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More than 450 undergraduates and nearly 400 master’s students gathered with family, friends, faculty and peers to receive their diplomas at the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16, at the ���غ��� Events Center.

Dean Atul Kelkar welcomed attendees and reflected on his first year at Watson College, likening the experience to how students cope with their transitions to college when they need to “just keep swimming.”

“The work you have put in, the late nights, the countless hours of study, the team projects, the friendships you’ve developed and the challenges you’ve overcome — all of this has been a testament to your resilience and your commitment to excellence,” he said.

As graduates are faced with challenges that are complex, global and multifaceted, Kelkar urged them to remember the principles that have guided their time at ���غ��� — perseverance, compassion, curiosity and courage.

“You have shown that you are adaptable, resilient and ready to take on the unknown,” he said. “You’ve learned how to collaborate across disciplines, how to find solutions in unexpected places, and how to continue pushing boundaries. Now, more than ever, the world needs your voices, your leadership, your creativity.”

University President Harvey Stenger reminded graduates how much they have achieved during their time at ���غ���, both in and out of the classroom. He also praised their supporters in the audience — parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members and friends — who witnessed the milestone moment for their loved ones.

“We call this event Commencement not because it’s the ending of a chapter – it’s a beginning,” Stenger said. “As you venture off into graduate school or a career, you’re commencing a new journey. It can be intimidating. New people, new tasks, a new role – change can be a challenge when you’re not sure what to expect. Remember that you’ve done it before. You did it here.”

Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Hall praised the Class of 2025 for the intellectual curiosity, work ethic and sense of humor they brought to their time at ���غ���. He also reflected on how the COVID pandemic changed education and ideas about work/life balance.

“Remember to define your value to prospective employers,” Hall said. “Show them that you know how to solve problems, that you know how to ‘play well with others’ on teams, that you learned to be a leader at ���غ��� – and that you are a good communicator. These are all skills that come from your foundation in the liberal arts, and I can’t say enough about them. These skills will serve you well in whatever endeavors you undertake.”

Alumni Association President Cara Treidel ’16 welcomed the new graduates into the ���غ��� alumni community that stretches around the world.

“In addition to the friends you made here on campus, you’ll now have a worldwide network of alumni that you can tap into — nearly 160,000 people in more than 100 countries,” she said. “Wherever you go, there is likely to be a ���غ��� grad who can offer support, answer questions or just chat about shared ���غ��� experiences.”

During his time at ���غ���, graduate student speaker Osamah Ali Yaeesh, MS ’25 — who earned his master’s in industrial and systems engineering — worked as a graduate research associate and data scientist with Oak Orchard Health through the Watson Institute for Systems Excellence (WISE). He also contributed to research publications focused on large language models, machine learning and analytics showing how data science can solve real-world challenges.

Yaeesh also stressed the importance of gratitude for those who stood by graduates during their academic journeys, and he reminded the Class of 2025 that there are no “perfect answers” for what comes next.

“The only way forward is to trust yourself, take the leap, and see where it leads,” he said. “When challenges come — and they will — you have to take a deep breath, face them and keep moving forward. Here’s the twist, though. The tough part is: You’re on your own now. But the best part is: You’re on your own now. This is your story to write, your path to carve, your moment to embrace.”

Undergraduate student speaker Christian Martinez ’25 — a mechanical engineering major and a member of the first cohort of the Watson College Scholars Program — remembered his first few weeks at ���غ��� as a time to adjust his thinking both academically and socially. He credited the campus community and welcoming culture for easing him into the Bearcat life.

Martinez looked back on the lessons he learned, friends he made and the activities he joined, including being part of the Residential Life student staff in charge of the Engineering Learning Community in Mountainview and president of Pi Tau Sigma, the mechanical engineering honor society.

“As you look around, you might find yourself sitting among people whom you’ve formed lifelong friendships with — friends you admire, friends who have taught you valuable lessons and friends who have played a key role in your journey up to this moment,” he said. “On a day like today especially, I urge you to take a moment to express your gratitude.”

Watson College’s PhD candidates graduated at a separate ceremony on Thursday.