Michael Deagen (Ph.D., December 2018) received the Rensselaer Founders Award of Excellence at the Honors Convocation ceremony on October 20, 2018. Established in 1994, the Founders Award "honors students who embody qualities of creativity, discovery, leadership, and the values of pride and responsibility at Rensselaer."

This distinction is meant to honor young researchers who have made significant contributions to their respective fields within Polymer Science and Engineering.