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Members of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology’s 2008 graduating class were encouraged to utilize their unique problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial spirits to make a difference in their careers and communities during the college’s 130th commencement on Saturday, May 24.
| Commencement 2008 Photo Album |
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Rep. Brad Ellsworth, center, receives his honorary degree from President Gerald S. Jakubowski while Board of Trustee Chairman Robert Bright prepares to bestow the doctorate hood. |
Joining Rose-Hulman’s list of near 12,000 worldwide alumni were 412 from the Class of 2008. President Gerald Jakubowski presented degrees to 376 bachelor of science graduates and 36 master’s degrees candidates. Another 28 students participated in commencement, but won’t receive their diplomas until completing graduation requirements this summer or next fall.
The 2007-08 school year featured students starting a Sustainability Club, planning to develop a water delivery system for a remote village in Ghana, contributing to hundreds of community organizations, and earning national recognition in engineering, science and mathematics competitions. This commitment to helping others and showcasing scholarly excellence was commended by commencement speaker,
U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth.
“America needs your minds. We need your talents and your training, your compassion and your creativity. We need you to take what you have learned here, roll up your sleeves, and make a commitment to leave this world a better place than when you found it,” stated Ellsworth, who is in his first term of serving Indiana’s Eighth District after 24 years in law enforcement. “I hope you
choose to take up the challenges America faces and make them your own.”
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| Families and friends packed the Sports and Recreation Center for Commencement 2008. |
Ellsworth, who received an honorary of doctor of humane letters, also told Rose-Hulman graduates: “I hope you expect more of yourself and give more of yourself to the people and causes you care about, because there is no higher calling than service to others and nothing more powerful than a group of individuals determined to make a difference . . . We can’t afford to have you sit this one out.”
Graduates Reap Benefits of Strong Job Market
Ninety-five percent of this year’s graduating class had accepted employment positions, are planning to attend graduate school or have been commissioned as military officers as they receive their diplomas, according to Kevin Hewerdine, director of career services and employer relations. This year’s career services statistic continues the college’s successful track record of job placement for
its graduates and slightly tops last year’s 92 percent placement rate at commencement.
The Office of Career Services’ pre-commencement placement report reveals that 293 students have found full-time employment or are considering final job offers, 83 students planning to attend graduate school, 12 students being commissioned as military officers and two students having other career options.
This year’s average accepted job offer was $57,822, an increase from $56,007 in 2007. The high offer was $82,000 to a mechanical engineering senior.
In commencement day comments, Jakubowski noted that “Rose-Hulman has prepared you to enter the workforce or attend graduate school; to become productive employees; and to be contributing members of society . . . Let me assure you that you are ready and prepared to venture forward. It’s time for you to go out and enrich the world.”
Brian Green, president of the Class of 2008, answered that he and his classmates are ready to meet tomorrow’s challenges. “Today marks the end of one chapter in our lives. Tomorrow we will leave the familiarity of Rose-Hulman to start writing another,” he stated. “While the future lies unwritten, one thing is certain: We are ready. We are ready
to invest back in society what it has invested in us; the class of 2008 is ready to do great things in the world.”
Moment of Silence Observed to Honor Five Students
The commencement service featured a moment of silence to honor five Rose-Hulman students and recent graduates that were killed or severely injured in separate events in their lives. Brandon Couch, a November graduate, and Nicholas Lee, a junior, died in automotive accidents in April. Senior Adam Effinger and sophomore Drew Christy are recovering from severe injuries from traffic
crashes, while sophomore Jeff Trune is recovering from a brain tumor.
“To everyone in the Rose-Hulman family who drew together in these trying circumstances, who helped those of our family in need, and who lent their strength to others so they might endure this time and cope with their sorrow, from the bottom of my heart: Thank you,” stated the president.
Six Students Earn Top Academic & Service Honors
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| Heminway Medal Winners, from left: Aaron Meles, Robert Lemke Oliver, Peter Outcalt, Sami Dick and Amanda Grantz. |
Five graduates received the Heminway Medal for earning the highest grade point average during their four years at Rose-Hulman. Achieving perfect 4.0 GPAs were Samantha Dick of Fort Wayne, who earned degrees in biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering, with a minor in Japanese; Peter Outcalt of Cincinnati, Ohio, who earned degrees in computer
science, software engineering and mathematics; Robert Lemke Oliver of Madison, Wis., a mathematics graduate; Amanda Grantz of Rapid City, S.D., a chemical engineering graduate; and Aaron Meles of Otsego, Mich., a mechanical engineering graduate.
