Continuing a tradition that began six years ago, the University of Miami College of Engineering held a competition for students to design the medals worn by seniors during their commencement ceremony. Awarded to graduates who have shown exceptional achievement in areas ranging from civic engagement to academic excellence, the medals honor engineering students while highlighting their accomplishments in a wearable design.
It was a true team effort this year, with two students behind the winning design: Ben Broyles, a biomedical engineering major, and Nicole DeAbreu, an industrial engineering major. They originally submitted separate designs, but the selection committee liked both so much they asked them to combine their ideas into one medal.
"Nicole and I were finalists in the medal design competition, and we ended up merging our ideas into a single concept that represented both of our visions. We’re proud of the final result and to have it awarded to our fellow engineers in recognition for everything they’ve accomplished during their time here," Ben said.
The front of the medal features a gear with six teeth, representing the unity and collaborative spirit of the six departments in the college. Two of Nicole’s favorite design elements are the new bridge being built in Miami, representing civil and architectural engineering, and the SpaceX ship, symbolizing mechanical and aerospace engineering. Ben loves how the background pattern mirrors the distinctive wavy design found on the exterior of the McArthur Engineering Building, designed by Miami architect Wahl Snyder in 1959.
It took collaboration across multiple departments to bring their computer-aided design to life. Nicole and Ben are thankful to those who worked behind the scenes, including Charles Tomonto, mechanical engineering professor; Nina Miville, associate professor and associate dean of undergraduate programs; and research assistant Audivon Galliguez. While the College of Engineering is renowned for its 3D Printing Center of Excellence Collaborative Laboratory, the team worked with industry partner, Xyresic LLC. to 3D print the medal in titanium.
The 2025 commencement medal is just the beginning for Nicole and Ben as they look toward their own bright futures beyond graduation. Nicole, one of the first graduates in the new financial engineering concentration, is going to work for Citibank while starting a master’s program at UM in management of technology.
"I’ve always been interested in the science side of things, so I always had in mind that I wanted to pursue some kind of engineering. Once I learned about industrial engineering, I saw the tools it would give me to solve real-world problems in the future. That is a perfect fit for me," Nicole said.
"I’ll be joining Citibank’s rotational program in wealth management. My background in engineering taught me how to approach problems strategically and think in terms of systems, which I know will be valuable in finance and in any future projects I take on."
Ben has always been interested in a career in medicine. He is especially passionate about helping people regain independence, particularly those living with disabilities.
"Studying biomedical engineering before medical school felt like a natural step, since it gave me the chance to better understand how technology can improve patient care and drive innovation in healthcare," Ben said.
"After graduation, I’ll be taking a gap year before medical school to work on SimuStride, a startup I co-founded that is building an augmented reality rehabilitation system for amputees. My time in engineering has completely transformed the way I think about both problems and solutions. I’m looking forward to becoming a physician who not only treats patients in clinic but also helps change the systems and tools we use to care for them."
The opportunities for this talented duo are truly limitless, thanks to a foundation of community, expertise, and innovation at the college which, of course, is entirely by design.
