Dartmouth Engineer

The Investiture ceremony honoring Thayer School’s Class of 2009 was held June 13, 2009 in Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center. Dean Joseph J. Helble presided over the presentation of hoods, caps, and awards to 129 recipients of Bachelor of Engineering and graduate degrees.

James J. Duderstadt. Photograph by Mark Washburn.

The recipient of Thayer School’s Robert Fletcher Award for distinguished achievement and service was James J. Duderstadt, President Emeritus and University Professor of Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan. Winner of a National Medal of Technology, he is an expert on nuclear energy, high-powered lasers, information technology, and policy development in energy, education, and science.

“My cloudy crystal ball suggests a future characterized by rapid, unpredictable, and frequently dramatic change, a future of great challenge and responsibility,” he told graduates. “You will face challenges of a magnitude that would have been incomprehensible when I graduated — energy sustainability, global climate change, global poverty and health, conflict, and terrorism. But you are also graduating during one of the most intellectually productive times in human history. Knowledge continues to grow exponentially. The more we learn, the more we are capable of learning. Yet it is also this same explosion of knowledge that has made this a time in which permanence and stability become less valued than flexibility and creativity, in which the only certainty will be the presence of continual change; and the capacity to relish, stimulate, and manage change will be one of the most critical abilities of all.”

Engineers have an advantage, Duderstadt told the audience: “There is an old saying in engineering that ‘the best way to predict the future is to invent it!’ You have the ability to go out into that exciting world full of change, challenge, and opportunity and not only shape the future but to actually invent it. Indeed, it is your challenge to make certain that the future is never again what it used to be.”

See 2009 Investiture for the full text of Duderstadt’s speech, lists of honorees and graduates, video, and photos.

Class of 2009 Graduates

• 10 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 12 — Master of Science
• 46 — Master of Engineering Management
• 61 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 54 — A.B., Engineering Sciences

FINAL STEPS: The day after Investiture, Thayer graduates line up to receive their diplomas at Commencement. Photograph by Joseph Mehling '69.

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2009 set on Flickr.

The Investiture ceremony ­ honoring Thayer School’s Class of 2008 was held June 9 in Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center. Presiding over the presentation of hoods, caps, and awards to 115 recipients of Bachelor of Engineering and graduate degrees, Dean Joseph Helble told graduates, “I hope during your years here you have learned a little from the faculty and staff. We have certainly learned from you. We have been inspired by you.”

Investiture speaker Richard W. Couch '64 Th'65

The recipient of Thayer School’s Robert Fletcher Award for distinguished achievement and service was Richard W. Couch ’64 Th’65, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hypertherm, the plasma cutting systems company he co-founded with former Thayer professor Robert Dean. “To receive the same award as my mentor and advisor, Myron Tribus, dean of the engineering school when I was here, is a wonderful recognition,” Couch said in his Investiture speech. He went on to tell graduates, “The advantage of a Dartmouth engineering education is its breadth. The disadvantage is you will have to explain many times that you don’t have an electrical or mechanical degree, you have an engineering degree from Dartmouth.”

The ability to straddle fields is crucial, he said. “Many of the most challenging engineering problems are multidisciplinary. At Hypertherm, we design and manufacture plasma cutting equipment — an electric arc process for cutting steel. Deep knowledge of heat transfer, material properties, physical chemistry, and electronics are necessary to design our equipment. Our core competency is the intersection of plasma process design and high-power electronics. You need both to be successful. There are many organizations that have capability in one or the other, but not many with both.”

Class of 2008 Graduates

• 12 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 13 — Master of Science
• 36 — Master of Engineering Management
• 54 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 60 — A.B., Engineering Sciences

CEREMONIAL GESTURE: Professor Erland Schulson places a hood on B.E. graduate Allie Fecych ’07 Th’08 as Professor Robert Graves looks on. Photo by Mark Washburn.

