Class of 2026 Academic Excellence Scholarship Winners

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN, IL — The Master of Science in Financial Engineering (MSFE) Program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has officially announced its Illinois MSFE Academic Excellence Scholarship recipients for the Class of 2026.

This prestigious award recognizes outstanding students who achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA after completing their first year of rigorous study. The scholarship provides a monetary award applied directly to the winners' tuition during their final semester.

This year’s cohort showcases the global reach and multidisciplinary appeal of the MSFE program, which is jointly offered by the Gies College of Business and the Grainger College of Engineering.

Meet the Class of 2026 Award Winners

Akuressage Devminda Lakshitha Abeynayake

• Undergraduate Degree: Industrial Statistics, University of Colombo (Sri Lanka)
• Career Goal: Quantitative Researcher & Developer

Abeynayake chose Illinois for its powerful blend of academic rigor, global recognition, and the unique integration of finance, mathematics, data science, and computer science. He highlighted Machine Learning in Finance Lab, taught by Professor Matthew Murphy, as his favorite course.

"The course balanced coding with the underlying theory, which made the material both practical and rigorous," Abeynayake shared, noting that replicating a research paper and working with Quantlib provided invaluable industry skills.

Following graduation, he aims to return to his roots in quantitative development, with long-term goals of building systematic trading strategies and developing advanced financial models.

Alberto Mario Munoz Estrada

• Undergraduate Degree: Physics & Computer Science, Grinnell College
• Career Goal: Quantitative Developer or Researcher in Market Derivatives

Estrada's path to Illinois was sparked by a personal connection and a conversation with faculty members at a graduation ceremony. Recognizing the immense collaborative strength of Gies and Grainger, alongside a strong alumni network, he knew UIUC was the perfect fit. His standout academic experience was Advanced Financial Derivatives with Professor Martin Widdicks.

"I found the course challenging, but due to its focus on valuation of real derivatives, it felt the closest to the real world applications of what we’re learning," Estrada remarked.

Leveraging his background as a software developer, Estrada plans to pursue market-making strategies, focusing on optimizing bid-ask spreads and managing volatility, with the ultimate entrepreneurial dream of expanding market-making in emerging, low-liquidity markets.

Elliot Gengler

• Undergraduate Degree: BA Mathematics & BA Quantitative Economics, St. Olaf College
• Career Goal: Quantitative Research or Risk Management

A Champaign native, Gengler initially looked close to home but quickly realized the elite status of UIUC's graduate offerings and its robust pipeline to major financial hubs like Chicago. Like Estrada, Gengler named Professor Widdicks’ Advanced Financial Derivatives (FIN 513) as his favorite class.

"I loved how detailed the course got—I felt like I understood every way you could price a certain asset, and every little nuance that might make your valuation incorrect," Gengler explained, praising the course's balance of mathematical proofs and intuitive logic.

Currently gaining experience through a procurement internship, Gengler plans to transition his advanced financial knowledge into a long-term career in quantitative research or risk management.

A Proven Launchpad for Quantitative Finance

The reflections of the 2026 scholarship winners underscore why the Illinois MSFE program remains a top-tier choice for aspiring quants worldwide. By marrying deep mathematical and computational theory with hands-on, practical applications—including industry-sponsored practicum projects—the program continues to cultivate the next generation of financial leaders.

For more details on the program and previous award winners, visit the Illinois MSFE Scholarship Winners page.