As a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), Maneesha Wickramasuriya goes above and beyond to help students succeed. He was selected for the department’s 2026 Outstanding GTA Award for his exceptional dedication to teaching, student mentorship, and instructional support.
Maneesha has served as a GTA since 2022, supporting a variety of undergraduate courses and capstone design projects over the past four years. His motivation to take on this role stems from his belief that education is one of the most powerful ways to improve the world. In addition to teaching technical concepts and grading assignments, he plays an important part in students’ academic journey as a mentor and role model for MAE students.
“What makes teaching especially meaningful to me is seeing the students I helped become successful. Even if I contributed only a small part to their journey, knowing that I helped someone move forward gives me a huge sense of satisfaction,” said Maneesha. “Through my years as a GTA, I had the opportunity to work closely with many undergraduate students, build strong friendships, and earn their trust and respect.”
This is exemplified by the number of student recommendations Maneesha received for this award. In the nomination letter drafted by Professor Taeyong Lee, 70 students offered their support, along with five additional faculty members, each emphasizing his technical competence, professionalism, and genuine commitment to student learning.
In his recommendation, recent graduate Matthew Chapin shared a memory from his team’s capstone project: “During the RTX 2025-2026 Capstone, Maneesh was able to encourage us to keep progressing despite various technical and interpersonal problems. He assisted us specifically with our drone and working with autonomy algorithms, which allowed our team to build a ground and aerial vehicle that was capable of autonomous navigation.”
Maneesha is particularly proud of this moment because of the growth he witnessed in these students. By encouraging them to believe in themselves, he saw the team move from doubting themselves in the face of difficult technical challenges to confidently solving problems independently and successfully demonstrating their systems.
“Receiving this award means a great deal to me personally because it reflects the impact I was able to make on students and the department community,” said Maneesha.
“To me, success feels real when the people you helped, supported, and inspired are there applauding you because they know the effort and care you put into your work. That belief motivates me to work hard every day, not only for my own achievements, but also for the people around me,” he concluded.