4/10/2023 Helen Chang 2 min read
Written by Helen Chang
Third-year mechanical engineering undergraduate Jaden Thompson has been named a 2023 recipient of the prestigious Knight of St. Patrick award. The Knight of St. Patrick is granted by the Grainger College of Engineering to students who embody leadership, excellence in character, and exceptional contribution within the college. The Knights of St. Patrick attend the annual Knight’s Ball, hosted during Engineering Open House to celebrate the award winners.
Inspired by the University of Missouri’s tradition of celebrating the Knights of St. Patrick, the award made its way to UIUC in 1950, where it has been celebrated every year by electing 10-12 students in the Grainger College of Engineering. Thompson is one of 11 winners this year.
Thompson, who is from Houston, Texas, reflected on interactions he had with the Morrill Engineering Program (MEP) students and staff to learn about the Illini Motorsports and SAE programs at Illinois. “The [Illini Motorsports] team has developed me greatly,” he said. “[They] pushed me to step into uncomfortable and challenging situations and allowed me to work with some of the most driven engineers in the college.”
He currently serves as the Business and Administration Lead at Illini Motorsports, where he manages the budget and maintains relationships with a multitude of sponsors for the FSAE team at UIUC to make sure the team moves smoothly within the financial field. He also serves as a leader for the Aerodynamics Project team, designing and optimizing wing orientations.
As a prospective engineer interested in either the automotive or aerospace industry, Thompson is thankful to the MEP program for encouraging and inspiring him to take a leap and commit to U of I. “Dean Ivan Favila and Victor Cervantes are doing incredible work to provide a welcoming environment for underrepresented engineers, and the inclusion of student leaders in this work is highly effective,” he said. “My favorite class to date has been ME 310 with Professor Ewoldt.”
Congratulations to the 2023 Knights of St. Patrick!
- Bella Watters (Aero)
- Mary Ehmann (ChBE)
- Daniela Marquez (ISE)
- Giselle Soares (ChBE)
- Jaden Thompson (MechSE)
- Abby Culloton (CEE)
- Liam Reynolds (ABE)
- Elias Hadgu (CS)
- Leah Courtney (CEE)
- Komol Patel (Aero)
- Riccelo Guidorizzi (ISE)