Hartford Commencement 2007

Rensselaer at Hartford held its 50th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, June 2, 2007. Among the members of the outstanding Class of 2006-2007 were 27 students receiving a second advanced degree from Rensselaer and one student receiving a third. The 18th President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y., and Hartford, Conn., the Honorable Shirley Ann Jackson, Ph.D., addressed the 246 graduates, their families and friends, and members of Rensselaer’s faculty and staff.

The Hartford Chapter of the Rensselaer Alumni Association presented its annual Outstanding Student Awards. Faculty members submitted nominations for the awards based on graduating students who had distinguished themselves from their peers through superior academic achievement, demonstrated leadership skills, works published, and contributions to Rensselaer. The Outstanding Student Award from the Lally School of Management and Technology was presented to Patrick J. Courtney. He earned an M.B.A completing his studies with a 4.0 G.P.A. Courtney is Director of Product Development and Engineering Laboratory Operations at Henkel Corporation. The Outstanding Student Award winner for the Department of Engineering and Science was Joseph C. Nold, who earned an M.E. in Mechanical Engineering with a 3.85 G.P.A. He is currently a Mechanical Engineer in the Combat Systems Department at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC).

Faculty nominators included Edward D. Arnheiter, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor; and John Maleyeff, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, Hartford Department of the Lally School of Management and Technology, who co-nominated Courtney for his award. Nold was nominated for his award by Ernesto Gutierrez-Miravete, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Engineering and Science.

In her Commencement address, President Jackson applauded the graduates who have faced — and overcome — challenges not often encountered by traditional students, stepping outside of their established lives to “reach for something higher, something beyond.” Click HERE for the text of Dr. Jackson’s address.

Following the official conferring of the master’s degrees, President Jackson; Robert E. Palazzo, Ph.D., Acting Provost, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; John A. Minasian, Ph.D., Vice President and Dean, Rensselaer at Hartford; and Robert S. Forman, Jr. (’61), President, Rensselaer Alumni Association; shook hands with each and every graduate who crossed the stage.

Prepping for the Big Event
Donning Commencement regalia.

Musical Accompaniment
Bagpiper, Charles Murdoch, and the Fisher Brass Quintet.

Award Winners
Joseph C. Nold (right) displays his Outstanding Student Award plaque with Dr. Gutierrez-Miravete, Ph.D.
Patrick J. Courtney (center) is flanked by Dr. Maleyeff (left) and Dr. Arnheiter (right) while posing with his Outstanding Student Award plaque.