year, WPI recognizes first-year students for excellence in their academic work with the designation as Charles O. Thompson Scholars. These students are eligible to compete for a scholarship by submitting an essay that completes the picture of their contributions to the WPI community during their first year.

The program empowers students to become agents of change at their schools. Fellows work to ensure that their peers gain the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to compete in the economy of the future and make a positive impact on the world.

Packard set a NEWMAC record and won two events to lead WPI women's track & field to a second-place finish at the 2018 conference championship meet Saturday. The sophomore improved 36 spots (43rd to 7th) on the NCAA Division III performance list with a NEWMAC and school record time of 4:31.08 in the 1,500-meter run. The time displaced MIT's Maryann Gong who clocked a 4:34.06 at the 2015 meet. Packard then posted a 2:14.41 to earn gold in the 800-meter run.

Rus set two school records, one NEWMAC championship record and won a pair of events as the team finished second Saturday. He began by teaming with Oliver Thomas, Antoine Harris and Nick Fleury to secure the first victory of the day with a 42.48 in the 4x100-meter relay. He went on to handed in a NEWMAC and WPI record of 48.17 in the 400-meter dash, which ranks 11th on the NCAA performance list. The sophomore then wrapped up his day with a school-record 21.83 in the 200-meter dash.

WPI senior Ama Biney and freshman Nicole Kuberka have been named as the NEWMAC Athlete and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. It was the only weekly awards sweep of the season and the first since Springfield claimed both on March 20, 2017. WPI also accomplished the feat March 14, 2016 and April 13, 2015.

Honorees must have met the following criteria: earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2017 fall semester, achieved second year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.

The Engineers, ranked ninth in the CRCA/USRowing Coaches Top 15, crossed the finish line in 6:44.30 while 11th-ranked Tufts followed with a 6:46.01 in the cup portion of the headline race. No. 12 William Smith also rowed a sub-seven minute 2K to take third.

Marlies de Jong, Melissa Bazakas-Chamberlain, Jasmine Loukola, Christine Hovermale, Sarah Wutka, Kinsey McNamara, Eva Barinelli, Diana Celaj and coxswain Madison Healey was the first WPI crew to capture the Bernard Brown Cup since 2013.

The quartet consisting of Oliver Thomas, Antoine Harris, Alex Rus and Nick Fleury was second to Middlebury by .01 in a head-to-head race as the foursome collaborated to post a 42.87.

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project addressing a challenge in their major field of study. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university's more than 40 off-campus project centers, which are located around the world.

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project addressing a challenge in their major field of study. About two-thirds of students complete a project at one of the university's 40 off-campus project centers, which are located around the world.

WPI sophomore Alex Rus, senior Paul-Henry Schoenhagen, sophomore Nick Fleury and senior Warren Staver teamed up to earn NEWMAC Men's Relay Team of the Week accolades.

WPI freshman Katy Nippert, freshman Arden Tanner, senior Taylor Teed and senior Sara Velleca were lauded as the NEWMAC Women's Relay Team of the Week.

The senior, who finished the week with 162 career stolen bases, took over the top spot as the active leader across all three NCAA divisions and moved into third place all-time in Division III during Thursday's twinbill at Clark. Murphy-Cook also batted .560 (14-for-25) with a double, three RBI and 11 runs scored.

The junior batted 4-for-4 and drove in a pair as part of a five-run seventh inning that separated the Engineers and Coast Guard Friday afternoon. In all, Tropeano was 10-for-18 (.556) with six RBI, two runs and 11 total bases on the week.

Wood, the fourth different Engineer to claim the award this season, returned to the lineup and batted .714 (5-for-7) with a pair of doubles Saturday, including 3-for-3 and the game-winning RBI hit in game two, as the Engineers swept No. 20 Babson. The junior also represented the Boynton Hillers initial go-ahead run in the 3-2 triumph. The Engineers have now won three of four games versus nationally-ranked opponents.

Lambert, who was also tabbed as the WPI Women's Student-Athlete of the Week, won her first high jump competition of the season and ended the weekend atop the NEWMAC performance list with a clearance of 5-2.5. It is the senior's ninth career win and third in as many trips to the Amherst Spring Fling. The victory also helped the Engineers take the team crown for the third consecutive season.

