UVA Engineering Celebrates 2016 Graduates

On Sunday, May 22, UVA Engineering celebrated 821 students who earned engineering degrees, including 628 undergraduate students, 136 master’s degree students, and 57 doctoral degree recipients.

Students first participated in final exercises on the Lawn, and then received recognition and their degrees during special ceremonies for their engineering departments.

“To our graduates, let me say both congratulations and thank you,” said Executive Associate Dean for Research Pamela Norris, one of the UVA Engineering leaders who spoke to graduates and their families as part of the diploma ceremonies. “Congratulations on an academic career that has been filled with accomplishments and growth, both personal and professional.  And thank you for choosing to study with us, for challenging us to think in new and creative ways, and for bringing your best academic and personal qualities into our world.”

During a speech for the Systems & Information Engineering diploma ceremony, Ph.D. recipient Elizabeth Connelly echoed many graduates in expressing her gratitude to UVA, the Engineering School and fellow students for her opportunities.

“I want to thank all of the people in the department, the dedicated professors, helpful staff, and terrific students that have made my time at UVA so enjoyable that I really don’t want it to be over,” she said. “As we all move on though, I know we will accomplish great things, and I wish everyone here the best of luck with their next endeavors.”

Click here to see our Class of 2016 graduation photo album.

Click here to see our social media board.

Throughout graduation week, UVA featured outstanding grads, and here are several stories of UVA Engineering students:

  • Adam Wulchin, aerospace engineer, says his four years at UVA have shaped and will continue to shape him in the future.
  • Aqura Russell found a balance between chemical engineering and dance.
  • Angela Liu is a School of Engineering 2016 Outstanding Student Award winner.
  • Computer Engineering degree recipient Joseph Weate will join the U.S. Army’s Cyber Command.
  • Lia Cattaneo, a Truman-Albright scholar, talks about the value of her time studying at UVA in this video.