Each year, the EcoCAR Excellence in Leadership Award honors the students who embody the very best of what the EcoCAR Challenge stands for—collaboration, innovation, mentorship, and heart. These individuals lead not by title alone, but by action, resilience, and their ability to inspire those around them. Award winners are nominated by their EcoCAR teams in recognition of their outstanding leadership and impact. The Year 3 recipients of this prestigious recognition, Riddhi Puranik of the University of California, Davis, and Nilesh Balusu of the University of California, Riverside, exemplify what it means to go above and beyond.
UC Davis EcoCAR Communications Manager Riddhi Puranik brought a multifaceted leadership style to her role—combining strategic vision with a deep sense of community. While managing essential tasks like social media and outreach materials, she also became a unifying force who brought structure, creativity, and compassion to every part of the UC Davis EcoCAR experience. From developing professional brand guidelines that aligned internal and external communications to leading early childhood STEM outreach programs grounded in research, Puranik demonstrated how a communications lead can shape both a team’s identity and its impact.
What truly set her apart was her commitment to community and cohesion. When the team struggled with leadership transitions, Puranik filled the gap without hesitation—organizing team logistics, mentoring new subteam leads, and ensuring the entire team remained connected.
EcoCAR was something I was doing because I started, and I had a problem with quitting,” wrote Shana Ebrahimnejad, a UCD EcoCAR PCM subteam lead. “Year 2 ended up as the year when I realized that EcoCAR was more than just something that I couldn’t quit. This natural connectivity she excites in others, for me, is a crucial piece of her leadership style.”
Her leadership was especially critical for encouraging team members to go above and beyond in their roles. “She became the support system I needed to navigate my new responsibilities,” Ania Shah, Mobility Challenge Lead, noted. “She stepped into an open leadership role unprompted, taking it upon herself to set our team up for success simply because she cared about us.”
Puranik’s influence was deeply felt across all aspects of the UC Davis EcoCAR effort. Her ability to blend technical understanding with communication strategy directly contributed to the team’s ability to function smoothly, deliver high-quality work, and maintain momentum throughout the competition year. Her leadership wasn’t just appreciated—it was foundational to the team’s success.
For the UC Riverside team, Nilesh Balusu, the Propulsion Controls and Modeling (PCM) Lead, wasn’t just an expert in Simulink or calibration. He was a teacher, a problem-solver, and a source of quiet strength during a year of intense challenges. After a difficult Year 2, Balusu took it upon himself to rebuild the PCM team’s momentum. He hosted weekend training sessions, developed onboarding documentation, created hands-on learning modules, and mentored members across subteams.
He also played a key role in UCR’s cross-functional integration—collaborating with SDI, Electrical, and Controls teams to improve vehicle performance. His ability to lead with humility and patience helped foster an environment where team members weren’t just working. They were learning, growing, and staying. Balusu made it his mission to turn things around—and he did, not just through hard skills but through humility, patience, and mentoring.
“Whether it’s hosting training sessions, helping debug a model at midnight, or walking someone through control concepts for the third time without a hint of frustration,” said UCR Project Manager Logan Dang, “Nilesh is the kind of person who lifts the entire team.”
He showed his dedication for the team in all sorts of ways, such as cooking for teammates to help build camaraderie. “He values the well-being of all members on the team and regularly checks in to see how we’re doing,” said Aedyn Green, a PCM Core Engineer. “While he is intelligent and dedicated, it’s his humanity that holds us all together.”
Balusu also created lecture series, organized work sessions, and mentored across technical disciplines, setting a new standard for what leadership looks like at UCR. “What impresses me the most is his attention to detail and his willingness to help other teammates,” Dr. Matthew Barth, UCR’s faculty advisor, noted. “He has a broad set of skills that he puts to use in many areas of the EcoCAR effort.”
Together, Puranik and Balusu have not only fulfilled their roles but they’ve transformed their teams and left a legacy of leadership that will guide EcoCAR for years to come.
EcoCAR extends its congratulations to all students who were nominated by their teams for the Excellence in Leadership Award. These nominations reflect the strength and dedication of leaders across the competition who support their teammates and drive innovation forward:
- CONNOR KENHENG – MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
- RIDDHI PURANIK – UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
- NILESH BALUSU – UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE
- ZAHRA YOUSEFI – UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
- ANTHONY NOSTRO – VIRGINIA TECH