Dick also received the John Tuller Royse Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership, academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities. She performed undergraduate research at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and with the Joint Replacement Surgeons of Indiana Research Foundation; has been an officer in numerous organizations,
including the Delta Delta Delta sorority, the Rose-Human Chorus and the Biomedical Engineering Society; was a tutor in the learning center and serving various social causes. She will be an intern at Stryker Medical in Kalamazoo, Mich., for the summer before returning to Rose-Hulman for master’s degree studies.
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| Royse Winner Sami Dick, left, and Moench Commendation Winner Emily Albert. |
Emily Albert of Decatur, Ill., received the Herman Moench Distinguished Senior Commendation, voted by faculty and staff members. The award honors a student of exemplary character who has been influential in making Rose-Hulman a better place. Albert was president of the Student Government Association, vice president of the Blue Key Honor Society,
secretary for the Student Alumni Association, publicity co-chair for the 2006 Career Fair and a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She also was a tutor in the Percopo residence hall learning center, served as a counselor for the Fast Track Calculus program, and helped organize the first College Relay for Life in Terre Haute for the American Cancer Society. Albert earned degrees in chemical engineering and biochemistry/molecular
biology.
Darin Voorhies of Bloomington, Ind., received the Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award for his biomedical engineering thesis on “A Technique for Tracking Fluorescent Microspheres for the Determination of Retinal Arteriolar Blood Flow in Rats.” Jameel Ahmed, associate professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering, was Voorhies’ faculty advisor.
Faculty & Staff Members Also Honored
Bill Weiner, associate professor of applied biology and biomedical engineering, received the Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award from Arthur Western, vice president of academic affairs and dean of faculty. A member of the Rose-Hulman faculty since 2000, Weiner was cited for his preparation, thoroughness and explanations to students. He has served
on the faculty affairs committee, the graduate studies committee, the commission on the assessment of student outcomes and the employee relations committee. He also has served as adviser to Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the National Society of Black Engineers. Weiner’s scholarly record includes 13 refereed publications and eight conference presentations.
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| From left: Bunny Nash, President's Outstanding Service Award winner; Julia Williams, Board of Trustees' Outstanding Scholar Award; and Bill Weiner, Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award. |
Julia Williams, professor of English and executive director of the Office of Institutional Research, Planning and Assessment, received the Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholar Award honor from Robert Bright, chair of Rose-Hulman’s Board of Trustees. Williams has been a Rose-Hulman faculty member for 16 years, has published 30 refereed papers and
conference proceedings, and has made more than 70 conference presentations. She serves as a reviewer for numerous journals, including the Journal of Engineering Education, the American Society of Engineering Education, and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) publications. She also serves as editor for the Tutorial Column of the Transactions of the IEEE Professional Communications Society.
Williams’ research interests span topics in Irish literature, women’s studies, technical communications, and the impact of technology on engineering education.
Bunny Nash, manager of Hatfield Hall and director of student performing arts, received the President's Outstanding Service Award from Jakubowski. Another 16-year employee, Nash was recognized for building a successful program that is a source of enjoyment to Rose-Hulman and the community. She also was cited for her interaction with students
as director of the Drama Club, assistant director of alumni affairs and special events, management of Hatfield Hall and coordinator of Rose-Hulman’s popular Performing Arts Series.
Alumni Group from 1958 Get 50th anniversary degrees
Special 50th anniversary degrees were presented by President Jakubowski to 17 members of Rose-Hulman’s 1958 graduating class that returned to participate in this year’s commencement. The group included Gerry Mattern of Ligonier, Pa., whose granddaughter, Meghan Ulery, received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
Other members of this distinguished class included Cecil Ambuehl of La Palma, Calif.; Frederick Fowler of Noblesville, Ind.; Robert Fowler of Jamestown, Ind.; Norman Grimshaw of Salem, S.C.; John Kassebaum of Carmel, Ind.; Charles Kleptz of Union, Ohio; Frank Larr of Westfield, Ind.; Gary Leavitt of Petersburg, Ind.; William McKee of Deltaville, Va.; Thomas McPherron of St. Louis, Mo.; James Massey
of Lancaster, Ohio; Glen Miles of Mooresville, Ind.; Frank Molinaro of Munster, Ind.; Ronald Reeves of Terre Haute; Gary Tate of Vincennes, Ind.; and William Weil of Golden, Colo.
Another special commencement guest was Klaus Peter Kratzer, vice president and director of international programs at Hochschule Ulm’s University of Applied Sciences in Ulm, Germany. Rose-Hulman has an exchange program with the German university.
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