View and download photos from the event.
Despite the freezing 27-degree morning, hundreds of undergraduate, graduate and Ph.D. students crossed the stage on Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Cockrell School of Engineering Fall Commencement Ceremony. With degrees in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, architectural engineering and more, Cockrell School students came with big smiles, decorated mortarboards and a lot to be proud of.
Here's what a few of the graduates said about leaving the Cockrell School, their best experiences and upcoming plans:
"Being a part of the student organization Student Engineers Educating Kids (SEEK) has been my most memorable experience. We go to local middle schools and elementary schools and lead fun science and engineering activities. I love watching the students get excited about science and the idea of going to college to study engineering. STEM outreach has always been a passion of mine and I have been very proud to serve as the SEEK vice president of administration this semester." — Rebecca Pledger, electrical and computer engineering
"I have already accepted a postdoctoral research position with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, which is a nonprofit institute associated with the University of Washington medical center. There I will be working on a project to map molecular pathways underlying tumor development; this map will provide future targets for new anti-cancer therapies." — Julie Ann Rytlewski, electrical and computer engineering senior
"After graduation, I am going to be working at Pape-Dawson Engineers Inc. in the San Antonio office as a civil engineer. I'm from San Antonio so it will be fun to get to work on projects in the city that I grew up in and have become so fond of." — Grant Wuebben, civil engineering senior
"Studying abroad for a semester in Stockholm, Sweden, was absolutely an opportunity I wouldn't trade for the world. I had the opportunity to make friends from all over and travel to places I would never have seen otherwise. Studying abroad was a fantastic opportunity to venture out in an affordable yet practical way. The experience provided adventures and innumerable opportunities." — Colin Christ, civil engineering senior
"My best student experience outside of my studies has been student organizations. Between PTS, TBP, ASME and UTSVT, I have shared many laughs and developed several incredible friendships. I have been up all night welding for the solar car, slipped on ice playing broomball with ASME, laughed until it hurt while feasting on BBQ with PTS and spent a day volunteering at a Dog Adoption Fair with TBP. The fun and relief from my ordinary routine has helped me become more of a person while beginning my professional network."— Jeremy Carlson, mechanical engineering senior
"In the summer of 2012, I took part in Texas 4000, a charity bike ride from Austin to Anchorage. I spent 70 days and over 4,000 miles on a bike with 41 UT students, and it was an experience of a lifetime." — Do Soon Kim, chemical engineering senior
"Being president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) was my greatest undergraduate experience because I was able to grow as a leader and have an impact on the aerospace students' college experience, both scholastically and professionally. After graduation, I plan on travelling the world for about four and a half months, visiting over 20 countries. Afterwards, I will be working at McKinsey & Company as a business analyst out of their Dallas office. I'm extremely excited for both!" — Bryce Ewalt, aerospace engineering
