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College of Engineering

Cheers to the Class of 2012

Class of 2012

The College of Engineering sent the Class of 2012 out into the world in style at its annual Recognition Ceremony, held this year on May 19. The following day, the 241-strong engineering contingent joined their arts, science, business, and nursing counterparts for the University’s commencement exercises, where fellow Villanova Engineer Cara Mazzarini ME ’12 served as Class of 2012 student speaker.

Held on Mendel Field, the Recognition Ceremony included a special address by George Soussou ME ’12, Student Body President, who traced the graduates’ journey to embody a theme first presented to them during Orientation 2008: “Become the Tradition; Feel the Pride, as Villanova Comes Alive.”

After his remarks, engineering faculty presented a series of awards. Recipients included:

  • Paige Adack ChE ’12, who received the Robert E. White Chemical Engineering Medallion
  • Francis Nagel CE ’12, who received the Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Medallion
  • Sai Gouravajhala CpE ’12, who received the Computer Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion
  • Emily Battinelli EE ’12, who received the Electrical Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion
  • William Albert ME ’12, who received the Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion and the Engineering Alumni Society’s Robert D. Lynch Award

Outstanding Graduate Student Certificate Awards went to:

  • Susan Muckian MSME ‘12
  • Christopher Forchelli MSCpE ‘12
  • Laura-Ann Chin MSChE ‘12
  • David Mensching MSCE ‘12

Kevin Woods PhD ’12 received the College of Engineering Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, while instructor Edward Char EE ’96, MSME ’98 was selected by the undergraduate student body to receive the Farrell Award, which annually recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary personal care for students.

The following day, as the Class of 2012 officially became Villanova University alumni, Mazzarini recalled being told as a freshman by Father Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, ’75 A&S, that Villanova would become, over time, its literal translation: a “new home.” She also recalled a comment that Father David Cregan, OSA, PhD, made during mass this academic year — “we are not like other people; we are Villanovans” — as sparking a moment of clarity as she prepared for graduation. To Mazzarini, at Villanova, the community is home, and what binds the community is “a dedication to service and to caring for the world we live in.”