Engineering graduates win STEM College Innovator of the Year Award

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Juan Martinez and Dillon Cornelius present their Dryden Dam project in class.

Juan Martinez stands next to his Dryden Dam project poster in class.

Dillon Cornelius and Juan Martinez hold their NCW Tech Alliance Innovator Awards at the award ceremony.

Wenatchee Valley College graduates Dillon Cornelius and Juan Martinez won the STEM College Innovator of the Year Award at the NCW Tech Alliance Innovator Awards ceremony in November 2025.

Cornelius and Martinez, in collaboration with Chelan PUD engineers, constructed a prototype that would modernize how Dryden Dam operates. They designed a new operating system for the dam, which is located on the Wenatchee River, and they demonstrated the project for PUD commissioners using a 3D model and physical prototype.

Cornelius was a Chelan PUD student employee last year. He and Martinez are both graduates from WVC's engineering program.