Stevens Institute of Technology prepares for commencement
More than a thousand Stevens Institute of Technology students will receive degrees during two commencement ceremonies Wednesday, May 23, in Canavan Arena on the Stevens campus. (Note: Canavan Arena is located in the Schaefer Athletic and Recreation Center, southeast of 8th Street and Castle Point Terrace in Hoboken, N.J.)
This year's undergraduate and graduate ceremonies will occur on the same day, reflecting a change from previous years. The undergraduate ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m., with more than 250 degree candidates receiving degrees. The graduate ceremony starts at 6 p.m., and nearly 800 graduate degrees will be conferred.
Honorary Doctor of Engineering degrees will be bestowed on two illustrious Stevens alumni this year, both of whom will deliver commencement addresses: Lawrence (Larry) T. Babbio Jr., Vice Chairman and President of Verizon Communications, and Chairman of the Stevens Board of Trustees, will deliver the undergraduate ceremony address; and Fernando (Frank) L. Fernandez, former Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the central research and development organization of the U.S. Department of Defense, will deliver the graduate ceremony address. (See the following pages for details.)
Honorees will also include graduating seniors who are "First in Class." This year four undergraduate students have achieved this honor by finishing with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. The graduate ceremony will include the hoodings of 29 doctoral candidates, one of the largest groups of students receiving Ph.D.s in Stevens' history.
About the honorary degree recipients:
Lawrence T. Babbio, Jr. is Vice-chairman and President of Verizon Communications, with responsibility for the new company's domestic wireline business. He is also responsible for long distance, information technology, procurement services and technology research. Mr. Babbio is also a member of the board of directors of Verizon Wireless.
Prior to the Bell Atlantic/ GTE merger, Mr. Babbio was President and Chief Operating Officer for Bell Atlantic. He shared oversight of, and responsibility for, all of the corporation's business operations, restructing of the business units, the GTE merger process, and developing new growth opportunities.
Previously, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Network Group for Bell Atlantic, responsible for developing and deploying the company's switching, transmission and operations infrastructure.
Babbio also served as Chairman of the company's Global Wireless Group, one of the largest wireless operations worldwide. He has been the lead executive in charge of developing Bell Atlantic's domestic and international wireless communications strategy. Under his leadership, Bell Atlantic has substantially increased the size scope of its domestic and international wireless holding.
Prior to the merger with NYNEX, Mr. Babbio was Vice Chairman of Bell Atlantic Corporation, a position he held since January 1995. Before that appointment, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Bell Atlantic. In 1995, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of Compaq Computer Corporation, and in 1999, he was named to the Board of Directors of ARAMARK Corporation.
Before he was named Bell Atlantic Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in May 4, 1994, he had been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bell Atlantic Enterprises International, and he was responsible for developing Bell Atlantic's fast-growing international and unregulated telecommunications businesses. Prior to that appointment, he served as President of Bell Atlantic Mobile, Bell Atlantic's cellular mobile communications operation.
Mr. Babbio began his communications career in 1966 with New Jersey Bell Telephone. He served in a variety of positions in engineering, network construction, and technology development with New Jersey Bell and AT&T. He later became vice president-technology applications at Bell Communications Research (BellCore) in 1985 and was appointed vice president-operations and engineering, for Bell Atlantic Network Services, in 1987. He holds a B.E. in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. from New York University. He currently serves as Chairman of the Stevens Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Campaign for Stevens.
Dr. Fernando L. Fernandez' experience and knowledge encompasses a very broad range of research and management areas. He has worked with both large and small research groups and successful startup research companies. He, personally, founded and helped manage several successful research and development companies. Most recently, he was Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the central research and development organization of the Department of Defense.
Dr. Fernandez was appointed as Director of (DARPA), on May 10, 1998. Under Dr Fernandez' leadership, DARPA served as the Department of Defense's premier change-leader, trailblazing paths in biological warfare defense, information security, precision strike and robotics. He instituted a multi-disciplinary research effort that promises revolutionary new capabilities by linking biology with information technology and the physical sciences. In addition, he won congressional approval for DARPA to use an innovative process to hire talented technical experts directly from industry that will serve as a model for other organizations.
