10/5/2026 Megan Altmyer
Recipients of 2026 ECE Alumni Awards were honored at the annual awards banquet on September 11, 2026.
Written by Megan Altmyer
Recipients of 2026 ECE Alumni Awards were honored at the annual awards banquet on September 11, 2026.
Marcia Peterman ECE Award
The Marcia Peterman ECE Award honors an alumnus, former faculty member, or former staff member whose exceptional service has strengthened the department and enriched the experience of its students, faculty, and alumni.
This year's recipient was Aran Hegarty, "in recognition of outstanding loyalty, commitment, and service to the ECE department and its students, faculty, and alumni.”
ECE Young Alumni Achievement Award
The ECE Young Alumni Achievement Award honors alums in the early stages of their careers who have demonstrated exceptional promise and have made notable advances in their chosen fields since graduating from Illinois ECE. This year, the award was presented to two individuals.
Jong Yoon Lee, "for exceptional leadership in translating computer engineering innovation into globally deployed medical technologies, including multiple FDA-cleared wearable systems, large-scale clinical research platforms, and digital biomarkers that have impacted patient care across more than a dozen countries.”
Pradeep Shenoy, "for leadership and innovation in power electronics and advanced power delivery technologies for automotive and transportation applications.”
Distinguished Alumni Award
The ECE Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates ECE graduates whose professional accomplishments and contributions to the field reflect the excellence of the department and bring distinction to the University. Three individuals received this award this year.
Sharon Xue Yang, "for pioneering leadership in artificial intelligence, social intelligence, and robotics, and for translating intelligent technologies into impactful real-world applications across Intel platforms and commercial robotic systems.”
James Raftery, Jr., "for significant contributions to the education of the next generation of US Army officers in the critical areas of photonics, robotics, and cyber science.”
Prasun Raha, "for pioneering leadership in autonomous vehicle systems and silicon architecture, advanced complex hardware and technology platforms from architectural design through large-scale deployment.”