Stevens Honors the Class of 2026 at 154th Commencement Exercises
A sense of profound celebration filled the PNC Bank Arts Center when Stevens Institute of Technology honored its newest graduates during its 154th Commencement exercises. Bringing together thousands of families, friends, faculty and staff over the course of two ceremonies — undergraduate in the morning and graduate in the afternoon — the vibrant energy offered the Class of 2026 a memorable send-off into a rapidly changing world.
In his address, Stevens President Nariman Farvardin highlighted the unique historical and technological landscape greeting the new graduates, noting the significance of entering a professional world shaped by the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence.
"You did not read about the AI revolution in a textbook. You lived it," he said, acknowledging the graduates' readiness to pair technical skill with human wisdom. "As you embark on this next chapter, I encourage you to embrace innovation not merely as a concept, but as a mindset. Innovation is about challenging the status quo, pushing boundaries and seeing possibilities where others see limitations. The world has more problems than it has problem-solvers, and Stevens has spent the last four years preparing you to close that gap."
Wisdom, Failure and Rising Through Adversity
The highlight for many at the undergraduate ceremony was the highly anticipated keynote address from iconic maker, science communicator and co-host of the long-running Discovery Channel series MythBusters Adam Savage. Reflecting on the "liminal space" graduates find themselves in — the temporary pause between a massive ending and a brand-new beginning — Savage offered a blend of profound life lessons and characteristic humor.
"None of you are geniuses. None of us are geniuses," he noted cheerfully, prompting the entire crowd to repeat after him, "I'm not special." Far from being a downer, Savage explained that recognizing our own normal, flawed humanity is a vital practice that makes us easier to collaborate with and less prone to taking things personally. He also reminded the audience that failure is an intrinsic, mandatory part of any rigorous process. "Iteration is failure-proofing practice," he said, urging graduates to embrace their missteps, stay flexible and never hesitate to throw a "stupid solution" at a complex problem.
Undergraduate student speaker Phillip Bone ’26, a biomedical engineering major and captain of the Men's Volleyball team, shared a deeply personal story of undergoing double-knee surgery early in his collegiate career, an event that stripped away his active athletic identity and forced him to find a new purpose as a leader and mentor from the sidelines.
"We were able to grow not in spite of adversity, but because of it, and sometimes without even realizing it," Bone told his peers. "What we have learned at Stevens is that adversity is not something to fear. It is something that shapes us, strengthens us and prepares us for what comes next. When I look across this stage right now, I see so many hardworking, motivated and compassionate individuals graduating here today, who are eager to make their mark on the world."
Other Ceremony Highlights
After recounting her first day at Stevens, graduate student speaker Alwin John M.S. ’26 reminded her classmates that as they pursue new opportunities and dreams, every success story starts with a “Day 1.” “Life often starts by confusing us before it teaches us. It takes our ‘Day 1’ — the awkwardness, the uncertainty, the feeling of not knowing where we belong — and slowly transforms it into confidence, familiarity and strength,” she said. “And somewhere along the way, we learn something important: That the ‘One Day’ we dream about does not appear by accident. It is built. It is created through every ‘Day 1’ we were brave enough to begin.”
Honorary degrees were bestowed upon two icons who have left an indelible mark on the institution. Alumnus legacy and Wall Street investment leader Thomas O. Richardson received a Doctor of Business Administration, Honoris Causa, for his career achievements and transformative generosity to future generations of scholars. Renowned international mathematician, academic leader and former Faculty Senate Chair Darinka Dentcheva was awarded a Master of Engineering, Honoris Causa, in recognition of her foundational contributions to the mathematics of decision-making under uncertainty.
Further spotlighting academic excellence, the ceremony celebrated a phenomenal cohort of 17 undergraduate candidates who achieved a flawless 4.0 cumulative GPA to earn First in Class honors. Learn more about them here.
Alexander Stanczak ’26 was named the newest member of the Board of Trustees.
The Stevens Alumni Association announced the class officers for the Class of 2026: Tanishka Kapoor ’26, president; Anna Dabrowski ’26, vice president; Gianmarco Costa ’26, secretary; and Sarah Peneiras ’26, fund captain.
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
