COMMISSIONING AND COMMENCEMENT FILL WEEKEND

Frank Batten College of Engineering & Technology (BCET) graduates, along with 863 other ODU graduates, heard messages of optimism and determination from the day's speakers during ODU's 115th Commencement Exercises on December 17.

Doctoral, Master's and undergraduate degrees were conferred on students of Old Dominion University's six colleges during two ceremonies at the Ted Constant Convocation Center.  Led into Commencement by Brittany Gesner, the Old Dominion University Alumni Association Outstanding College Scholar recipient from BCET, the College boasted 161 undergraduate degree recipients, 66 Master's degree recipients, and 10 doctoral degree recipients of the College.  Among these graduates was BCET's first Doctor of Engineering graduate, Amer Tahani.  She joined her fellow BCET graduates in the pomp and circumstance on Saturday.

Also during the ceremony, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees were presented to Baron and Ellin Gordon, patrons of the arts and donors of the largest gift of art ever given to ODU, a collection of 375 folk art works by self-taught artists, currently on display at the Baron and Ellin Gordon Self-Taught Art Gallery at ODU.

Then, later that Saturday, on the campus on Norfolk State University (NSU), BCET graduates as well as graduates from other ODU colleges and NSU participated in the Fall Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps of Hampton Roads Commissioning Ceremony.  The ceremony recognized those candidates who successfully completed ROTC training during their collegiate studies.  Congratulations to Ensign Matthew Wallner, Ensign Mark Randazzo, Ensign Truitt Rounsavall, Second Lieutenant, Anthony Glassford and Second Lieutenant Hunter Kennedy!