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Reach for the stars class of 2025! I want to see that email of your graduating class stats go crazy!
We write Stevens history HOBOKEN, NJ | MAY 21, 2025
VOLUME CXXII No.26
NEW STUTE EVERY FRIDAY • EST. 1904
CONGRATS CLASS OF 2025
INSIDE THIS ISSUE SPORTS
SEASON RECAP PAGE 3 FEATURE
LIST OF GRADUATING SENIORS PAGE 4 ISABELLE VILLANUEVA FOR THE STUTE
Stevens graduating seniors take on their first–and last–Wittpenn Walk
FEATURE
FIRST IN CLASS COHORT PAGE 5
FEATURE
AWARDS RECIPIENTS PAGE 6
BY SERENA PANUCCI, STAFF WRITER On May 7, 2025, the graduating seniors of the Class of 2025 finally experienced their first official Wittpenn Walk on their last day as undergraduates. The Wittpenn Walk is a Stevens tradition that bookends the under-
graduate experience. According to Stevens, it is a tradition that “symbolizes the start and end of an undergraduate student's academic career.” First-year students walk up Wittpenn Walk to mark the beginning of their academic journey, while seniors walk down the same path at the end of their undergraduate years to symbolize its
Introducing this year’s commencement speaker: Emilio A. Fernandez
FEATURE
SENIOR ESSAYS PAGE 7 and 8
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS.EDU
BY TANYA AVADIA, OUTREACH CHAIR
FEATURE
PUZZLES PAGE 9 PULSE
ROVING AND SUDOKU PAGE 10
Stevens Institute of Technology has announced Emilio A. Fernandez as this year’s commencement speaker. Fernandez—an entrepreneur, pioneer, and emeritus trustee of the university— will address the Class of 2025 on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Mr. Fernandez, being a strong advocate for education and innovation, hopes to congratulate and inspire the graduates as they embark on a new era of their lives. Mr. Fernandez shares, "I am deeply honored to address the Class of 2025 at Stevens Institute of Technology's commencement ceremony. Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand how technological innovation can transform industries and improve lives. I look forward to sharing in-
NEWS (2)
FEATURE (4-9)
SPORTS (3)
PULSE (10)
Class of 2025's first and last Wittpenn Walk Learn more about the Wittpenn Walk experience the graduating Class of 2025 had! 2025 RECAP
Recognize our graduating senior athletes and the MAC players of the year! See more about the sports accomplishments this season!
First in Class Cohort Senior Awards Stute Senior Essays Puzzle Page Graduating Seniors List Read answers from the Stevens community to our weekly Roving Reporter, plus solve our weekly puzzle and sudoku.
sights from my journey with these talented graduates as they begin their own paths of discovery and impact." Mr. Fernandez’s career actually started while he was still in college. During his time at the University of Maryland, he helped found Pulse Electronics, a railway monitors and systems company that was later acquired by the Fortune 500 firm Wabtec. Following this, Mr. Fernandez continued his streak of innovation, and currently holds 27 patents across various applications. His patent pertaining to e-readers such as the Amazon Kindle is his most cited, forever altering the technological landscape. Additionally, Mr. Fernandez has taken part in the creation of several technology-related companies. In his current role, he serves as a managing director
SEE SPEAKER PAGE 2
completion. The ritual is a visual and communal representation of growth, transition, and reflection. But for the Class of 2025, that symbolic beginning never happened. When they arrived on campus in the Fall of 2021, construction on the University Center Complex had closed off Wittpenn Walk completely, and the tradi-
tional freshman walk was held on a different route due to detours. While the Class of 2025’s journey didn’t start with the tradition as intended, ending down Wittpenn brought a sense of closure. Lined with faculty, underclassmen, and friends, the path of
SEE WITTPENN PAGE 2
The Future Starts Here: The 2025 Innovation Expo BY RIYANA PHADKE, SCIENCE EDITOR At Stevens, every undergraduate wraps up their academic journey by presenting a senior project that reflects years of learning and growth. This year’s Stevens Innovation Expo was a vibrant celebration of creativity, research, and entrepreneurship, bringing together original work from every school on campus. From the cutting-edge designs in engineering to the thought-provoking expressions in the arts, the Innovation Expo demonstrated how Stevens students are not just problem-solvers; they are innovators already shaping the future. The School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) hosted 40 capstone teams at two locations this year: the UCC Gallery on campus and the Mana Contemporary Gallery in Jersey City. Their projects spanned social analysis, creative expression, and community impact. The school also held a HASS Concert as part of the celebration, blending sound and scholarship. The Visual Arts and Technology program showcased its senior capstone exhibition, Looks Like Rain, on April 24. The artists reflected, “‘Looks Like Rain’ is a phrase open to interpretation […] Its meaning depends on perspective and circumstance.” Each artist channeled a unique vision into their work; be it critique, memorial, or personal storytelling.
The School of Business featured student work across three specialized tracks: consulting (34 teams), entrepreneurship (6 teams), and research (8 teams). Exhibits filled the Babbio Atrium and extended into nearby classrooms. The highlight of the business track was the live pitch competition, where six entrepreneurial teams competed for top honors before a panel of judges. The School of Engineering and Science (SES) hosted 189 senior design projects, 55 of which were interdisciplinary, reflecting collaborative work between students of different majors. Held in the Walker Gym, this showcase included projects from across departments, including a highlight by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE BAJA) and a freshman competition in autonomous robotics, showing innovation from every class year. Roughly 40 Stevens alumni participated this year, offering mentorship, feedback, and industry insight. Their involvement helped bridge the gap between classroom innovation and real-world impact. The 10th annual Ansary Entrepreneurship Competition featured six student teams pitching their Senior Design Projects to potential investors. CardioLink™️Technologies, led by senior BME students Robert Gordanier, Rhys Robichaud, Sean Shea, and
SEE EXPO PAGE 2