Honors

The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize for outstanding B.E. project: Christina Behrend ’07 Th’08, Shiraz Cassim ’07 Th’08, and Matthew Pallone ’07

The Dean’s Service Award for outstanding service to Thayer School, Dartmouth, or the broader world: Laura B. Weyl Th’08

The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize for outstanding achievement: Luke Wachter ’06 Th’07, ‘08

The Caroline Henderson Prize for best M.E.M. project: Matthew Malvezzi ’06, Th’07, ’08

The Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Design Prize for best performance in ENGS 190/290: Drew Branden Th’08, Scott Newbry ’08 Th’08, Augusta Niles ’07 Th’08, Kevin Olds ’07 Th’08, Eric Trautmann ’07 Th’08, and Michael Zargham ’07 Th’08

The Thayer School of Engineering Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in B.E. course work: Kevin Olds ’07 Th’08 and Michael Zargham ’07 Th’08

Special Faculty Award for Engineering and Service to Humanity: Kristen Lurie ’08 Th’08

The Brieanna S. Weinstein Engineering Design Prize for new technologies, systems, or devices addressing physical or developmental disabilities: Jessica Ogden ’08 Th’08 and Jennifer Tate ’08

The John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize for cost-effective designs of experimental equipment: Summer Gibbs-Strauss Th’08

The John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize for outstanding work in environmental study or research: Benjamin Koons ’08

Excellence in Teaching Award: Benoit Cushman-Roisin

Outstanding Service Award for Faculty: Eric Hansen

Outstanding Service Award for Staff: Mark Franklin ’83 Th’85 and ­­­Tracy Rounds

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2008 Flickr page.

The Investiture ceremony honoring degree recipients was held June 9, 2007 in Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center. Dean Joseph Helble presided over the presentation of hoods, caps, and awards to the 123 recipients of Bachelor of Engineering and graduate degrees.

Investiture speaker Dr. John P. Holdren. Photo by Douglas Fraser

Thayer School’s Robert Fletcher Award recognized Dr. John P. Holdren, the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy at Harvard University and Director of the Woods Hole Research Center, for distinguished achievement and service. In his Investiture speech, Holdren, an expert on global environmental change, sustainable development, and energy technology and policy, outlined economic, environmental, and security issues surrounding energy challenges. Solutions will require advances both in technologies and in public policy, he told graduates.

“Engineers have an important role to play not only in the design and development and deployment of the improved technologies that are needed, but also in the public and political debates that must occur if the needed policies are to materialize. As I tell my own students, the ‘numbers’ are not everything in public policy — unquantifiable matters of preferences and priorities and politics always enter, too — but forming public policy without an appreciation for the technical facts on the ground is a prescription for failure,” Holdren said. “Engineers with the sorts of training you have received at the Thayer School — practical people who understand how technology works and how it is linked to the condition of the economy, the environment, and national and international security — need to be in the thick of the policy debate if we are to get sensible answers. Do not let anybody tell you otherwise.”

RITE OF PASSAGE: Engineers line up to receive their diplomas at Commencement. Photo by Joseph Mehling ’69

CLASS OF 2007 GRADUATES

• 10 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 11 — Master of Science
• 35 — Master of Engineering Management
• 67 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 61 — A.B., Engineering Sciences

HONORS

The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize for outstanding B.E. project: David Manegold ’02 Th’07, Henning Olsson Th’07, and Staffan Skallenas Th’07

The Dean’s Service Award for outstanding service to Thayer School, Dartmouth, or the broader world: Meredith Lunn ’06 Th’07

The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize for outstanding achievement: Christina Behrend ’07

The Caroline Henderson Prize for best M.E.M. project: Doris Ang Th’06 and Ryan Conger ’05 Th’07

The Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Design Prize for best performance in ENGS 190/290: Chris Polashenski ’07 Th’07 and Luke Wachter ’06 Th’07

The Thayer School of Engineering Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in B.E. course work: Erica Wygonik ’99 Th’07

The Brieanna S. Weinstein Engineering Design Prize for new technologies, systems, or devices addressing physical or developmental disabilities: Kathryn Boucher ’09, Alex Latham ’09, Brian Mengwasser ’09, and James Preston ’09

The John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize for cost-effective designs of experimental equipment: James Joslin ’05 Th’07

The John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize for outstanding work in environmental study or research: John Ballard ’07 Th’07, Parke MacDowell ’07, Hillary Price Th’07

Excellence in Teaching Award: Simon Shepherd Adv’99

Outstanding Service Award for Faculty: John P. Collier D’72 Th’77

Outstanding Service Award for Staff: Ellen Stein ’86 and web design team members Catha Lamm, Alison Findon, Ellen Frye, and Karen Endicott

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2007 Flickr page.

