2025–26 Dean's and Rector's List Prize Ceremony Held Earlier this Month

The Faculty of Engineering's outstanding student awards ceremony for the 2025–26 academic year was held this June. Thirty-three students received the Dean's Prize, and an additional three received the Rector's Prize. 

The ceremony was hosted by Dr. Hila Chalutz-Ben Gal. The opening remarks by Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Orit Shefi, were followed by a short lecture by Dr. Yosi Panfil, a new faculty member, about how engineering has changed history. 

Excellence is not a result – it's a lifestyle

Next on stage was student representative, Elad Cohen, a second-year electrical engineering student. "It's easy to measure success in numbers, GPAs, and end results. But those of us here today know that excellence is not a result – it's a lifestyle. It embodies uncompromising investment, dedication, and persistence; it is the ability to deepen our understanding, to endure constant pressure and tight deadlines over long periods of time. Excellence is the decision to give it your all, even when no one is looking," said Elad. 

Elad noted that this year, the term "above and beyond" took on new meaning for many students and reservists, himself included. "The path to excellence did not only pass through the lecture halls. It passed through the field, command centers, long night shifts, and a reality of ongoing uncertainty. The fact that we are standing here today is proof that academic resilience and national resilience go hand in hand."

Your support is our Faculty's certificate of excellence

Elad wished to thank the families for giving the students room to grow and providing them with the infrastructure to make excellence their lifestyle. Speaking on behalf of the students on reserve duty, Elad also thanked Dr. Sharon Cohen and the administrative staff. "Your support is our Faculty's certificate of excellence. Knowing that there is someone who would listen and offer a solution to every issue is what kept us going and allowed us to advance in both worlds," he said, adding: "To me, this approach reflects what sets our Faculty apart. I remember when I first came here on Open Day. What struck me most was the concern and care for the individual. The feeling that there's something here beyond technological excellence."

The tech leaders of tomorrow

Elad also recalled the initial conversation with Daen of the Faculty, Prof. Orit Shefi, and the term that caught his attention, 'the figure of the engineer'. "She spoke about the meaning and vision beyond the formula sheet. It sent me straight back to my time at officer training school, the 'figure of the officer' – this comparison is not coincidental. The engineers we shape here do not only possess professional tools, but a set of values: accountability, critical thinking, and leading by example. The faculty teaches us not only how to build systems, but how to be the tech leaders of tomorrow."

"Over the past three years, we have been living a complex reality that affects all of our lives, putting us to the test every single day. It is this challenging period that stresses our importance as a group, the next generation of engineers; to contribute to Israel's resilience and future, and maintain its qualitative edge by producing technological innovation and uncompromising academic excellence. And so, my friends, we must persist and aspire to perfect our time here as students."