Lambert won her first high jump competition of the season and ended the weekend atop the NEWMAC performance list with a clearance of 5-2.5. It is the senior's ninth career win and third in as many trips to the Amherst Spring Fling.

The 4x100-meter quartet earned gold at Saturday's Amherst Spring Fling with a time of 43.40, which was 1.45 quicker than Wheaton and 1.52 faster than Brandeis. The performance is also second on the NEWMAC performance list.

The Varsity Eight from the rowing team has been tabbed as the WPI Male Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending Sunday, April 8th. Nathan Pietrowicz, Jeremy Hemingway, Michael Eaton, Ben Thornton, Trevor Dowd, Frank Campanelli, Isaac Beeman, Lorenzo Dube and coxswain Kenedi Heather bested Wesleyan by less than a second to retain the Class of 2003 Cup on Saturday. The crew then raced as two fours, with Heather hot-seating, to defeat Bates, Hamilton and Conn College in both races. Bates and WPI will battle again next weekend in the eights.

At WPI, all undergraduates are required to complete a research-driven, professional-level project that applies science and technology to addresses an important societal need or issue.

LeClaire batted .529 with a slugging percentage of .765 and an on-base percentage of .550, as well as three extra base hits, two doubles, and one triple in a 5-1 week. The junior went 2-for-3 in the Engineers game one triumph versus No. 12 Amherst and went on to go a combined 5-for-6 in Saturday's twinbill against Wheaton. LeClaire helped the Engineers to two league sweeps over Springfield and Wheaton while boasting a perfect fielding percentage at first base with 45 putouts and six assists.

D'Agostino did not allow an earned run on three hits and one walk, and struck out a career-high 11 batters in game one Saturday versus Emerson. The lefty also held the Lions to .120 in the seven inning triumph.

Saucier earned three of the Engineers five wins, including a triumph over No. 12 Amherst. The senior was also key in the openers versus Springfield and Wheaton. In 18 1/3 innings, Saucier allowed just six runs while scattering 19 hits and registering six strikeouts en route to improving to 6-1 on the season.

Rus captured the 400 meter dash title at the Tufts Snowflake Classic on Saturday by turning in a time of 49.79. His performance is the best so far this season in the NEWMAC and led a WPI medal sweep in the event as Warren Staver and Paul-Henry Schoenhagen placed second (49.80) and third (50.37).

The Division III Scholars of Distinction program recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher through the first semester of the 2017-18 academic year while the National Academic Squad program recognizes those student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher through the first semester of the 2017-18 academic year. The Division III National Academic Team Award, meanwhile, recognizes those programs that earned a team GPA of 3.0 or higher during the Fall Semester of the 2017-18 academic year.

Gonzales batted .714 (5-for-7) with eight RBI and four runs scored, as well as an eye-popping 1.571 slugging percentage as a result of hitting for the cycle over the course of Saturday's NEWMAC split at Emerson. The rookie was 3-for-3 with a triple, four RBI and two runs scored in the opener and 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, four RBI and two runs in the game two triumph.

Gonzales batted .714 (5-for-7) with eight RBI and four runs scored, as well as an eye-popping 1.571 slugging percentage as a result of hitting for the cycle over the course of Saturday's NEWMAC split at Emerson. The rookie was 3-for-3 with a triple, four RBI and two runs scored in the opener and 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, four RBI and two runs in the game two triumph.

D'Agostino allowed only two earned runs and struck out 15 as he went 1-1 for the Engineers. The southpaw had a strong start to the week with a career-high nine strikeouts in the 8-1 win versus Mass. Maritime. He went on to fan six MIT batters and finish the week with a 1.86 ERA.

Brendan Marion was tabbed as the New England Wrestling Association (NEWA) Co-Rookie of the Year while head coach Steve Hall '87 took home the association's Coach of the Year award. Tyler Marsh added to the Crimson and Gray honors by being selected the All-NEWA first team while six others drew honorable mention praise from the conference and 13 were named to the all-academic team.