Class of 2006. Photograph by Mark Washburn

Thayer School’s Investiture, held June 10, 2006 at the Hopkins Center’s Spaulding Auditorium, welcomed 114 B.E. and advanced degree recipients into the Dartmouth Society of Engineers. With Dean Joseph Helble presiding, B.E. and M.S. graduates received their academic hoods and Ph.D. graduates their well-earned caps.

SPEAKERS' CORNER: From left, Helble and Donofrio. Photograph by Mark Washburn

Nicholas Donofrio, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Technology at IBM, received the Robert Fletcher Award for service exemplifying the highest ideals of Thayer School. In his Investiture speech, Donofrio told graduates, “The innovation opportunities you will be faced with are far different than the ones I was faced with when I started with IBM. Back then, the necessary and sufficient condition was to be a very good engineer, a very good scientist. Back then, the necessary and sufficient condition was to invent, create and discover… Innovation in the 21st century requires people with deep insight into the issues and challenges faced by business, government, academia, for-profit and not-for-profit institutions, and for society… The most important innovations will be those that transcend any particular business or technology; they will be those that have a broad societal impact and improve the lives of real people.”

TRADITION: Professor Eric Hansen bestows a hood on Brenda Melius. Photograph by Mark Washburn

Donofrio pointed out that “innovation happens much faster today, and it diffuses more rapidly into our everyday lives; it is far more open; it spans virtually all disciplines, and it is increasingly global. Innovation rarely arises in the isolated laboratory anymore — it arises in the marketplace, the workplace, the community, the classroom. It flourishes in a collaborative environment.” And he said, “The world is ripe with opportunity for people just like you — people who have benefited from the approach of the Thayer School. People who — because of their exposure to such a unique, forward-thinking program — are almost correct by construction for what lies ahead in the 21st century. You are better equipped than most to chart the new era.”

Donofrio offered some “friendly advice”:

• “Work to make a difference.
• “Take the Hippocratic Oath every morning: ‘Do No Harm.’ If that’s all everyone did every day — just getting the base right — what a great world it would be.
• “Learn to love change. If you simply tolerate it, you will get nowhere.
• “Never let go of who you are, where you came from, what you believe in.
• “Keep your sense of balance.
• “Keep your sense of humor. It is our ultimate sanity check.”

And, challenging graduates to use all their skills to handle inevitable uncertainties, Donofrio said, “As you move deeper into the 21st century, it’s a sure bet that you will be measured less on what you know and more on how you deal with what you don’t know.”

COMMENCEMENT: Left to right, Per Wimmercranz, Brenda Zarate ’05, Eleanor Alexander ’04 Th’05, Luis Carrio ’04 Th’05, and Sean Furey ’04 Th’05 received diplomas June 11. Photograph by Joseph Mehling ’69

By The Numbers

Engineering Graduates

• 8 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 12 — Master of Science
• 37 — Master of Engineering Management
• 57 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 60 — A.B., Engineering Sciences

Honors

The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize for outstanding B.E. project: Nelson Rosa Jr. ’05

The Dean’s Service Award for outstanding service to Thayer School, Dartmouth, or the broader world: Douglas W. Van Citters ’99 Th’03, ’07

The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize for outstanding achievement: Richard Scott Darling Th’06

The Caroline Henderson Prize for best M.E.M. project: Steven A. Musica Th’06

The Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Design Prize for best performance in ENGS 190/290: Brian Hendrickson ’06, Jonathan Bing Knight ’05 Th’06, and Eben Roy Sargent ’05 Th’06

The Thayer School of Engineering Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in B.E. course work: Yoosik Kim ’06 Th’06

The Phillip R. Jackson Engineering Sciences Prize for outstanding performance in an introductory course: (Spring 2005) Patrick Biggs ’06, Ashley Heist ’08, Benjamin Koons ’08, and Monica A. Martin de Bustamante ’08. (Fall 2005) Catherine Gaito ’07, Marc Lajoie ’08, Prabhu Perumalsamy ’08, Kimberly Rocio ’08, and Elisha Tam ’07

The Brieanna S. Weinstein Engineering Design Prize for new technologies, systems, or devices addressing physical or developmental disabilities: Meredith Ann Lunn ’06

The John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize for cost-effective designs of experimental equipment: Andrew Thomas Johnston ’06

The John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize for outstanding work in environmental study or research: Richard Lance Martin ’05 Th’06

Excellence in Teaching Award: John Collier ’72 Th’77

Outstanding Service Award for Staff: Michelle Batt ’99 Th’00 and Judy Durell

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2006 Flickr page.

