College of Engineering Commencement honors Henry Rowan, salutes graduates

There was an empty chair on the stage.

When the largest class from the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering graduated in the Esby Gymnasium on Friday, May 13, one seat was left intentionally empty.

A chair of honor. A chair for a friend. A chair that was just one of the nods during Commencement 2016 to the man behind the prestigious College: Henry M. Rowan, who passed away in December 2015.

One man’s vision

“We’re here because of the vision and generosity of Henry Rowan,” said the dean, Dr. Anthony Lowman, before introducing a video tribute to the New Jersey industrialist and philanthropist and asking for a moment of silence in his memory.

Rather than sadness, the tribute reflected joy, as did Lowman’s story of watching graduates from elsewhere on campus pose for photos in front of Mr. Rowan’s statue off Rt. 322 yesterday. “I (realize) Mr. Rowan is always going to be here. He’s always a part of us, a part of our institution.”

Mr. Rowan’s daughter, Virginia Rowan Smith, echoed Lowman’s sentiments when she welcomed attendees as a member of the Rowan University Board of Trustees. “Although my father passed away in December, I know many of us here still feel his presence,” she said.

Respected education

And she acknowledged the accomplishments of the College and its students. “Mr. Rowan greatly respected the education this College provides and the accomplishments of its students, its faculty and its staff,” she said.

“Graduates you share many characteristics with my father: intelligence, drive, vision and, most important, a commitment to excellence,” Smith said. “To be accepted into this College, you had to be gifted. To graduate from this College, you had to be exceptional. And you are!”

Commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient Robert Braun, chief nuclear officer of PSEG Nuclear, told the students they were among just five percent of graduates nationwide entering engineering.

“Today you join a rather exclusive profession,” Braun said. “Today you all share one thing in common . . .  You can proudly say ‘I am a Rowan engineer.’ Each of you possess a unique God-given talent. Be sure to give thanks.” He added that many people had provided the graduates with advice that pointed them in the direction they followed. “Be sure to let them know how grateful you are.”

While the morning was marked with a number of speeches saluting the graduates, praising their programs and lauding Mr. Rowan, it also featured a few lighthearted moments and other important highlights.

• The College presented its Medal of Excellence for Alumni Achievement to 2005 electrical and computer engineering graduate Dr. Devi Parikh, an assistant professor at Virginia Tech and an Allen Distinguished Investigator of Artificial Intelligence.
• As in the past, chair people got creative in introducing their departments before welcoming students to the stage.
• Numerous graduates decorated their caps with sayings and various items, including a mock Rubik’s cube and tiny yellow construction hat and orange cone.
• Families and friends enthusiastic about the ceremony – though it was driven indoors by the threat of thunderstorms and lightning on the last of five days of Rowan Commencement ceremonies – clapped spiritedly and periodically punctuated the gymnasium with air horns.
• And the audience erupted into applause for grand marshal Dr. Donald Farnelli, an associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who is retiring after 52 years and gave his very last Rowan Commencement invocation and benediction.

More tributes

Among those excited by the day were the family members of student speaker Jeff Eker, an electrical and computer engineering graduate from Haddonfield, New Jersey. His mother, Kathaleen, who attended with his father, Jeff, and a handful of other relatives from as far away as Florida, noted, “(We’re) extremely proud of what he has accomplished while at Rowan (and) also for the adult he has grown into.”

Eker, a leader in numerous student organizations and beyond, said, “In this room today are leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, geeks, dorks and nerds. Yes, we were the ones who couldn’t go out very Saturday might because we were building a robot, a Baja car, a concrete canoe . . . but together we painted a great portrait of the strong talent that the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering has to offer. I know Henry Rowan would be proud of that.”