Michael Bertucci Named Class of 2009 Valedictorian

Michael Bertucci, a Chemical Biology major with a minor in Social Sciences, has been named Valedictorian of the Stevens Institute of Technology Class of 2009. Graduating first in the class, Michael will address his fellow graduates at the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on May 21, 2009.

Actively involved in many aspects of life at Stevens, Michael has made numerous contributions to the Stevens community. He is a star volleyball player and academic standout. A student coach of the women’s volleyball team for the past three years, Bertucci is also involved in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the American Cultural Club, the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the Student Athletics Advisory Committee (SAAC), and serves as president of Gear and Triangle. Always a champion for getting involved, Michael also served as an Orientation Leader, welcoming new students to Stevens and encouraging them to be active participants in the campus community. As a featured speaker at the Class of 2013 Accepted Students Reception, he was chosen to share his Stevens experiences in an address to prospective students and their families.

Raised in Gibbsboro, NJ, Michael, the second of five children, was a recipient of the EAS Scholarship, the Class of 1939 Scholarship and the Scholar of Excellence Fund award.

Michael credits his academic and extracurricular experiences at Stevens with helping him achieve his goals. After graduation, Michael plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, having chosen UNC among many strong universities, including the University of Virginia and Duke University. He gives particular credit to Professor Ganguly for his successes in the classroom, the laboratory, and the workplace.

While he looks forward to the next phase of his education, Michael says he will miss Stevens and its “tight-knit academic community where students can really thrive.” He also asserts: “No matter where I go, I will always be a Duck!”