Celebrating Student Excellence at NOISE-CON 2025: How Awards Open Doors for the Next Generation of Noise Control Engineers

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Each year, the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE-USA) recognizes exceptional student achievements in the field of noise control engineering, acoustics, and related disciplines. At the 2025 Honors and Awards Ceremony, held June 11 in conjunction with NOISE-CON 2025, the spotlight shone brightly on emerging talent from across the United States and beyond.

These awards are more than just honors—they provide recognition, networking opportunities, and in many cases, financial support that makes attending the conference possible. For many students, the awards are a stepping stone to further research, publication, and professional growth.

Hallberg Foundation Award – Fueling Student Travel and Participation

Funded through the generosity of the Elizabeth L. and Russell F. Hallberg Foundation, this award directly supports undergraduate and graduate students traveling to NOISE-CON to present their work. By offsetting travel expenses, the Hallberg Foundation Award helps ensure that promising young engineers can share their ideas on a national stage without financial barriers.

For 2025, nineteen recipients from across multiple universities benefited from this travel grant, enabling them to showcase cutting-edge research in front of peers.

Leo Beranek Student Medal for Excellence in Noise Control – Recognizing Technical Contributions

Named in honor of the legendary acoustician Leo Beranek, this prestigious medal celebrates outstanding contributions to the science and practice of noise control.

In 2025, five graduate and three undergraduate medals were awarded from students from various universities for research topics ranging from machine learning in structural acoustics to rocket launch noise analysis—highlighting the diverse range of problems today’s students are tackling.

Undergraduate Student Project Award – Spotlighting Early-Career Innovation

This award honors undergraduate projects of exceptional quality, providing recognition early in a student’s academic career and encouraging future contributions to the field. The award often serves as a springboard for students to publish their findings, with recipients eligible for additional funds if their work appears in the Noise Control Engineering Journal.

In 2025, Shaocheng Wu (Purdue University) earned the award for his groundbreaking work on Underwater Noise Control for Offshore Windfarms. His research addresses a pressing environmental challenge: minimizing acoustic disturbance to marine ecosystems from renewable energy installations.

INCE Student Scholarship – Investing in Future Leaders

The INCE Student Scholarship, valued at $6,000, is one of the most significant financial recognitions offered. In 2025, Marissa Danielle Kelly (University of Nebraska) received the award for her exceptional commitment to architectural acoustics, leadership within the acoustics community, and dedication to advancing noise control engineering.

This scholarship not only supports tuition and research costs but also affirms the recipient’s potential to lead in the profession.

Student Paper Competition Awards – Elevating Research Communication Skills

Strong research deserves strong presentation skills, and the Student Paper Competition Awards recognize both. At NOISE-CON, students compete not only on the technical merit of their papers but also on the clarity and engagement of their oral delivery.

For 2025, winners included:

  • Joohyun Lee (Purdue University) – Feature Analysis for Gear Growl in Electrified Powertrains
  • Joshua Kapcsos (Penn State) – Developments on ground blocking implementation in turbulence tool for sonic boom propagation
  • Kara Hardy (Michigan Technological University) – Bioinspired Acoustic Metamaterials: Mimicking the Cuttlebone
  • Carter Paprocki (Penn State) – Soundscape Source Classification
  • Jinghe Yu (Purdue University) – A Method to Simulate Printer Noise for Use in Psychoacoustic Tests

Each award carried a $1,000 prize, with an additional $500 incentive for students whose work is later published in NCEJ.

Classic Papers in Noise Control Engineering Presentation Award – Honoring History While Inspiring the Future

This award bridges the past and present by challenging students to present seminal papers in the field, connecting decades-old ideas to today’s context. By revisiting foundational research, students not only deepen their technical understanding but also gain perspective on how innovations evolve. In 2025, William Johnston (Michigan Technological University) was recognized for his engaging presentation of I.J. Sharland’s 1964 paper Sources of Noise in Axial Flow Fans.

Why These Awards Matter

For many student awardees, the recognition is just the beginning. The tangible benefits—travel support, prize money, and research funding—remove financial obstacles to participating in national conferences. The intangible benefits—networking with industry leaders, receiving feedback from peers and experts, and building a resume with nationally recognized honors—can be just as valuable.

How to Apply for 2026

If you’re a student working in noise control engineering, architectural acoustics, or related fields, INCE-USA offers multiple opportunities for recognition in 2026:

  • Leo Beranek Student Medal for Excellence in Noise Control – Due March 15
  • INCE-USA Student Paper Award – Due at conference registration
  • Classic Papers in Noise Control Engineering Award – Due at conference registration
  • INCE Student Scholarship – Due March 15
  • Undergraduate Student Project Award – Due March 15
  • Hallberg Foundation Award – Due at abstract submission deadline
  • Martin Hirschorn IAC Prize – Graduate Student Project Award – Due July 31 (applications currently open!)

Full details, including eligibility criteria and submission guidelines, are available at www.inceusa.org.

A Call to the Next Generation

Whether you’re an undergraduate exploring your first research project or a graduate student pushing the boundaries of noise control technology, these awards are designed to recognize and support you. The 2025 ceremony made one thing clear: the future of the field is bright, and INCE-USA is committed to nurturing that future.

If you have innovative ideas, a passion for sound and vibration control, and the drive to share your work with the professional community, start preparing your submission now. Your research could be the next to inspire—and your name could be among the honorees at NOISE-CON 2026.