Congratulations to the 2019 Stuart Graduates!

05/20/2019

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Congratulations to the 2019 Stuart Graduates!

Surrounded by family and friends, about 170 Stuart students, who are now Illinois Tech alumni, participated in the 2019 Stuart Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18. In the day's highlight, the graduating students walked across the stage at Hermann Hall Auditorium to receive congratulations from Stuart Dean John Bilson and receive their diplomas.

Keynote speaker Bluford Putnam, Managing Director and Chief Economist, CME Group, encouraged the graduates to be forward-thinking and to embrace change and ambiguity in their careers. "You need to seek out and seize the opportunities, because there are going to be many opportunities," he said. "But perhaps foremost, you need to enjoy the journey, and make a contribution—a positive contribution—to all the people around you that are sharing that journey with you."

The student speakers, Ethan Castro (Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Public Administration) and Michelle Mikka-Van Der Stuyf Master of Business Administration), talked about the value of their experiences at Stuart and applying what they have learned. Castro asked his peers "to remember not just the business content that Stuart has given you, but the incredibly generous staff and faculty members that gave us countless memories and mentorship during our time as students."

"The world needs all of you, to create and evolve our future, solve the difficult problems, challenge the status quo, think out of the box, and contribute to the community of innovators and business leaders," said Mikka-Van Der Stuyf. "Stay imaginative of what the possibilities are and make them realities!"

In his address concluding the ceremony, Stuart Dean John Bilson noted that the university's history of innovation and technology "is the legacy you inherit as graduates of Illinois Tech and Stuart School of Business. You now have the opportunity to continue and build on that legacy for future generations of Illinois Tech students. What will you do with that opportunity?"

More Information about the Stuart Commencement