We’re thrilled to recognize this year’s ITS Students of the Year—outstanding scholars and leaders who exemplify excellence in research, service, and community engagement. With a strong pool of nominees, we proudly honor the following recipients:
Ph.D. Student of the Year
Ziad Yassine
Ph.D. Candidate, Civil & Environmental Engineering
Ziad is a standout researcher advancing equity and sustainability in transportation. His work on electric vehicle carsharing programs for low-income communities in Los Angeles has led to multiple publications in top journals and is shaping national conversations on mobility justice. A committed educator and research leader, Ziad also serves as a teaching assistant for CEE 256: Transportation Sustainability and contributes to policy-impacting research at the Transportation Sustainability Research Center, including collaborations with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). His scholarship and service mark him as a future leader in transportation engineering.
Master’s Students of the Year (Co-Award)
Jacob Champlin & Ameen DaCosta
Dual Degree Students, Master of Science in Civil & Environmental Engineering and Master of City & Regional Planning
Jacob and Ameen have been passionate ambassadors for transportation at UC Berkeley and beyond. As TRANSOC co-presidents, they led a vibrant calendar of events, including Transit Month activities, alumni mixers, field trips, and transportation seminars. Their leadership has strengthened the student community and elevated engagement with professionals and alumni alike. They’ve also represented the Berkeley transportation community through podcasts, media appearances, and their involvement in the BART speed team. Their enthusiasm, service, and generosity have left a lasting impact.
Congratulations to Ziad, Jacob, and Ameen for this well-deserved honor!