Until his appointment as Director, DARPA, Dr. Fernandez held the position of President and Chairman of the Board of Directors for AETC Inc., a firm specializing in environmental surveillance, which he founded in 1994. Prior to this position, he was President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Areté Associates, a Los Angeles-based applied research firm that Dr. Fernandez founded in 1976. Areté Associates has a national reputation in the use of advanced sensors and signal processing for the detection and classification of concealed targets. From 1975 to 1976, he served as Vice President at Physical Dynamics Inc., and from 1972 to 1975, he worked as a Program Manager for R&D Associates. Before that, Dr. Fernandez worked for the Aerospace Corporation and the Lockheed Corporation, specializing in re-entry physics problems associated with missile defense.
Dr. Fernandez was a member of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Executive Panel from 1983 until his appointment at DARPA. In this capacity, he provided advice to the CNO on a variety of issues. He was Director of the Green Foundation, a non-profit endowment for Earth Sciences from 1995 to 2000 and is listed in Who's Who in Science. Dr. Fernandez is also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences. In May 2000, Dr Fernandez was awarded the Renaissance Engineering and Science Award by the Stevens Institute of Technology. In January 2001, Dr. Fernandez was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award by the Secretary of Defense. Dr. Fernandez has been selected to receive an Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree from the Stevens Institute of Technology in May 2001.
Dr. Fernandez received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Science in Applied Mechanics from Stevens Institute of Technology, 1960-1961, and his Ph.D. in Aeronautics from California Institute of Technology in 1969.
About "First in Class" honorees who earned 4.0 GPAs:
Eugene Chung, a resident of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., receives two bachelor's degrees, having completed a double major. His Bachelor of Science degree is in Chemical Biology, and his Bachelor of Arts is in Philosophy. While at Stevens, he took part in the Stevens Health Professions Club. Mr. Chung also received the award for Excellence in Research from the Undergraduate Projects in Technology and Medicine summer research program. He also participated in the Stevens Christian Fellowship, where his gift for playing guitar found expression. Mr. Chung began at Stevens as a B.S./M.D. student. He is continuing his training at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He is now enrolled in a seven-year, M.D./Ph.D. program, in which he will spend two years in medical studies, three years in a doctoral program, and then complete his final two years of medical school.
Michael Enever lives in Rouses Point, N.Y., but he is a native of London, England. He receives his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, the American National Honors Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the Stevens Scholar Program. While studying at Stevens, he participated in a Technogenesis project, "Chemical Microsystem Power: Cold Plasma Reforming." He has also received the National Merit Scholarship, the Ann P. Neupauer Full Tuition Undergraduate Scholarship, and the Humphreys/Ennis/Lesser Award in Engineering Management. Most recently he added to his honors the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Herb Fried Award, the Robert L. Pigford Fellowship and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship. Mr. Enever plans to pursue his doctorate at the University of Delaware in Chemical Engineering.
Uzoma Onunkwo lives in Mt. Arlington, New Jersey, and is a native of Nigeria. He receives a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Engineering. At Stevens, he has participated in the Newman Association, the IEEE student organization, the National Society of Black Engineers, and was president of Eta Kappa Nu, the ECE honor society. Among his awards and honors are the National Science Foundation Fellowship, the Dean's List, the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society, Eta Kappa Nu, the American Scholars National Honor Society, the Professor Hart Award, the I.R. Lapidus Mathcad Award, and the Humphreys/Ennis/Lesser Award. Mr. Onunkwo plans to pursue his graduate studies in computer engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, with a Presidential Fellowship and an NSF Fellowship.
Sumit Shah is a resident of Weehawken and receives his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Biology, with a minor in Social Science. While at Stevens, he has been an Academic Support Center Tutor and Chemistry Review Instructor. He was also a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the Premedical Honor Society. He has also been an Honor Board Member since his sophomore year. With Dr. David Schreck, Mr. Shah conducted research on the mathematical modeling of the electrocardiogram. He also co-authored an abstract of the research that was published in "Critical Care Medicine." He has been a NASA Space Grant Fellowship recipient, and he received the Frederick Bissinger Award for Undergraduate Projects in Technology and Medicine. Mr. Shah will be enrolling at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School this August on an Academic Excellence Scholarship.
More graduates of interest this year:
The Rizk factor: Mother and daughter gain degrees and a close bond
Among the sea of caps and gowns this year at Stevens Institute of Technology's undergraduate and graduate commencements on May 23, a hard-working mother and daughter from Port Reading, N.J., will both receive degrees.
