Merit Pages News
(June 26, 2026) — Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has announced the university’s Dean’s List for academic excellence for the Spring 2026 semester. Among those earning Dean’s List honors was Kristen Thebeau of Haddam, a member of the Class of 2027, who is majoring in Computer Science and Physics. The criteria for the WPI Dean’s List differ from that of most other universities as WPI does not compute a grade point average (GPA). Instead, WPI students are named to the Dean’s List based on the amount of work completed at the A level in courses and hands-on projects.
“WPI’s academic programs are rigorous and require a level of independence beyond what is required in traditional courses. WPI students work on real-world, open-ended problems on campus and in communities around the globe. Far from being simple academic exercises, the projects students complete have genuine and lasting impacts in our partner communities,” said Provost Andrew Sears. “Some of this nation’s best and brightest students come to WPI to study engineering, science, business, and the humanities. Those named to the Dean’s List have excelled in all of their work, and we are exceptionally proud of these outstanding students.”
Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts is a top-tier, STEM-focused university with an R1 research classification and global leadership in project-based learning. Founded in 1865, WPI’s distinctive approach integrates classroom theory with real-world practice, preparing students to tackle critical challenges through inclusive education, impactful projects, and interdisciplinary research. With more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 18 academic departments and over 50 global project centers, WPI advances knowledge and innovation in fields such as life sciences, smart technologies, advanced materials and manufacturing, and global innovation.
