On November 13, nearly 400 engineering students stepped out of Convocation Hall as new alumni.
One of those graduates is Robert Netopilik, who received his Master of Applied Science in the Department of Civil Engineering (CivE). He was among the 25 undergraduates and 369 graduate students who earned degrees this fall.
“It’s an amazing feeling to have all your hard work culminate to this moment. I truly valued the experience,” said Netopilik, as his girlfriend Patricia Sheridan proudly looked on. Sheridan is currently a PhD candidate at U of T, researching engineering leadership education – a first in Canada.
As she continues her studies at U of T Engineering, Netopilik will be working at GO Transit as a Junior Project Coordinator, helping to create a new airport railway on the Georgetown line.
The future looks exceptionally bright for Netopilik and his graduating class. Take Saja Al-Dujaili, for example, who obtained her doctorate in biomedical engineering from the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering (IBBME). She will be doing postdoctoral research at the University of Michigan. And there’s CivE graduate Amy Jiang, who earned a Master of Engineering. She has her sights set on the private sector, and will be working as a transport planner at consulting company, BA Group.
Seeing students go on to promising careers never gets old for engineering professors.
Professor Markus Bussmann, Associate Chair of Graduate Studies in the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, helped preside over Convocation on behalf of Dean Cristina Amon. As faculty supervisors, he and his colleagues work very closely with graduate students over several years, building relationships and investing in their research.
“I think it’s one of the reasons many of us choose to work as professors – the chance to work with smart, ambitious and talented young people at a very important stage of their lives,” said Professor Bussmann. “Convocation offers the chance to see them off and wish them well. I think I enjoy Convocation more than my students.”
