Undergraduate Dean’s Medalist: Komal Sandhu, B.S., Civil Engineering

Komal Sandhu is completing her B.S. in Civil Engineering with a GPA of 3.92. Her family immigrated to the United States in 2002, where they eventually settled in Fowler. As the eldest child, she took on responsibilities such as translating documents, navigating the immigration process, and managing the family's finances by the age of 12. She ultimately graduated as valedictorian of Fowler High School, which led to her acceptance as a Smittcamp Family Honors Scholar.   

Komal has actively applied her engineering skills through internships, contributing to structural designs at Cornerstone Structural Engineering Group and working on the California High-Speed Rail Project. She has also engaged in undergraduate research, focusing on enhancing rail industry internship programs and presenting her findings at the 2024 AREMA Annual Conference.   

Her leadership is evident in her roles as president of Tau Beta Pi and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), and as treasurer for the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Komal is committed to community service, participating in outreach events and volunteering for the Marjorie Mason Center.   

Driven by a passion for structural design and problem-solving, Komal will pursue a master’s degree at UC Davis. Her career goal is to obtain a Structural Engineering license and become a project manager, designing safe and impactful structures. Komal's journey, shaped by her family's sacrifices and her father's emphasis on education, reflects her resilience, ambition, and dedication to creating meaningful change.

Graduate Dean’s Medalist: Prem Raj Timilsena, M.S., Construction Management

Prem Raj Timilsena is completing his M.S. degree in Construction Management with a 4.0 GPA. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from Tribhuvan University.

Prem has demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievements, actively contributing to five research projects, including a federally funded National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) project. His research spans areas such as AI in construction, lean construction, and transportation. He has presented his work at international conferences and has multiple publications.

Prem has also gained practical experience as a Construction Technical Intern at Arcadis US Inc., where he supported construction management for the California High-Speed Rail project. His responsibilities included managing regulatory compliance, developing project schedules, and ensuring sustainability protocols. He will continue working on the High-Speed Rail project after graduation.

In addition to his academic and professional accomplishments, Prem has shown leadership and initiative. He co-founded two businesses, MeroSiksha, a digital learning platform, and Budhanilkantha Education Services, an in-person tutoring service. He has also been involved in promoting the use of Bluebeam among students and is a member of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA).