Mestenhauser Student Award

Akash Dhotre is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. He is currently working on a new class of carbon-neutral fuels. Akash is the co-president of the Mechanical Engineering (ME) Grad Council, where he serves as a link between the department and international graduate students and helps those students acclimate to campus life. Akash is dedicated to addressing issues in his field, such as female representation and mental health. He also serves as a mentor to undergraduate and high school students—particularly those interested in STEM and those who speak English as a second language. Akash is involved in several groups and organizations around campus, including Small World Coffee Hour, Council of Graduate Students (COGS), Chess Club, English Club, and ME Graduate Student Association.