This year, the EcoCAR EV Challenge introduced the newly named John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award, honoring the legacy John Haraf’s in Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions. Haraf served for nearly 15 years as one of General Motors’ co-executive leads for AVTCs, including Challenge X, EcoCAR: The Next Challenge, EcoCAR 2, EcoCAR 3, and the EcoCAR Mobility Challenge. A dedicated judge, presenter, and advocate for students, Haraf left a lasting mark on the program through his leadership, integrity, and deep commitment to developing future mobility leaders.
Haraf’s influence could be felt across nearly every part of the competitions. He became not only a trusted presence for students, organizers, and industry partners alike, but also a pillar of the community. His passion for the program was unmistakable, and his steady commitment helped shape the AVTC experience for generations of students.
The award recognizes students who embody those same qualities: collaboration, technical excellence, mentorship, resilience, and an ability to strengthen not only their own teams but the broader EcoCAR family.
This year’s inaugural John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award honorees were Eric Gustafson of Georgia Institute of Technology, who received runner-up recognition, and Vincent Lombardi of McMaster University, who earned the 2025-2026 John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award.
Gustafson, Georgia Tech’s Project Manager, was recognized as a cross-functional leader who earned both technical and managerial respect across the competition. When the team did not have a formal engineering manager, he stepped into a dual role, balancing the operational responsibilities of a project manager with the technical execution of an engineering lead for a team of more than 40 students.
His leadership extended well beyond task management. Gustafson re-engineered the team’s Vertically Integrated Projects course syllabus, spent countless late nights debugging safety-critical code, and became the student driver trusted to handle complex overrides of connected and automated vehicle systems during high-risk physical vehicle testing.
“It’s hard to fathom what it’s like being the team lead until you’re actually in the position,” said Gustafson. “The resilience of overcoming problems I couldn’t have dreamt of in record time with creative solutions, or even the attitude and disposition I have to hold to motivate the team during a challenging time—it’s experience in a very fast-paced, startup-like environment I would never have otherwise had.”
What further set Gustafson apart was his commitment to the larger AVTC community. His leadership drew praise from outside his own university, including recognition for looking beyond traditional team rivalries to support regional collaboration. He spearheaded the logistics and safety compliance protocols needed to host joint, multi-school testing events at Columbus Air Force Base, creating opportunities for multiple teams to advance their work.
Dr. John Ball, Mississippi State University’s EcoCAR Advisor, said, “In all interactions I have had with Eric, as well as in feedback from others, he is regarded as dependable, thoughtful, and committed to doing what is required to ensure success. He recognizes that EcoCAR is not only a competition, but also a powerful collaborative platform.”
For his technical command, cross-functional dedication, and spirit of collaboration, Gustafson received the John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Runner-Up Award.
Vincent Lombardi, the 2025-2026 John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award winner, was honored for an eight-year EcoCAR journey that began during his first year as an undergraduate student and continued through his Ph.D. Over that time, he helped shape the McMaster EcoCAR garage into an environment that operates less like a student club and more like a professional automotive startup.
As this year’s Project Manager, Lombardi built operational systems designed to last. He created a comprehensive SharePoint structure to reduce knowledge loss, developed open-door feedback channels, and helped grow women-identifying participation on his subteam, mentoring three members into leadership roles.
His engineering leadership also had an impact across the competition. When multiple teams encountered critical issues implementing Sensata Insulation Monitoring Devices, Lombardi worked directly with General Motors and Sensata engineers to identify hardware issues. He then authored a technical paper that became a troubleshooting resource for schools across the competition.
Lombardi said, “This award means more to me than I can put into words. EcoCAR has taught me that leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about showing up consistently, taking responsibility when it is difficult, supporting others, and leaving the team better than you found it. To be recognized by the EcoCAR community for the way I have tried to lead is an honor I will carry with me for a long time.”
But Lombardi’s leadership was not defined by technical problem-solving alone. He demonstrated a deep understanding that the most complex system on any team is often the people. During his midyear evaluation, he sought out and processed team feedback with professional maturity, using those conversations to reflect on his management style and better support his peers.
His willingness to invite constructive dialogue, act on feedback and strengthen the culture of the McMaster EcoCAR program set a powerful example for student leaders. His work showed that great engineering depends not only on strong technical execution, but also on trust, collaboration, and care for the people doing the work.
“Ever since I joined McMaster’s EcoCAR team 3 years ago, Vincent has been a close mentor of mine,” said Jethro Lin, a Systems Design and Integration subteam member. “Despite the increased responsibilities he’s taken on, I’ve never failed to learn from him. Looking back to the start of my degree, it’s clear that the guidance I received from Vincent fueled my growth not only within the team but also in my professional career outside of EcoCAR.”
Together, Gustafson and Lombardi represent the purpose of the John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award. Their contributions went beyond their titles and deliverables. They created stronger systems, supported their teammates, expanded collaboration, and modeled the kind of leadership that will continue to shape EcoCAR for years to come.
Through this award, Haraf’s legacy lives on in the students and team members who lead their schools with integrity, humility, and purpose.
EcoCAR extends its congratulations to all students who were nominated by their teams for the inaugural John Haraf Excellence in Leadership Award. These nominations reflect the strength and dedication of leaders across the competition who support their teammates and drive innovation forward:
Andrew Hannah – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Eric Gustafson – Georgia Tech
- Kelly Hitchcock – Illinois Tech
- Lucas Rajotte – McMaster University
- Vincent Lombardi – McMaster University
- Conner Hall – University of Alabama
- Tony Ciccone – University of Alabama
- Joseph Luna – University of California, Davis
- Edison Li – University of California, Riverside
