More than 1,000 world-class UH engineers walked across the NRG Arena stage to accept their diplomas at the Cullen College of Engineering spring 2018 commencement ceremony on Friday, May 11. The proud graduates included 677 bachelor’s, 362 master’s and 60 doctoral students.
Distinguished chemical engineer Heidi Alderman, senior vice president of chemical intermediates in North America at BASF Corporation, delivered the keynote address, offering words of wisdom and heartfelt career advice to the new engineers.
“Every job you have, make it uniquely your own,” she advised. “Don’t be in a hurry to jump from one job to another. Learn the job, make it better than the person who had the role before you, and find a way to make an impact there however you can.”
Other graduation speakers included UH Cullen College of Engineering Dean Joseph W. Tedesco; Fritz Claydon, director of the Division of Undergraduate Programs and Student Success; and UH System Board of Regents Member Durga Agrawal.
The Cullen College is home to a diverse community of students from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. Graduates at the spring commencement hailed from 43 different countries and ranged in age from 20 to 61 years old.
Marco Esteban Avendano Lopez was the youngest graduate to earn his degree at 20 years old. Lopez graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering. At 61-years-young, Keith C. Lancaster earned his doctoral degree in electrical engineering – his third degree from the Cullen College. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s in electrical engineering in the 1990s.
To view the photos from the 2018 Spring Convocation Ceremony, click here.
Want to engineer YOUR future? The demand for engineering talent is higher in the city of Houston than any other major U.S. city. Starting salaries for engineers with bachelor’s degrees typically range from $60,000 to over $80,000; however, average starting salaries for alumni of the Cullen College are considerably higher. According to PayScale.com, University of Houston engineering students rank 15th in the U.S. for salary earning potential. Learn more and apply today at www.egr.uh.edu/students