The Arkansas Alumni Association announced the 2024 Seniors Awards on May 9. Selected based on their academic achievements, leadership skills and extracurricular campus and/or community activities, the Seniors of Significance are the only students on campus who are eligible for the next two tiers of the Alumni Association’s Senior Awards program: The Razorback Classics and Senior Honor Citation.

Zayna Abu-Safe, 2024 Senior of Significance

Born and raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Zayna has a rich family legacy at the University of Arkansas, with both her parents and two older sisters being proud alumni. Inspired by her sister Nour, Zayna chose to pursue a degree in industrial engineering, a decision that shaped her academic journey.

Zayna's time at the University of Arkansas was marked by her active involvement in various organizations and roles. She was a dedicated member of the National Society for Black Engineers, where she contributed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the engineering field. Additionally, she played a vital role in the Office of Career Connections as a Social Media Career Ambassador and Career Peer Mentor, helping fellow students navigate their career paths and enhance their professional skills.

She has been supported by several prestigious scholarships, including the AAIE Steve and Bobbe Schulte Scholarship, Ron and Betty Morris AAIE Endowed Scholarship in Industrial Engineering, AAIE Hamdy and Karen Taha Scholarship, AAIE Robert and Ellen Etien Scholarship, and the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineering Scholarship.

Zayna gained practical experience through various internships and projects. As a Data Analyst Intern with the College of Engineering, she honed her analytical skills and contributed to important data-driven projects. She also showcased her versatility by driving a golf cart for the Fowler House during football season.

In her senior year, Zayna worked with J.B. Hunt on a Capstone team, focusing on improving the zone definition process using clustering and optimization techniques. Her team's outstanding efforts earned them the Project of the Year award. Further professional experience included a Project Engineering Internship with Phillips-Medisize, where she applied her engineering knowledge to real-world challenges.

As a graduate, Zayna is embarking on a new chapter in her career as a Quality Engineer in the Engineering Development Program at Georgia-Pacific. This opportunity with Koch companies, which she connected with at the STEM Fair, promises to be an exciting and fulfilling continuation of her engineering journey.

Blake Sooter, 2024 Senior of Significance and Razorback Classic

Blake, an avid Razorback fan from Bentonville, Arkansas, has demonstrated a deep passion for the University of Arkansas (U of A) community through extensive involvement and remarkable achievements during his undergraduate years. As the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) student chapter president in 2023-24, Blake's leadership was pivotal in hosting the IISE South Central Regional Conference. His dedication extended to his active membership in Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering honor society.

Blake's academic excellence was recognized through his status as an Honors College Fellow, the university’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship. His commitment to education was further evidenced by his role as an undergraduate teaching assistant for more than two years in the Computing Methods I/II course, where he earned the Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant award twice.

Under the guidance of Dr. Chase Rainwater, Blake conducted undergraduate research focused on optimization for last-mile delivery and other applications, supported by multiple Honors College research grants. His findings were showcased at the IISE Annual Conference in 2023. Additionally, he contributed as a research assistant at the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies.

Blake led his capstone team, sponsored by Infinity Labs, to significant recognition. At the 2023 Capstone Symposium, their work on applying a Markov Decision Process to hiring decisions earned them the Outstanding Achievement in Modeling award and a selection for the IISE Annual Outstanding Capstone showcase.

Throughout his undergraduate career, Blake received numerous accolades, including Outstanding Freshman in Industrial Engineering (2021), Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant in Industrial Engineering (2023 and 2024), and Outstanding Senior in Industrial Engineering (2024). His distinction as a Razorback Classic by the Arkansas Alumni Association highlighted his status as one of the top 20 graduating seniors across all majors at U of A. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from the College of Engineering.

Blake gained valuable industry experience through three internships at Procter & Gamble, working in various divisions of the Supply Network Operations (SNO) organization in Fayetteville, AR, Cincinnati, OH, and Shippensburg, PA. He is set to further his education by pursuing an M.S. in Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas in Fall 2024.

Rachel Thomas, 2024 Senior of Significance and Razorback Classic

Rachel, a proud fifth-generation Razorback from Fayetteville, Arkansas, graduated with Highest Distinction from the University of Arkansas following in the footsteps of her mother and grandfather. Her senior year saw her honored as a member of the 2023 Homecoming Court and recognized as both a Senior of Significance and a Razorback Classic.

Throughout her undergraduate career, Rachel actively contributed to the Department of Industrial Engineering. She served as Secretary and Treasurer for the Arkansas chapter of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) and as Media Chair for the Alpha Pi Mu industrial engineering honor society. Her commitment to education was further demonstrated by her role as an undergraduate teaching assistant under Dr. Tish Pohl, supporting courses in Facility Logistics and Work Methods and Ergonomics.

In her senior year, Rachel led a capstone project partnered with J.B. Hunt Final Mile. Her exemplary leadership earned her recognition as an Outstanding Team Leader, and her team received the Project of the Year Award. Additionally, they were semi-finalists in the National IISE Outstanding Senior Design Competition, ranking among the top 20 teams. Her academic excellence was acknowledged by the College of Engineering, which named her a First-Ranked Senior Scholar. She also received the Hytrol Challenge Award and the Industrial Engineering Outstanding Sophomore Award.

Rachel's involvement on campus extended beyond academics. As a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority, she served as Director of Philanthropy and Director of Member Selection. In her role as Philanthropy Director, she led her chapter in raising over $60,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital through various events and partnerships with local businesses. Her contributions were recognized with the Panhellenic Council's Major Greek Award and the Scholastic Woman of the Month Award.

After her junior year, Rachel interned with MasterCard as an Associate Consultant Intern in Data & Services. This fall, she will return to MasterCard as an Associate Consultant on the Business Experimentation Track while planning to pursue a master’s degree concurrently with her full-time work.

Check out the full news story about the Arkansas Alumni Association Honors here.

 

Published June 10, 2024