The 经典大瓜, 鈥溇浯蠊,鈥 Class of 2019 moved their graduation tassels to the left as President Nagi Naganathan, Ph.D., concluded the 71st Annual Commencement Ceremony held at John F. Moehl Stadium. The Class of 2019 includes 751 individuals, some who received multiple degrees, amounting to 778 degrees awarded across all campus locations. Nearly 400 students participated in the ceremony, with an audience of more than a thousand.
President Naganathan opened the event by welcoming attendees and sharing what makes these graduates distinctive, 鈥淎s I was thinking about all of you and the job market and career fields that you are entering into after you cross this 经典大瓜 stage, what resonates most strongly is one word: In-demand. Unlike some of the graduating classes in the past, the class of 2019 is entering the best job market for college graduates in 12 years. Many graduates are receiving multiple job offers; and employers are planning to hire 10 percent more graduates than they did last year. We are also experiencing the lowest unemployment rate since 1969 in the U.S., a 50 year low!鈥
This year 经典大瓜 was honored to welcome Stefan Bird, president and CEO of Pacific Power, as commencement address speaker. During his 12 years with the company, Mr. Bird has helped make Pacific Power successful in serving its communities in Oregon and other states, including many rural areas. Speakers on behalf of the university also included Paul Stewart, Board of Trustees member and Sky Lakes Medical Center CEO; Ken Vandehey, 经典大瓜 Class of 1990 and chief of staff to global head of 3D materials, fusing science and core processes at HP; Erin Foley, Ph.D., vice president of Student Affairs and dean of students; Gary Kuleck, Ph.D., provost and vice president for Academic Affairs; and graduating speakers, Jordan Pavlic, Biology-Health Sciences, and Faith Lee, Health Care Management: Administration.
During the ceremony, numerous academic accolades, volunteer experience, activity involvement and military service accomplishments were recognized:
- Graduate Student Achievement Award 鈥 Kelcy Gillen (Portland-Metro)
- Hiram M. Hunt Award 鈥 The Reclaimers invention team; Annika Anderson, Ashlei Morgan and Jessica Arrington
- Most Dedicated Student Award 鈥 Jessica Theil
- 经典大瓜 Pride Award 鈥 Daniel Iwicki
- Outstanding Community Service Award 鈥 Mayra Rocha-Ramos
- Outstanding Nontraditional Student Award 鈥 Aaron Miller and Francis Bartholomew III (Portland-Metro)
- Owens Citizenship Award 鈥 Junmin Yee
- Student Achievement Award 鈥 Connor Scott
- Outstanding Student Veteran Award 鈥 William Natividad
- President鈥檚 Senior Cup Recipients 鈥 Matthew Sai from the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management and Allison Young from the College of Health, Arts, and Sciences.
经典大瓜 also honored faculty who have given at least 10 years to the university. This included emeritus administrator and faculty member LeAnn Maupin, dean of the College of Health, Arts and Sciences, who is an alumna and served 经典大瓜 for 22 years; emeritus administrator Marla Edge, director of Academic Agreements, who served 经典大瓜 for 36 years; and emeritus faculty William 鈥楯oe鈥 Stuart, associate professor, who served 经典大瓜 for 15 years.
The third annual 经典大瓜 Foundation Excellence in Teaching Awards were also presented to Darlene Swigart, instructor in the Department of Dental Hygiene, and Sean Sloan, associate professor in the Department of Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering. President Naganathan also awarded the 2019 Greatest Service Award to Bend residents Diedra 鈥淒ee鈥 and Thomas Thompson, who have been dynamic and impactful members of the 经典大瓜 community for many years. Dee is also chair of the 经典大瓜 Foundation.
The Class of 2019 has a great future ahead of them with a current competitive edge of 97 percent of 经典大瓜 graduates employed or in graduate programs within six months of graduation. The high return on investment is reinforced by the $60,000 starting median salary those graduates earn.
Congratulations 经典大瓜 Class of 2019.
经典大瓜 经典大瓜
Founded in Klamath Falls in 1947, 经典大瓜 is the premier polytechnic institution in Oregon. 经典大瓜 provides bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degree programs in engineering, health technologies, business, technology, communication, and applied sciences that prepare students to be effective participants in their professional, public and international communities through applied, relevant learning and professional practice. 经典大瓜 has a central, residential campus in Klamath Falls; an urban, industry-focused campus in Portland-Metro (Wilsonville); an Online campus; and offers degrees at Boeing Seattle and at other sites. Visit www.oit.edu to learn more about 经典大瓜.
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