For the first time, Thayer School’s Investiture, held June 11, 2005, took place in Spaulding Auditorium at the Hopkins Center, a venue large enough to accommodate record numbers of graduates and their well-wishers. With Interim Dean William Lotko presiding, 144 Thayer students received hoods, caps, awards, and an official welcome to Thayer School’s alumni/ae body, the Dartmouth Society of Engineers.

Thomas J. O'Neill. Photograph by Mark Washburn.

Thayer School Overseer Thomas J. O’Neill ’73, Th’74, chairman and CEO of Parsons Brinckerhoff Inc., received the Robert Fletcher Award for distinguished achievement and service. In his Investiture speech he outlined a formula for success, which is excerpted here:

1. In the poker game of life, your technical competence is an ante. You need a differentiator.
2. One of the biggest differentiators is an ability to communicate.
3. You are all broad enough and talented enough that you will lead and manage and direct. That piece of advice was first given to me by Carl Long here at Thayer School. We asked him to teach us about pre-stressed concrete. He told us, “I don’t know why you guys want to learn about that — you’ll hire people to do that for you.” We didn’t believe him at the time. Turns out he was right.
4. Be on time.
5. The three magic words in dealing with clients are scope, schedule, and budget. You have to manage client expectations — not necessarily lower them — and deliver a product that performs the desired functions within the time and budget available.
6. Understand the requirements of whoever assigns work to you.
7. Assignments often come down to who the client has the best relationship with.
8. Personal life matters.
9. Power comes from sharing knowledge — not hoarding it.
10. Don’t be constrained by arbitrary rules or limits.
11. Get a passport. China will dominate the world economy.
12. Never give up hope.

COMMENCEMENT: (Left to right) George Tsung, Tomasz Tsunguz-Zawislak ’04, and Rena Yotsu ’03, Th ’04 received M.E.M. degrees. Photograph by Joseph Mehling ’69.

By the Numbers: Engineering Graduates

• 13 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 29 — Master of Science
• 32 — Master of Engineering Management
• 70 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 59 — Bachelor of Arts, Engineering Sciences Majors

Honors

The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize for outstanding B.E. project: Robert J. Conrado ’05, Linden T. Klein ’05, Reginald W. Martin ’04, and Amol B. Pinge

The Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize for outstanding achievement: Alexander D. Streeter ’03, Th’04, ’05

The Caroline Henderson Prize for best M.E.M. project: Ryan C. Dunn ’03, Th’04, ’05

The Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Design Prize for best performance in ENGS 190/290: Matthew D. Hodgson, Monica J. Thomas Th’05 and Colin T. Ulen

The Thayer School Faculty Award for Academic Excellence in B.E. coursework:  Matthew P. Bell ’05 and Thomas A. Zangle ’05

The John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize for cost-effective designs of experimental equipment: Heng Xu Th’05

The John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize for outstanding work in environmental study or research: Magdalena E. Dale Th’05, Xi Nan Th’05, Ph.D. candidate Jennifer D. Pollock, and Satish Prabhakaran Th’05

The Brieanna S. Weinstein Engineering Design Prize for new technologies, systems, or devices addressing physical or developmental disabilities: Julie A. Matteini ’03 and Rena L. Yotsu ’03 for their “Switch Adapted Kid Car”

Special Faculty Award for Engineering and Service to Humanity: Dartmouth Engineers Without Borders

The Phillip R. Jackson Engineering Sciences Prize for outstanding performance in an introductory course: Monica Martin de Bustamante ’08, Ben Koons ’08, Ashley Heist ’08, Patrick Biggs ’06, and TA Gail Sweeney ’03

The George A. Colligan Memorial Prize for outstanding performance in materials science: Johnathan A. Loudis ’05

The Richard. W. Olmsted Engineering Sciences Prize for outstanding performance in the major: Julia L. Ott ’05 and Thomas A. Zangle ’05

Excellence in Teaching Award: Charles Sullivan

Outstanding Service Award for Faculty: Laura Ray

Outstanding Service Award for Staff: Joan Levy, Terry Priestley

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2005 set and Investiture collection on Flickr. Visit Thayer School’s site for a list of degree recipients.

Class of 2004. Photograph by Mark Washburn.

