Commencement
Spring 2026 Honoree: Ella Goode
Computer Science
The President’s Award of Distinction is the highest accolade conferred upon an undergraduate student by Kennesaw State University. The award illuminates one exceptional graduating Owl each semester and honors those who have soared above and beyond in their academic pursuits, research achievements, leadership roles, or service to the community.
Ella Goode is graduating summa cum laude, earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with minors in management and software engineering. During her time at Kennesaw State and as a member of the KSU Journey Honors College, she has engaged with her campus community across multiple hemispheres.
Within her home college, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, she has participated in events since her freshman year, competing in multiple hackathons and ideathons.
She has represented KSU in industry through various internships and contract work during her time as a student, growing from programming to product management. She joined the inaugural cohort of the Kennesaw Excellence Society, working to increase student engagement within the campus community. Ella became a Supplemental Instruction Leader for linear algebra, helping students achieve higher grades and greater understanding, and participated in undergraduate research.
Throughout her time at KSU, she has worked with the Department of Student Leadership to learn and grow as a leader, attending the Leaders in Kennesaw retreat and completing an impact project through the department’s micro-credential program. Perhaps most notably, Ella served as a member of the Aerial Robotics Competition Team for most of her time at KSU and served as the team’s president. The Aerial Robotics team competes in an international competition building the prototypical aircraft of the future.
Beyond her participation on campus, Ella has worked to expand her influence off campus. The Aerial Robotics team has visited various schools participating in STEM nights and display events and represented KSU at the Atlanta Science Festival and Tellus Science Museum.
Above all, Ella has led with purpose, embodying the KSU values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, and accountability. From impacting countless students as a member of the Kennesaw Excellence Society to building one of the largest competition teams at the university, Ella has made a real, tangible impact on the campus community and Kennesaw State University.
For President’s Award of Distinction recipient, KSU was a match made in Marietta