Newsletter Archives; Winter 1999
Department Holds it's First Graduation
The committee selected Associate Professor Michael G. Jenkins, a UW graduate (Ph.D., '87) as the graduation ceremony speaker. They also decided to honor one of the faculty and a graduate student as Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year. All mechanical engineering students voted on the Outstanding Faculty, while all undergraduates were eligible to vote on the Outstanding TA. A reception committee, headed by Graduate Program Assistant Carol Starovasnik, planned a reception for graduates and their guests in the Walker-Ames Room of Kane Hall following the ceremony. Carol was assisted by undergraduate students Dianne Russell, John Crawford, Denny Trimble and several members of the administrative staff.
Graduates and guests were welcomed to the ceremony by Professor James J. Riley, Acting Chair of the department. After his opening remarks Professor Riley introduced Professor Jenkins, the main speaker. Professor Jenkins thanked the students for giving him the opportunity to speak at their ceremony and alerted them that, true to modern speech-giving standards, the presentation would be a multi-media event. A two-story tall projection screen, an LCD projector, a surround-sound audio system and a desktop computer were utilized in Professor Jenkins' PowerPoint® presentation. Following introductory remarks, Professor Jenkins launched into his presentation, which with tongue-in-cheek he entitled "Socio-Political-Economic Ramifications and Repercussions on Interactive/Inductive Pedagogical Pronouncements in Preparing Professional Pupils for Life-Time Learning Liaisons." True to his word, the presentation was filled with animated clips, many from the television program "The Simpsons", including suitable sound effects such as a 30 second string of Homer Simpson's "Doh!" Professor Jenkins intertwined humor with sage advice as he congratulated students for a job well done while exhorting them to rise to the challenge of using their unique place in society to be leaders, not just doers. Referencing speeches given at the previous day's commencement ceremony by UW President Richard McCormick and by James Loehr, Jenkins alerted the students to changes in not only the State of Washington but also the nation which could seriously jeopardize higher education and diversity initiatives in the future. Near the end of his presentation Professor Jenkins presented a huge digital image of one of his favorite works by impressionist painter Paul Gauguin. In this painting Gauguin summed up the life journey of humans. Jenkins encouraged the graduates to take a closer look at this painting in the future, reminding them that as they entered the world as degreed engineers they must not forget their responsibilities as human beings.
Awards were then presented to the Outstanding Faculty and Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year. Honored as Outstanding Faculty was Associate Professor I-Yeu (Steve) Shen. Donald G. Peacock, who received his Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the ceremony, was honored as Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Year.
Professor Riley then took the podium for the awarding of certificates of graduation. He was assisted by Associate Professor Bruce H. Adee, Dina Meske and Instructional Technician Russell Noé. Each of the graduates was announced and called up to receive their certificate. Associate Chair Bruce Adee then closed the ceremony and invited graduates and guests to enjoy the reception in the Walker-Ames Room. The ceremony was a great success, and plans are already being made for a similar reception next year June.
We believe this is the first separate graduation ceremony held by the department in the century that mechanical engineering classes have been taught on campus. If anyone is aware of an earlier ceremony, please contact us with details.
