Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates were told by commencement speaker Robert Compton to take chances because fortune favors the bold.

Compton, venture investor and entrepreneur who is chairman of five private companies, delivered the commencement address to 356 students who received either bachelor's or master's degrees during the 124th commencement program at Rose-Hulman. He was also one of six persons to receive an honorary degree.

Graduating senior Elizabeth Huttsell of Indianapolis received three of the seven special awards presented to faculty, staff and students. Huttsell was one of five students presented with the Heminway Medal, which is given to the graduating senior who has earned the highest grade-point average during his or her four years at Rose-Hulman. It was the first time in school history that five students graduated with perfect 4.0 grade point average.

She became only the second graduate from Rose-Hulman to receive the Herman Moench Distinguished Senior Commendation and the John Tuller Royse Award. The Senior Commendation honors Huttsell for her outstanding potential professional achievement. The Royse Award is given to a senior in recognition of their outstanding leadership, academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities.

Other Heminway Award winners were Kenneth Barnes, Terre Haute; Justin Self, Manchester, Mo.; Andrew Lehman, Amherst Junction, Wis; and Chris Unton, Munroe Falls, Ohio. The Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award was presented to Matt Kuester of Newburgh, Ind. Kuester received a master's degree in mechanical engineering.

The Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award was presented to Dale Bremmer, professor of economics. Richard Ditteon, professor of physics and optical engineering and director of the Oakley Observatory, received the Board of Trustees’ Outstanding Scholar Award. The President's Outstanding Service Award was presented to Brian Dyer, director of alumni affairs and special events.

Others receiving honorary doctor of engineering degrees, in addition to Compton, were Guille Cox, Jr., senior partner in the Terre Haute law firm of Cox, Zwerner, Gambill & Sullivan; Scott Jones, chairman and CEO, Escient Technologies, Indianapolis; and Ralph Stahl, president of Stahl Engineering, Indianapolis. Honorary doctor of humane letters degrees were awarded to Susan Porter Rose, former deputy assistant to president George H.W. Bush and chief of staff to Barbara Bush, McLean, Va.; and Katherine Utley, English and Latin teacher at Terre Haute North Vigo High School.

Rose-Hulman Web Site Sports New Look

The Rose-Hulman web site has a new look that provides easier access to lower-tier pages.

The new design went live earlier this summer. The main navigation links will remain the same, but there are more ways into the site from the portal page. One of those enhancements is a "quick link" feature that provides a drop-down menu for many Rose-Hulman offices and programs. Also more accessible are pages dealing with basic Rose-Hulman information, calendars, a campus tour and national recognition.

"Our surveys found our external users appreciated the navigation logic we had been incorporating; so we didn’t change the major links into the site," explained Bryan Taylor, director of publications and member of the Rose-Hulman webmaster team. "However, we did reorganize some of the groupings and add more entrance points off of the front page."

The new look was designed by web developer Hyung-Jung Chang with input from the offices of admissions, academic affairs, student affairs, and instructional, administrative & information technology. The new look is the fifth design for the Rose-Hulman web page.

You can access the site at http://www.rose-hulman.edu.