During May commencement ceremonies the College of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin recognized four outstanding young graduates who have become influential leaders in the engineering community. They are Blake Battaglia, Laura Johnson O’Donnell, Amarpreet S. Sawhney and Michael W. Smart.
Blake Battaglia graduated in 1996 with a degree in electrical and computer engineering. In 1998, Battaglia joined ABRY Partners where he has worked in sourcing, structuring, financing and monitoring numerous investments in several media and communications sub-sectors. He has served as a director of Nexstar Broadcast Group, Atlantic Broadband, WideOpenWest, Hometown Broadband and Cast & Crew Entertainment and is a member of the university’s Chancellor’s Council and Littlefield Society.
Laura Johnson O’Donnell graduated with an aerospace engineering degree with highest honors in 1990. She is the founder and owner of Synthese, LLC and works to connect satellites with homes and cars. In 2002, she was named vice president of product development where she led the deployment of innovative services including digital video recording, high definition and interactive. O’Donnell is an active supporter of the university’s aerospace engineering program and served on their external advisory council from 1996-1999.
Amarpreet S. Sawhney, founder, president and chief executive officer of I-Therapeutix, Inc., graduated in 1989 with a master’s degree and in 1992 with a doctoral degree, both in chemical engineering. Before founding Therapeutix, which works to serve ophthalmic surgical needs, he founded two other companies, Confluent Surgical, which produces medical devices and Focal, Inc., a medical sealant manufacturer. He is also a Friend of Alec in the College of Engineering.
Michael W. Smart earned his master’s degree in structural engineering in 1996 and is a senior bridge engineer at International Bridge Technologies, Inc, a business he co-founded with his mentor, Daniel Tassin. In 2004, the company won the American Council of Engineering Companies Grand Award for Excellence in Engineering Design for the Santa Catarina Bridge and has completed other bridge projects in Australia, India and the United States. Smart is also a longtime supporter of UT’s structural engineering program.
Outstanding Young Graduates are selected based on
• distinguished contributions to the practice of engineering,
• excellent direction to an organization that has made noteworthy national or international contributions,
• exceptional community service,
• strong interest in the College of Engineering,
• exceptional role modeling to current or prospective engineering students.
