The UW Chemical Engineering community gathered in Kane Hall on June 9 to celebrate the class of 2016.
On that day, 66 BS, 25 MS and 10 PhD degrees were conferred to chemical engineering students who are eager to take on the world.
Mr. Dan Evans, who graduated exactly 50 years ago, addressed the graduates and their families. "You've already made a great choice by choosing Chemical Engineering as your major and doing the hard work it takes to succeed and graduate," he said, as he encouraged the class of 2016 to take advantage of the amazing possibilities lying ahead of them. Evans earned a B.S. from the department in 1966, started his career with Standard Oil in California and subsequently received an MBA from the University of Oregon. Armed with engineering and business degrees, he transformed JH Kelly from a 5-employees family plumbing business into one of the largest specialty contractors in the country with 1,000 employees. Evans credits his Chemical Engineering education for helping him identify a niche for his business to grow and succeed. A dedicated friend of the department, Dan Evans spoke at the Leadership Seminar Series, established a Scholarship to help support deserving undergraduates and is the 2012 recipient of the R. Wells Moulton Distinguished Alumnus in Industry.
Earlier in the evening, Evans had a chance to catch up with his ChemE classmates at the Class of 1966 Reunion, which was also attended by Prof. Berg, Chair Emeritus Charles Sleicher and Prof. Emeritus Bill Heideger. In recognition of 50 years of accomplishments, Chair Baneyx presented members of the Class of ‘66 with commemorative "stoles of gratitude" and recognized them by name during the graduation ceremony.
Prof. Brad Holt spoke on behalf of the proud faculty. Using Calvin and Hobbes cartoons as graphical support, he illustrated what it is like to be a ChemE student for the parents and families in the audience. AIChE President and a graduating senior Nick Ivarson describes Holt as "our alpha and omega: Brad brings the lambs into the fold, he takes care of us, he looks out for us, and he teaches us one of our final classes... (he is) an integral and fundamental part of our experience here at Benson."
Andargachew (Andy) Dessie was selected by his peers to represent the graduating class and for being "always refreshingly genuine and honest with optimistic spirits." Starting his educational journey with studying on his own, Andy described how he was challenged to work in groups, how he struggled to maintain his own perspective, and how he finally learned to balance effective team work while nurturing and giving voice to his own ideas.
By Nicole Minkoff & Shoko Saji
Photo credit: Le Zhen
Graduation photo slideshow