To the applause of their professors and families, 109 Thayer School students received hoods, caps, and honors at the 2004 Investiture on June 12.

Presiding over his last Investiture, outgoing Dean Lewis M. Duncan told the graduates, “We have provided for your education here to the very best of our abilities, but as we’re sure you recognize, your education is not yet complete, but only transitioning to a new stage.”

Robert Fletcher Award winner and Investiture speaker Rita R. Colwell, Distinguished Professor at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, welcomed the new engineers to the profession. “In our science-, engineering-, and technology-powered world of ever-increasing complexity,” she said, “there is a growing need for your knowledge and very special know-how, steeped in interdisciplinary education and social conscience — so very important as we try to understand each other in order to live in harmony and build a sustainable future.”

Engineers have social responsibilities, Colwell stated. “It is no longer enough for scientists and engineers to generate the new knowledge. We, as scientists and engineers, must be active in the support of, and debate about, the use of that knowledge. Science and engineering are strong and valuable forces for finding solutions to problems and for changing the world in positive ways. But, the task for all of us is to understand the issues that science and engineering raise and to be informed partners with the public in the debate about how knowledge is used.”

Dean Duncan urged the graduates to use their education to the fullest. “In adherence to the founding charge of Sylvanus Thayer,” he said, “we believe that you are indeed today the most capable and faithful, well prepared for the most responsible positions and the most difficult service. Of those to whom much is given, much is expected. And so we expect much of you. Through your choices and your deeds, through your professional careers and the lives that you lead, stand tall and proud, now and always the men and women of Thayer School.”

By the Numbers: Engineering Graduates

• 4 — Doctor of Philosophy
• 18 — Master of Science
• 30 — Master of Engineering Management
• 57 — Bachelor of Engineering
• 60 — Bachelor of Arts, Engineering Sciences Majors

Honors

Brieanna S. Weinstein Engineering Design Prize: Brian M. Foley ’06, Albert M. Kang ’06, Andrew P. Argeski ’06, Zachary E. Pierce ’06 — Combined existing technologies with their own Java-based graphical user interface to create a touch-sensitive remote-control screen for turning household appliances on and off. The device increases independence for people lacking fine motor skills or confined to wheelchairs.

Thayer School of Engineering Corporate Collaboration Council Engineering Design Prize: Curt A. Monaco ’04, R. John Ring Th’04 — Designed a hybrid drive system for Dartmouth’s formula race car.

Special Faculty Award for Engineering and Service to Humanity: Matthew K. Sueoka ’04 — Designed new buildings for an orphanage in Bangladesh.

Thayer School Faculty Award for Academic Excellence: Alexander D. Streeter ’03, Th’04 (B.E.) — Obtained the highest academic record in coursework required for the Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Charles F. and Ruth D. Goodrich Prize: Hai Sun Th’04 (Ph.D.) — Designed an intra-operative stereovision system to track brain shape and motion in near-real time during surgery.

Caroline Henderson Prize: Ashly K. Downey Th’04 (M.E.M.) — Streamlined recruitment process for the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center.

John C. Woodhouse Engineering Design Prize: William H. Shields ’03, Th’04 (B.E.) — Developed and used a simulator to investigate the importance of component congruency to the integrity of knee replacements.

John C. Woodhouse Environmental Engineering Prize: Zhiliang Fan Th’04 (Ph.D.) — Developed a process using enzymatic hydrolysis to convert paper sludge, the refuse from the paper industry, to ethanol, a renewable fuel source.

The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize:

• Alexander D. Streeter Th’04 (B.E.) — Developed a portable headset to execute a new hybrid Active Noise Reduction algorithm that provides real-time attenuation for many different noise sources.
• Benjamin R. Bollinger Th’04 (B.E.) — Integrated two existing methods of detecting and monitoring bubbles during decompression sickness to produce a new system with increased effectiveness.

The Phillip R. Jackson Engineering Sciences Prize: Michael Martin ’06, Jon Groetzinger ’07, Ashley Levack ’07, and Eben Sargent ’05 — Designed a shower system that saves water and energy by cycling water through a reservoir until it is hot enough for use.

Excellence in Teaching Award: Francis E. Kennedy

Outstanding Service Award for Staff: Barbara E. Crawford, Philip D. Tacy

For more photos, visit our Investiture 2004 set on Flickr.