2025 Dean's Medalists

Komal Sandhu B.S. Civil Engineering

Komal Sandhu, of San Joaquin, earned her B.S. in civil engineering with a 3.9 GPA. In middle school, she attended an engineering summer camp at Fresno State that sparked her passion for engineering and solidified her aspiration to pursue it as a career. Sandhu, a Smittcamp Family Honors College Scholar, held multiple leadership roles, including president of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, treasurer of the American Society of Civil Engineers, president of Tau Beta Pi and K-12 outreach coordinator for the Society of Women Engineers. She served as a tutor and instructional student assistant. Additionally, she worked as an undergraduate research assistant for a project related to building successful rail industry internship programs. In 2023, Sandhu completed an internship with Flatiron Construction, where she participated in a California High-Speed Rail project. She went on to be a junior engineer intern at Cornerstone Structural Engineering Group. This fall, she will pursue a master’s degree at UC Davis. Her goal is to obtain a structural engineering license and advance to a project manager role. Through her work, she hopes to contribute to society by designing safe, efficient and lasting structures that serve the public.

Prem Raj Timilsena, M.S. Construction Management 

Prem Raj Timilsena, of Nepal, earned his M.S. in construction management with a 4.0 GPA. He previously earned a B.S. in civil engineering from Tribhuvan University in Nepal. He contributed to multiple research projects, including the National Cooperative Highway Research Program Project 23-39, which focuses on workforce development for transportation construction inspectors. He co-authored a technical report on highway infrastructure inspection technologies published by the Mineta Transportation Institute and recognized in the Transportation Research Board Weekly. Timilsena published and presented his research on artificial intelligence in construction project management at the International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management 2024 in Japan. His study on engaging younger students in construction fields was accepted for publication and presentation at the Associated Schools of Construction Conference in Canada. He is a champion of the Fresno State Bluebeam User Group and has collaborated with faculty to conduct career workshops for middle and high school students. He also helped organize the K-12 Railroad Model Competition through the Fresno State Transportation Institute. He is currently an intern at Arcadis US Inc., where he has contributed to the California High-Speed Rail project. After graduation, Timilsena will transition to a full-time position with the company.