A record 422 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology graduates received degrees during the college’s 129^th commencement May 26 and were challenged to use their technical and scientific expertise to take the lead and be proactive in their careers and personal lives.

Rose-Hulman President Gerald Jakubowski, participating in his first Rose-Hulman commencement, presented degrees to 383 bachelor of science graduates and 39 master’s degrees candidates.  The number of bachelor’s degrees and the total number of degrees presented was the largest in the college’s history.

Commencement speaker Mike Hatfield told the commencement crowd estimated at 3,100 that the Rose-Hulman class of 2007 should believe in themselves and know that what they have learned is applicable to our country’s needs.

“I challenge you to take the lead.  You owe it to yourselves and to your community to do that,” said Hatfield, a 1984 Rose-Hulman graduate and member of the college’s Board of Trustees.

“It’s not about being the boss and telling people what to do,” he stated.  “You should set direction and drive results,” advised Hatfield, who is a successful entrepreneur who is leading the growth of Cyan, his third technology-based company in California.

Despite threats of rain, the traditional procession of graduates proceeded through campus to the Sports and Recreation Center to begin the graduation ceremonies shortly after 11 a.m.

13 Receive Special Awards

Ten graduating seniors, two professors and a staff member received special awards during the graduation program.

Seven new graduates were presented with the Heminway Medal which is given to an undergraduate who has earned the highest grade point average during their four years at Rose-Hulman. Each recipient earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Recipients were:

• Robert Lauer, electrical engineering and mathematics double major from Dublin, Ohio
   
• Amanda Rohde, mathematics and chemical engineering major from Fargo, North Dakota
   
• Thomas Werne, electrical engineering and mathematics major from Ferdinand, Ind.
   
• Amelia Mae Huehls, chemistry, Indianapolis, Ind.
   
• Brian Thompson, an electrical engineering major from Gloucester, Va.
   
• Scott Ruskamp, computer engineering major from Dodge, Nebraska
   
• Gautham Venugopalan, a mechanical engineering major from Franklin, Wisc.               
   

Other students honored were Stephen Lewis, Canton, Ohio, who was presented with the John Tuller Royse Award; Riley Buttry, Middleton, Ind., received the Herman Moench Distinguished Senior Commendation, and Marc Hans-Martin Schneider, Walheim, Germany was named the recipient of the award for the most outstanding master's thesis.   He received a master’s degree in optical engineering.

The Dean's Outstanding Teacher Award was presented to Diane Evans, assistant professor of mathematics.  Lee Waite, head of the Department of Applied Biology and Biomedical Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering received the Board of Trustees Outstanding Scholar Award. The recipient of the President's Outstanding Service Award was Erik Hayes, director of residence life.

Lewis graduated magna cum laude and earned a bachelor of science degree in applied biology. He received the award in recognition of his outstanding leadership, academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities.   Lewis will continue his education at Rose-Hulman by pursuing a graduate degree in engineering management.

Buttry was honored as the senior with the most outstanding potential for professional achievement.  He graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering.  He served as president of the Student Government Association and was a resident assistant.   Buttry has accepted employment with Roche Diagnostics in Indianapolis.

Schneider is continuing his studies at the University of Stuttgart in Germany.

Evans teaches courses ranging from differential equations and matrix algebra to introduction to probability with applications to statistics, and quality methods.  She received the 2006 INFORMS Computing Society’s Prize for research excellence in the interface between operations research and computer science.   Evans joined the Rose-Hulman mathematics faculty in 2001.

Waite has been named the inventor on two patents and published 23 papers in respected reviewed journals.   He has authored a leading text on biofluid mechanics in cardiovascular systems.   His scholarly work has been supported by grants from Eli Lilly and Co., the National Science Foundation and the Indiana Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

Hayes was honored for his commitment to serving Rose-Hulman students.  He manages campus housing for nearly 1,100 students living in Rose-Hulman residence halls.  In addition, Hayes was also lauded for his outstanding work as a counselor and mentor to Rose-Hulman students.

An honorary doctor of engineering degree was presented to Dennis Paustenbach, president and founder of San Francisco-based Chemrisk, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in human and ecological risk assessment and risk analysis of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.  He is a board-certified toxicologist and industrial hygienist who has served on panels for the National Center for Environmental Health, the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency.  Paustenbach is a 1974 Rose-Hulman graduate, earning a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering.

Special 50th anniversary degrees were presented by President Jakubowski to 27 members of the class of 1957.

This year’s graduation ceremonies truly ended with a bang as confetti and streamers fell from the SRC ceiling onto graduates at the conclusion of the event.