This year, five spectacular graduating students were recognized as Outstanding Women in Engineering at SWE's Evening with Industry. The winners are: Nidhi Raviprasad, Belen Martinez Espinoza, Sakiko Pizzorno, Santina Gatti, and Reagan Denny.

 

Meet the Winners

Nidhi Raviprasad

Computer Science 

Nidhi is a truly impressive student and person, described by one of her faculty members as not only talented and technically adept, but also as an incredibly positive and uplifting classmate and team member. She has served as the president of the student club Women Involved in Software and Hardware (WISH) for two consecutive years and has held multiple officer positions including Treasurer and Scholarship Director within the Society of Women Engineers, all while maintaining a nearly perfect GPA. Beyond Cal Poly, Nidhi has had numerous internships with companies including Atlassian and Aethon Labs. 

Belen Martinez Espinoza

Architectural Engineering

Belen is an exceptional student whose perseverance, work ethic, and passion for engineering set her apart. Before transferring to Cal Poly, she attended five community colleges to meet the rigorous requirements of the Architectural Engineering program. Since arriving at Cal Poly, she has excelled academically, earning Dean’s List honors every eligible quarter while supporting herself financially. She distinguished herself in demanding coursework, including Structural Steel Design, where she was recognized as the most outstanding student in her class. Beyond the classroom, Belen has been active in the Structural Engineers Association of California and gained professional experience through an internship at Labib Funk + Associates. Faculty describe Belen as an inspiration to her peers and a future leader in the profession. 

Sakiko Pizzorno

Electrical Engineering

Sakiko has established herself as a pioneer and leader on campus, founding the Women in Electrical Engineering club and holding leadership roles within Theta Tau and the EE Department’s Technical Services Group. Beyond Cal Poly, she has gained impressive professional experience at Rantec Power Systems and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Additionally, she recently accepted a co-op position with NASA at the Armstrong Flight Research Center. Sakiko is recognized by her faculty for her technical precision, reliability, and ability to perform under pressure. Described as both a gifted engineer and a natural leader, she exemplifies excellence in every way. 

Santina Gatti

Environmental Engineering

Santina is an extraordinary student whose academic excellence, research innovation, and passion have truly set her apart. Santina is an international student who came to the US to study Environmental Engineering. Beyond the classroom, she has made remarkable contributions to engineering and sustainability research at Cal Poly, including co-founding CarbonCatch Technologies and leading a carbon capture project that earned first place at the WERC Engineering Design Competition and resulted in peer-reviewed publications. She is praised by her faculty for her intellectual independence, creativity, and ability to translate complex theory into meaningful real-world impact. 

Reagan Denny

Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering

Reagan's impact spans engineering, policy, and campus leadership. During her time at Cal Poly, she has served as Chair of the Associated Students, Inc. Board of Directors, leading a 24-member governing board, representing 24,000 students, and helping oversee a $22 million annual budget. She has also built an impressive professional record through internships with organizations including Stantec, Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, the Agricultural Council of California, and the Northern California Water Association. Prior to Cal Poly, Reagan served as a California FFA State Officer, one of six selected statewide to lead and represent over 100,000 members. Praised by faculty for her analytical strength, professionalism, and civic-minded leadership, Reagan will continue her path as she attends law school after graduating.

Nominees

This year, the engineering departments sent in 19 outstanding nominees, each exemplifying leadership, talent, and drive along with a slew of accomplishments and experiences. Take a closer look at all of the wonderful nominees!

2026 Outstanding Women in Engineering Nominees

Evening With Industry

Evening with Industry, a SWE event, starts with a networking session where you can connect with several company representatives and industry members. After networking, you have a dinner with the company of your choice for a more in-depth conversation, a delicious dinner, an inspiring keynote speaker, and awards and scholarship presentation.