Ramsey Smith and Trey Blystone Receive the 2025 George Washington Prize
On Thursday, March 20, at its annual banquet, the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania awarded University of Pittsburgh undergraduate students Ramsey Smith and Trey Blystone with the 2025 George Washington Prize. Both recipients will receive a $2,500 cash prize and a $7,500 Dean’s Fellowship to pursue graduate studies at Pitt.
“I am so impressed with our George Washington Prize finalists,” said Mary Besterfield-Sacre, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Nickolas A. DeCecco Professor in Industrial Engineering. “Their accomplishments at the undergraduate level are already remarkable, making a difference here at Pitt and across the Pittsburgh community. I’m excited to see how they continue to grow and impact our region while earning their graduate degrees.”
A member of the David C. Frederick Honors College, Ramsey Smith has earned a 4.0 grade point average while dual majoring in chemical engineering and biological sciences, with a minor in chemistry. Along with his stellar academic performance, Smith has held leadership roles in Pitt’s Student Government Board and the Pitt chapter of Triangle Fraternity, a fraternity of engineers, architects, and scientists. He has completed four summer internships in health care; three global programs, in Cyprus, India, and Costa Rica; and 175 hours of community service.
Trey Blystone, also a member of the Frederick Honors College, is pursuing a major in civil engineering with a concentration in structural engineering, a minor in economics, and a certificate in sustainability. He has contributed to research projects in the DISCOVER Lab, including the use of LIDAR scanning used in the rebuilding of the Fern Hollow Bridge. For three years, he has served on the executive board of the student chapter of ASCE, captaining the 3D Printed Bridge Competition Team, and he was as a project lead at Pitt’s chapter of Engineers Without Borders. For the third consecutive summer, Blystone will intern at Michael Baker Inc., and this fall, he will pursue a Master of Science in Civil Engineering at the Swanson School of Engineering.
Also recognized at the banquet was George Washington Award finalist Jerome Poravanthattil. The Executive Vice President of Pitt’s Incline Consulting Group, a student-run organization supporting area nonprofits, Poravanthattil will graduate in April with a degree in industrial engineering. Active across Pitt’s campus, he is part of Pitt’s Electric Boat Building Club, Pitt News ad sales, and Pitt Men’s Cheerleader Line. As a finalist, Poravanthattil will receive $500 and a $2,500 Dean’s Fellowship to pursue graduate studies at Pitt.
Each year, the Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania awards the George Washington Prize to celebrate student leaders in engineering and encourage them to pursue graduate degrees.