Celebrating the Class of 2021

Apr 29 2021

CLASS OF 2021 AWARD WINNERS

Valedictorian and Illig Prize – Noah Huber-Feely

Salutatorian – Alexander Paskov

George Vincent Wendell Prize – Adheli Gonzalez

Morton B. Friedman Memorial Prize for Excellence – Tingjun Chen

Graduate Student Life Leadership Awards – Christophe Jean-Michael and Aimee Rose Moses

Doctoral Graduate Student Life Leadership Award– Shreya Narasimhan

The full program is available online.

FACULTY AWARD WINNERS

Edward and Carole Kim Award for Faculty Involvement
Ali Hirsa, Professor of Professional Practice
Yevgeniy Yesilevskiy, Lecturer in the Discipline of Innovation and Design

Janette and Armen Avanessians Diversity Award
Chris Boyce, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering
Augustin Chaintreau, Associate Professor of Computer Science

In New York and around the world, Columbia Engineering’s Class of 2021 gathered virtually April 29 to celebrate a well-earned Class Day after a most unusual year. Reflections from peers, faculty, and keynote speaker Rocco B. Commisso ’71 ‘75BUS marked the milestone, along with announcements of the School’s most prestigious awards.

“Never before has the world been more in need of your abilities and talents, your fresh insights and human perspective,” Dean Mary C. Boyce told the class. “As engineers you are fundamentally creative; you have a mindset focused on overcoming obstacles to find solutions that work in the real world. Where others see constraints, you see possibilities.”

Calling his Columbia experience “the luck of his life,” Commisso shared key lessons learned on his journey from struggling young immigrant to Columbia Engineering student on a soccer scholarship to becoming a senior cable executive and founding his own company, Mediacom. Viewers also heard from class president Kalisa Ndamage, valedictorian Noah Huber-Feely, and graduate student speaker Rohit Sharma, as well as from university President Lee C. Bollinger. Additionally, Senior Vice Dean Souleymane Kachani and Vice Dean Barclay Morrison named the recipients of Columbia Engineering’s top honors.

“Graduates of 2021, I join with your family and friends, our faculty and staff, to say congratulations,” Boyce said. “You are ready to SEAS the world!”

Celebrating the 2021 Graduates

Watch faculty congratulate the Class of 2021

Class Day 2021 Faculty Congratulations

Student Spotlights

As we celebrate all of our 2021 graduates, take a look at students across Columbia Engineering’s departments.

 

Graduate Spotlight 2021 by columbia engineering

Watch the Class Day ceremony on Youtube

Columbia Engineering honored the Class of 2021 at Virtual Commencement Ceremonies on Thursday, April 29.

School of Engineering and Science - Undergraduate Class Day 2021

School of Engineering and Science - Graduate Class Day 2021

Stay up-to-date with the Columbia Engineering newsletter

* indicates required