Two Auburn Engineering students receive President's Awards from the university
Published: Apr 28, 2026 8:20 AM
By Joe McAdory
From left, Al Dean Francisco and Rehman Qureshi.
Two Auburn Engineering students, Rehman Qureshi and Al Dean Francisco, are among the university’s 2026 President’s Awards recipients.
The President’s Awards, presented at a special ceremony on April 15, recognizes one graduate from each college who has completed at least three semesters at Auburn with a minimum grade-point average of 3.40 and possesses outstanding qualities of leadership, citizenship, character and promise of professional ability.
“Each of you represents what is possible when talent is combined with purpose, discipline and a commitment to something greater than yourself,” President Christopher B. Roberts told students. “Your achievements in the classroom, research and service elevate Auburn, and Auburn is stronger because of you.”
Qureshi is graduating with a doctorate in aerospace engineering represented the Auburn University Graduate School. Francisco will receive a bachelor’s degree in bioprocess engineering represented the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
“Auburn has been my home for a decade, and saying goodbye has been more emotional than I expected,” said Qureshi, a Department of War SMART Scholar from Dothan who already owns bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering. “This community welcomed me in 2014 and, over the years, shaped not only my education but the person I have become.
“Auburn taught me what it means to be a leader: how to step forward when needed, support others, and take responsibility for outcomes. It instilled in me a deep sense of personal responsibility, reinforcing that integrity and accountability matter just as much as achievement. It also showed me the importance of the human touch — that behind every project, organization, or mission are people who deserve respect, empathy and understanding.”
Inside the 3i Space Dynamics Lab under the mentorship of Aerospace Engineering Associate Professor Davide Guzzetti, Qureshi developed artificial intelligence (AI) agents that act as satellite‑constellation operators inside high‑speed simulations. Because real constellations cannot be launched repeatedly, the team models the astrodynamics and economics of the satellite‑internet market and lets AI systems train millions of times through reinforcement‑learning simulations.
“Auburn trained me to conduct research at a rigorous standard, to ask meaningful questions, pursue scientific truth with discipline and hold myself to the highest level of academic and professional excellence,” said Qureshi, who served as president of the Graduate School Council. “For all these lessons and more, I will always be grateful. Auburn has prepared me for a lifetime of service and growth.”
Francisco, recipient of the Department of Biosystems Engineering Outstanding Student Award, was also recognized as an Honors Research Scholar through the Honors College.
“This award, I often reflect, is a testament of how Auburn has humbled me to become a ready engineer,” Francisco said. “I have found so many opportunities that only Auburn can offer, but Auburn has always taught me that such opportunities require hard work. I will hold on to this lesson for a lifetime.”
Francisco, a 2023-24 undergraduate research fellow from Vestavia Hills, penned “Microalgae Biomass Production Using Anaerobically Digested Solid Waste from Aquaponics,” under the guidance of post-doctoral researcher Qichen Wang and Brendan Higgins, associate professor in the Department of Biosystems Engineering.
The paper studies whether processed aquaponics waste can safely grow algae for fish feed. One type of waste stopped harmful bacteria and still supported algae after pretreatment, while another blocked algae growth because of high fatty acids. That means extra cleaning steps are needed before the system can work as a closed loop.
Francisco also represented Auburn, with teammates and biosystems engineering students Louie Harris, Ayden Kemp, Hamid Syed and Vivian Usha, in the 2025 Gateways to Blue Skies Competition focused on drone‑enabled fertilization systems. Their project, Proactive Resource Efficiency via Coordinated Imaging and Sprayer Execution System, is a coordinated tandem drone system that applies a slow-release, biochar-based fertilizer where needed based on an advanced imaging analysis of nutrient deficiencies.
“I truly believe Auburn has one of the strongest engineering programs in the world,” Francisco said. “It’s because of the culture and the wordings of our creed that enriches the engineering discipline altogether — Auburn University provides a cooperative environment that allows everyone to motivate each other and excel. It teaches us to be human with our technical expertise.”
Francisco will soon begin his career with NextEra Energy/Florida Power & Light as a distribution engineer.
“Studying biosystems gave me this interest in energy systems and how we can provide reliable and accessible energy to our current population,” Francisco said. “I’m happy that I will learn how this is applied under a great energy solutions company. In the future, I aspire to return to academia, work my way towards a Ph.D. in energy engineering, something similar, and take valuable industry experience in trade for discovery of new sustainable energy solutions.”
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