2007 E&EM gradates enjoyed the graduation ceremonies of the school of engineering and applied science (SEAS) and the University. The SEAS graduation event was held at the Smith Center on Saturday evening, May 19th. Some 2,000 SEAS graduates, parents, siblings, spouses, children, and other relatives and friends attended the 2007 SEAS Celebration. Graduates walked individually across the stage at the Smith Center to receive their diplomas, handshakes, and congratulations from Dean Tong and the SEAS faculty, as E&EM Lead Professor Jonathan Deason conducted the event as the SEAS Marshall.
The ceremony included the presentation of 26 student awards to recognize various forms of student achievement; the Engineer Alumni Achievement Award, which was presented to Dr. John Chino (D.Sc. '86) and Mr. James Martin (B.S. '50). The keynote address was provided by Dr. Maria Klawe, President of Harvey Mudd College.
The University graduation ceremony was conducted the following day, on Sunday, May 20. The event, which was conducted on the National Mall, just in front of the United States Capitol building, attracted more than 10,000 people. Speakers at the event included broadcast journalist and CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, National Academy of Sciences President Ralph J. Cicerone, former chairwoman of the Council of the District of Columbia Linda W. Cropp, Institute of Medicine President V. Fineberg, and former United States Senator and Connecticut Governor Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
