May 18, 2020

The pandemic may have denied our graduates a traditional commencement, but it cannot erase the great experiences they’ve had and the accomplishments they’ve achieved that will last a lifetime. Click here to see captions for these images.

Dear members of the Hajim School community,

In a world turned upside-down by the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to celebrate Commencement this spring. So, given the circumstances, we did the next best thing last Friday.

We conferred degrees in a virtual celebration that included our Hajim School conferral. We did so with every hope that sometime later this year we will be able to meet on campus for a more traditional observance. (In the meantime, here’s a virtual Rush Rhees Tower Tour courtesy of the Digital Scholarship Lab!)

Our Hajim School graduating class includes 411 seniors, of whom 127 (30.9 percent) are women, 119 (28.9 percent) are international students, and 39 (9.48 percent) are underrepresented minority students.

The Department of Computer Science leads with 119 graduates, followed by 81 in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Biomedical engineering has the highest percentage of women graduates (42.3 percent). Computer science has the highest percentage of international graduates (42 percent) and mechanical engineering the highest percentage of underrepresented minority graduates (13.5 percent).

We also conferred 95 master’s degrees, including TEAM and Materials Science, and 43 doctoral degrees.

Numbers and percentages, however, do not begin to convey the achievements accumulated over years of hard work by each and every one of our students who received degrees. The pandemic may have denied our students the traditional Commencement they deserve, but it cannot erase what they have accomplished. Please join me in congratulating them and wishing them all the best as they begin the next chapters in their lives.

Congratulations as well to:

Michael Scott, the Arthur Gould Yates Professor of Engineering, and past and incoming chair of the Department of Computer Science, who is recipient of the William H. Riker University Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. Michael has advised 18 former and six current PhD students and served on the thesis committees of 51 others. He has previously received a Goergen Award for Undergraduate Teaching and the Hajim School Lifetime Achievement Award.

Institute of Optics alumnus Robert Shannon, ’54 ’57 (MA), who is recipient of an honorary doctor of engineering degree from the University. Robert, who began his career at Itek Corporation designing optical systems for space observation, later joined the faculty of the Optical Sciences Center at the University of Arizona, eventually serving as its director.

Read more about these and other University awards here.

I am also pleased to share these recipients of Hajim School student awards:

The Charles L. Newton Prize is awarded to students who show special proficiency in some subject connected with engineering, and who have conducted research, given a presentation, or published a paper.

Logan Bashford, mechanical engineering
George Klimiashvili, electrical and computer engineering
Aime Laurent Twizerimana, chemical engineering

The winners of the Donald M. Barnard Prize have all been accepted into graduate programs at the University of Rochester. They show high achievement and good personal qualities.

Arjun Ashok, biomedical engineering
Noah Chartier, mechanical engineering
Jake Gilman, biomedical engineering
Maxwell Kearns, chemical engineering
Jacob Melchi, audio and music engineering.
Charles Patterson, biomedical engineering
Hao Yin, mechanical engineering
Jiacheng Zhao, optical engineering

The Richard Eisenberg Engineering Award recognizes a hard-working undergraduate with an interest in metallurgy.

Bianca Dyer, chemical engineering

The G. Harold Hook Prize is awarded to students who have demonstrated an above average interest in engineering, and who have conducted research, given a presentation or published a paper.

Elana Antoine, optical engineering
Tresa Elias, biomedical engineering

The Robert L. Wells Prize is awarded to senior engineering students for demonstrated competence in both engineering and the humanities.

Nathan Nickerson, mechanical engineering, with a minor in art history
Jarrod Young, computer science and Spanish
Melissa Wen, computer science and brain and cognitive sciences, with a minor in studio arts

The Tau Beta Pi Prize is awarded to a senior who, through academic achievement, proven leadership, and character has excelled and inspired fellow students.

Kathleen Desmond, mechanical engineering
Kate Korslund, mechanical engineering

You can see a full list, including department awards, here.

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges are inspired by 14 broad problems facing society in sustainability, health, security, and knowledge. Hajim School Grand Challenges Scholars design a personalized program that explores a selected Grand Challenge. These graduating seniors, who have successfully completed the program, share their experiences in these profiles, which show not only how motivated these students have been, but the wealth of opportunities the University has provided them in tackling their Grand Challenge.

Mall rooftops as turf soccer fields? This brainchild of Ayat Chowdhury ’22, a finance and computer science double major, took first place and $5,000 at the Charles and Janet Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition, held virtually on May 1. The competition encourages undergraduate engineering students to consider the commercial potential of topics or processes they are studying.

Second place and $2,500 went to electrical and computer engineering major Tolga Aktas ’19, ’20 (e5 scholar); business major Enyxa Poventud ’21; and computer science and math double major Jianyuan Zhong ’20, who are developing a virtual personal trainer that offers real-time fitness baseline tracking and realistic incremental recommendations to increase workout satisfaction.
Third place and $1,000 went to business and international relations double major Xueying “Shelley” Chen ’19, ’20 (e5 scholar); brain and cognitive sciences and digital media studies double major Kaixin Li ’21; computer science major Yawo Alphonse Siatitse ’20; computer science major Abdul Moid Munawar ’22; and finance major Vanshika Singhania ’22. Their project provides job shadow opportunities for travelers and young professionals around the world.

As we enjoy warmer weather, Ralph Manchester, vice provost and University Health Service director, reminds us that we are still in the midst of a global pandemic and that our collective efforts as a community can help stop the spread of COVID-19. That means wearing a face covering when heading outside and remaining vigilant about social distancing.

Here is additional guidance on stopping the spread of COVID-19 when outside:

Avoid games and activities that require close contact.
Avoid frequently touched surfaces and objects.
Do not share equipment such as bicycles, helmets, balls or frisbees.
Do not gather in groups or share food.
When returning indoors, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.

For the latest information on New York State’s On Pause response, visit https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/home. For full details on the University’s response, see the University’s COVID-19 website.

Due to the Memorial Day Holiday, the next issue of Hajim Highlights will be Tuesday, May 26. Enjoy the holiday, but please be safe.

Your dean,
Wendi Heinzelman