Three members of the School of Computing were honored at the 2025 College of Engineering Employee Awards ceremony on Friday, April 11.
Emeritus Associate Professor Don Costello, Assistant Professor Qiang Liu, and Financial Specialist Patricia Lena were recognized for their contributions to the School of Computing and College of Engineering. Each was presented with a certificate at the ceremony from College of Engineering Dean Lance Perez.
Costello was honored with the Dean’s Lifetime Faculty Service Award, which recognizes long-term dedicated service to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and College of Engineering.
“We honor Don Costello, a remarkable individual who helped established the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at UNL in 1968 and dedicated over 40 years to teaching courses like cryptography, computational intelligence, and supply chain management. A Distinguished Lecturer for the ACM and a Fellow of the British Computer Society, he balanced professional experience with a deep love for connecting with students through the sharing of experiences and life stories. Grateful to the state and university he served so long, his legacy is one of knowledge, humility, and even a legendary moment—having once met Babe Ruth.”
Liu received the Edgerton Rising Faculty Research Award, which recognizes assistant professors who have shown remarkable promise in their early research endeavors. Liu was selected for the award for his pioneering contributions to intelligent network systems and artificial intelligence- and machine learning-driven architectures, which have significantly advanced the field with broad implications for scientific progress and technological innovation.
Lena was recognized with a College Staff Outstanding Performance Award, which celebrates individuals for exemplary performance toward achieving the vision and mission of the college. Lena’s nominators said, “Her proactive approach extends beyond oversight. She goes the extra mile to project expenses and frequently update financial data, helping us plan strategically for the future.”
View the full list of College of Engineering 2025 Employee Award recipients here.
