51�ԹϺ���

Jason Pieck dashes from engineering classes to club meetings to music rehearsals and performances at the University of California, Davis.

“My favorite days are when I’m all over campus,” says the student from Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Pieck’s investment in both their engineering studies and the campus community stands out. They will be honored as the university’s top graduating senior when thousands celebrate earning a bachelor’s degree at five commencement ceremonies at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center June 12-14.

Pieck will be presented with the University Medal — for excellence in undergraduate studies, outstanding community service and the promise of future scholarship and contributions to society — as well as a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at the ceremony at 9 a.m. June 14. The award includes a plaque and a $2,000 stipend. 

An A student who speaks three languages (English, Spanish and German) and plays even more instruments, they said they have also learned about being their authentic self. 

Pieck said participating in the — including leading a team to compete in the final stage at the annual world’s competition — helped them develop basic engineering skills that gave them a headstart in university.

They came to 51�ԹϺ��� Davis for its engineering program and opportunities to mix with students with other interests on the large and comprehensive campus. It has not disappointed, they said. 

Pieck has performed with the , spun out with the Davis Swing Dancers, managed entertainment stages and performers at the university’s Picnic Day, worked as a resident advisor, and co-founded a club to design and develop an underwater robot. 

A fan of student clubs

“Student clubs are where you get hands-on experience,” Pieck said. “They are the place where you build your skills — technical and interpersonal.”

In 2023, Pieck and friend Peter Webster, also an engineering student, founded the student group to provide robotics experiences and a sense of belonging for its participants. 

The team secured more than $40,000 in funding and mentored more than 200 students in the development of an autonomous underwater vehicle. The team, which competed in the semi-finals of the 2025 international RoboSub competition, has also collaborated with 51�ԹϺ��� Davis researchers for the robot’s use in Lake Tahoe and the waterways of the campus arboretum.

Pieck’s interests in the technical intrigue of solving engineering problems and in using systems to positively influence human behavior both showed up in the club. “We put a lot of thought into the student experience; how we communicate with members; and how we handle logistics, scheduling and accessibility,” they said. 

Their university years have also included summer internships in robotics at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, or LANL, for two years and most recently at Oregon State University. 

Mentor Andre Bos, a research and development engineer at LANL, said Pieck has “sharp” engineering skills. “What makes them stand out is their ingenuity in bringing new tools to the table to help improve their workflow,” he said. “Jason’s work ethic, along with their capability to self-reflect, makes them a unique individual who is looking for continuous improvement.”

Embracing neurodivergence

Shortly after being admitted to 51�ԹϺ��� Davis, Pieck was diagnosed as having attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. To meet the challenges of executive dysfunction, they said, they engineered systems and developed workflows to help stay on top of everything. “Urgency and consequences help bring focus too,” they said with a broad smile. 

Music, Pieck said, is an important, stabilizing force in their life. “It’s what allows me to tap into emotional expression.” 

Having played the snare drums in their high school marching band, they joined the Percussion Ensemble, where they have played the marimba and drums. 

Pieck’s relationship to music is not limited to performance. Introduced to swing dancing by a friend at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis, Pieck fell in love with the partner dance form. “It is a wonderful way to connect with people.”

Connection, ‘radical authenticity’

Connection is paramount to Pieck. Describing themself as a person of Hispanic and Germanic descent and as gender-nonconforming, they believe in looking beyond labels. Instead of drawing attention to themself by announcing their identity, they prefer to live their identity and build connection. “I want people to see themselves in me.” 

Pieck once believed that being authentic jeopardized their ability to make an impact, they wrote in the award application. Then they realized they can act as a counter-narrative to harmful beliefs about identity and success. “This radical authenticity motivates me to continue pushing forward, even in the face of adversity and make my work — and the engineering field itself — universally accessible.”

Pieck plans to compose and produce music this summer. In the fall, they will begin doctoral studies in engineering with a focus on robotics and human-machine interface at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis. They want to become a professor to conduct research and mentor students. “There is more I want to explore, more to discover,” they said. “There’s more I want to give back to my community.” 

About commencement

The ceremony at which Pieck will receive the medal concludes the spring season of 13 commencements at 51�ԹϺ��� Davis. The schools of law, medicine and veterinary medicine have already held commencements. The remaining ceremonies are:

• June 10 — School of Education, 4 p.m., Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
• June 11 — Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, 10 a.m., Mondavi Center
• June 11 — Graduate Studies, for master's students, 10 a.m., University Credit Union Center
• June 11 — Graduate Studies, for Master of Fine Arts and doctoral students, 3 p.m., University Credit Union Center
• June 12 — Graduate School of Management, 10 a.m., University Credit Union Center
• June 12 — Two undergraduate ceremonies, 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Golden 1 Center
• June 13 — Two undergraduate ceremonies, 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Golden 1 Center
• June 14 — Undergraduate ceremony, 9 a.m., Golden 1 Center

For more information about commencement, including ticket requirements, see the news release about guest speakers.