Sunshine Greets 2019 Undergraduates at Commencement Ceremony
The morning of May 18 was picture perfect for the College of Engineering’s 2019 Undergraduate Convocation. Held on the campus green with Corr Hall as the backdrop, the ceremony recognized the College’s 237 graduating seniors.
After a welcome from Interim Dean Dr. Randy Weinstein and invocation by Luke Nowlan ’19 ChE, Dr. Weinstein began the ceremony with the presentation of the College’s Farrell Award, which recognizes an engineering faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary personal concern for students, as voted on by the students. This year’s recipient was Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Dr. David Dinehart.
Following the presentation of the Farrell Award, student speaker Lauren Henderson ’19 CpE inspired, amused and encouraged her fellow graduates, saying:
“We are more than our majors. We aren’t just engineers with bright futures, with passion in our hearts and principle in our minds, we are Villanovans who have all accomplished greatness by leaning on those around us and by giving everything we had when we could to help one another.”
After Lauren’s words, recognition of the graduates and presentation of student awards commenced with each department chair calling individual names and identifying those who graduated with academic honors. Each department also awarded a medallion to an outstanding undergraduate selected by the faculty. Criteria included academic achievement and the quality and consistency of co-curricular contributions. Awards were presented as follows:
Robert E. White Chemical Engineering Medallion: Nathaniel Bayuk
Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Medallion: Bridget Gile
Computer Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion: Shelly Henling
Electrical Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion: Brianna Conte
Mechanical Engineering Outstanding Student Medallion: Adrienne Jacob
The final award presented was the Robert D. Lynch award, which was instituted in 2003 in honor of the Dean of the College of Engineering from 1975–2000. Sponsored by the Engineering Alumni Society, this prestigious award acknowledges a graduating senior for their outstanding academic achievements and exemplary dedication to serving the community, thus representing the highest values of Villanova University and the College of Engineering. The winner of the 2019 Lynch Award was Andrew Lee ’19 ME, who along with Bridget Gile ’19 CE, was name a Knight-Hennessey Scholar at Stanford University, where they will both pursue PhDs.
The Commencement Ceremony concluded with the singing of the University alma mater; the reciting of the Engineers Creed, led by Sam Cooney 19 CpE; and the benediction, presented by Sarah Godschall ’19 CE.