In the morning ceremony, MaryAnne Rizk will receive her BE in engineering management as her mother, Kamilia Rizk, cheers from the audience. Then, in the evening, mother and daughter will walk across the stage together to receive their master of science degrees: MaryAnne's in management with a concentration in project, technology and engineering management; and Kamilia's in information systems with a concentration in management.
"It makes sense that my mother is graduating with me because she's like my best friend," says MaryAnne, who will also receive graduate certificates of special study in technology management, project management, and engineering management.
"We've helped and encouraged each other along the way," MaryAnne adds, noting they frequently studied together on weekends. "I think Stevens has brought us closer together."
At this point in their lives, MaryAnne Rizk and her mother could not be much closer or more alike. When asked how they're different, Kamilia, after some reflection, smiles wryly, looks at her daughter and exclaims, "Well, she's a size two, and don't ask me my size!"
When they're not busy teasing each other, they admit they are perhaps most alike in their energy, their drive to achieve and their admiration of each other's accomplishments.
"I don't know how she did it," says MaryAnne of her mother's degree. At the time she was earning her master's in information systems, Kamilia was also holding down a demanding vice presidency in a New York insurance company, working long hours and keeping a hectic pace, MaryAnne recalls. Now Kamilia is an independent financial strategic consultant with a bright and, thanks to her new degree, even more lucrative future ahead of her.
Certainly, the two are quite alike in terms of persistence and time management. While her mother was working long hours and fitting in Saturday coursework, MaryAnne was pulling off what few attempt: earning dual degrees while also fulfilling an internship, and later continuing to work part-time in information systems at Merck & Co., Inc.
Even with such heavy academic and work demands, in the past two years MaryAnne has also managed to hold down a resident assistant position in Palmer Hall at Stevens; the presidency of the Society of Women Engineers; the philanthropy chairmanship of her sorority; Phi Sigma Sigma (she was also named "Greek Woman of the Year" for both 2000 and 2001); make the dean's list; play varsity womens' lacrosse; and the list goes on and on. Now, she's all set to take a new job with Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) in August.
"I don't know how she does it, either," says her mother with a proud grin.
***
A graduate's wisdom: The question's not if, it's how
When he crosses the stage to receive his BE in Mechanical Engineering at Stevens on May 23, graduating senior Michael Degnan will be accompanied by the loyal companion he's had by his side since 7th grade: a Golden Retriever named Flirt.
Michael has muscular dystrophy, and so Flirt's appearance at the ceremony is quite appropriate. After all, she has helped him through 11 years of education by carrying things for him, looking out for him, and even pulling his wheelchair - providing some of the muscle power he lacks. In many respects, she has helped him achieve his educational goals.
These days, no one discourages Michael from pursuing his goals, whatever they might be. "I've had people telling me I can't do stuff all my life - I'm used to it," says the 23-year-old. But Michael is undeterred by doubters. "It's kind of like a challenge to me," he says matter-of-factly. And by all accounts from his classmates, professors and friends at Stevens, he's met every challenge admirably.
"When I'm thinking of doing something, it's not IF I can do it," he insists, "it's HOW will I do it. And so I just do it.
"My faith has helped me out a lot too. I know things happen for a reason. Things will work out if you try your best."
Michael's optimism has obviously benefited him immeasurably. He is not only earning the college degree he wanted, but now also has ample work experience in his field, thanks to his co-op experiences. In fact, he chose Stevens in part because of the co-op work experiences the university offers its students.
Michael has completed his undergraduate degree in five years, which is typical for coop students at Stevens. Through co-op assignments, Michael, who hails from Monson, Mass., has already worked at Carrier Corp. in New Jersey., Hamilton Sundstrand in Connecticut, and Titeflex in Springfield, Mass., the town where he plans to settle after he graduates from Stevens.
"I'm still looking for that perfect job," he says. "I would like to work in some area that deals with accessibility. I am in a position to know how things work and don't work when it comes to that," he adds with a knowing grin.
He says he'd like to find engineering solutions to help people with disabilities get around New York City more easily, for example. And no doubt he will. He'll also continue as a goodwill ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. He was western Massachusetts' poster child for MDA in his younger years, which he enjoyed.
He says he'll also enjoy graduating from Stevens with Flirt by his side in part because she has helped him make friends. He doesn't even mind that Flirt sometimes steals the show, and may do so again at the commencement ceremony.
"People sometimes don't know what to say to someone in a wheelchair," Michael says with his broad, easy smile, "but Flirt has always been a good ice breaker."
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.
Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.
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