Manasa Yerragunta, a Chemical Engineering doctoral candidate, was honored at last month’s 2025 Student Employee of the Year Awards Luncheon as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Leadership Award.
Hosted by University Career Services (UCS), the luncheon wrapped up a two-week celebration including Student Employee Appreciation Week and Graduate Student Appreciation Week, bringing into focus the hard-working student employees and graduate assistants who help UH thrive.
Yerragunta’s chemical engineering focus is in crystallization, which is relevant to pharmaceutical industry and specialty chemical operations. Though she knew she had been nominated for the Outstanding Leadership Award by her advisor, she wasn’t sure she would actually win the title.
“There were a lot of people at the nominee lunch, so I was quite surprised when my name was announced as a winner,” she said.
In fact, Yerragunta was only one of 151 total nominees across four Student Employee of the Year award categories. Her supportive, engaged leadership philosophy is part of what made her stand out amongst her peers.
“I think that interest developed naturally from a desire to contribute to the spaces I’m a part of and where I believe I can make a difference or a contribution. I also enjoy training and mentoring students; it feels very rewarding to share what I have learned throughout my journey to help them become more confident and more independent. I find that fulfilling,” Yerragunta said.
“I enjoy being in leadership roles because I feel they challenge me and help me grow as a person,” she added. “It teaches us a lot, especially about people, management, communications, and the responsibility that we take on when we organize or lead a group.”
Soon, Yerragunta will embark on a summer internship with pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), where she is “excited to work on practical, real-world problems.”
“[William A. Brookshire Department Chair] Triantafillos J. Mountziaris introduced me to [Frank Worley Professor] Peter Vekilov and [Director of Graduate Studies and Abraham E. Dukler Professor] JeffreyRimer, who my two advisors right now, and I think that’s the moment when everything changed,” said Yerragunta of her journey so far.
“Working under their guidance has made my journey both smooth and fulfilling, and I think I truly feel like I’m right where I’m meant to be.”