Clarkson University Awards Degrees to More Than 800 Students at Spring 2025 Commencement
Clarkson University awarded more than 800 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to students from 33 states, 26 countries and 54 counties of New York state at its spring 2025 commencement, today, Saturday, May 10. An additional 311 students received degrees this past winter and summer.
The weekend was also marked by the commissioning of United States Army and United States Air Force officers on Friday.
Yang Yang, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, was awarded the John W. Graham Jr. Faculty Research Award. The $1,500 research accounts are presented to "faculty members who have shown promise in engineering, business, liberal arts or scientific research."
Erik Backus, a Professor of Practice and the Howard E. Lechler Director of the Construction Engineering Management (CEM) Program, was awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award. The $1,500 prize is given "in recognition of the importance of superior teaching." Candidates are nominated for the award by Clarkson alumni and the final selection is made by a faculty committee.
Graduating senior Nabiha Madre of Atco, NJ was awarded the Levinus Clarkson Award, and graduating senior Ella Weldy of Valatie, NY, received the Frederica Clarkson Award. Both are $1,000 prizes given to "a student who demonstrates the best combination of scholarship and promise of outstanding professional achievement."
In addition to the graduating students, receiving an honorary doctor of science degree and addressing students, families and guests was Kenneth S. Solinsky ‘71, a visionary engineer, innovator, and no-nonsense businessman whose distinguished career as a civil servant and serial entrepreneur has led to the widespread development, manufacture, and deployment of night vision and electro-optical devices for the U.S. military and homeland security first responders.
In his address to students at Clarkson University’s commencement ceremony, Solinsky congratulated the graduates on earning degrees in which they developed an excellent set of tools. Those tools, coupled with certain distinct values, would put the students on a path to success.
“Seek a life of purpose. Establish objectives. Delay gratification so you can maximize a lifetime of gratification,” Solinsky said. “Build financial resources. Don’t let obstacles stand in your way. See things as they are and look to make them better. See things that aren’t and create them. Be proactive. Do a good job because you want to, not just because you think your manager is watching. Seek a life of purpose, be passionate, and dream.”
