Stevens Inducts Graduating Seniors into the Order of the Engineer at Spring 2025 Ceremony
On May 20 in DeBaun Auditorium, Stevens Institute of Technology celebrated a time-honored rite of passage: the Order of the Engineer induction ceremony. Presented in the company of faculty, family and friends, the event welcomed a new cohort of engineers into a lifelong commitment to ethics, responsibility and service to the public good.
Wearing wide smiles, 324 inductees (a new record for Stevens) representing all 11 undergraduate engineering programs at the university took turns stepping forward to pass their hands through a large, symbolic ring and shake the hand of the inductor. Afterwards they received a stainless steel ring, placed ceremonially on the pinky finger of their dominant hand, as they recited the Obligation of the Engineer.
“This ceremony reminds us that engineering is more than formulas and problem sets,” said Kathryn Abel, 91 M.Eng. '93 Ph.D. '01, teaching associate professor and associate chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Systems and Enterprises, who led this year’s ceremony and is also the link liaison for Stevens. “It’s a profession with real impact and real consequences. And this moment is about recognizing that.”
A ritual rooted in purpose, solemnity and respect
The Order of the Engineer began in the United States in 1970, modeled after a similar Canadian tradition known as the “Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer.” The American version aims to instill a sense of pride and ethical responsibility in engineers as they enter professional practice.
At Stevens, the tradition has become a cornerstone of spring Commencement Week — an intimate, values-driven event where students mark their transition from the classroom to their life’s calling. As the Obligation states:
“I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare.”
“It’s written in such beautiful, clear language,” Abel said, “and speaks to the heart of what engineering is really about — serving humanity.”
A cross-disciplinary celebration
The Spring 2025 ceremony welcomed students from a broad spectrum of engineering majors, including mechanical, civil, biomedical, electrical and chemical engineering. As the program has grown, so too has its reach.
“When we started this at Stevens nearly a decade ago, it was just for civil engineering students,” Abel said. “Now, we have students from almost every department. That tells you something: Students want to be part of something meaningful and lasting.”
Indeed, many students shared that the ceremony was one of the most moving moments of their time at Stevens. Anthony Mauceri ‘24 reflected on his experience standing on both sides of the handshake:
“Last year, I received the ring. This year, I had the honor of serving as a shaker, welcoming graduating students as they took the oath and began their journeys as engineers. It was a full-circle moment.”
This year’s ceremony also celebrated continuity and leadership, with Dean Jean Zu of the Schaefer School of Engineering and Science in attendance to cheer on her students.
“The Order of the Engineer isn’t just symbolic,” said Zu in her remarks. “It’s a reminder that engineering is a profession of trust.”
One of those students was Dakota Van Deursen ’19 and M.S. ’20, assistant director for core engineering and science education in the Schaefer School and rising thought leader, who helped coordinate last year’s event and has continued to support and mentor fellow inductees.
“This tradition means a lot to me,” Van Deursen said in a follow-up. “Induction into the Order wasn’t available to students in chemical engineering when I graduated. It was nice to be honored when I returned as staff, but the real joy comes from seeing the obvious pride, sense of community, and meaningful accomplishment in our students’ faces as they cross that stage.”
Also in attendance was Christopher Frank '89 and M.S. '93, a member of the Board of Trustees. He was there to celebrate the accomplishments of his colleagues on the board as well as our graduating Class of 2025, but opted not to be inducted.
A ring that connects generations
Because the ring is worn on the working hand’s pinky finger, it serves as an ever-present prompt to act with integrity. As Mauceri explained,
“Every time we write, design, build or debug — we feel it. A subtle tap against the table. A soft scrape on a laptop edge. A quiet reminder of the oath we took to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
This higher standard includes setting a strong and enduring precedent when it comes to the future of their profession.
“We talk a lot about preparing students for the workforce,” said Abel. “But we also have to prepare them for leadership. This ceremony is part of that. It connects them to the generations of Engineers before them and reminds them that being a good Engineer starts with being a good human.”
