Processional
Student Banner Bearers
- Julissa Orantes, ’25 Chemical Engineering
- Daniel Ramos, ’25 Biomedical Engineering
Announcement of the Commencement
Liat Rosenfeld, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
National Anthem
Rachel Nelson, ’25 Music Education, Vocal Performance
Welcome
Sheryl Ehrman, Don Beall Dean, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering
Presiding
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Commencement Address
Robin López, ’18 MS Civil Engineering, Mayor of Albany
Presentation of Candidates
Vincent J. Del Casino Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Conferring of Degrees
Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President
Alma Mater
Rachel Nelson, ’25 Music Education, Vocal Performance
“Hail, Spartans, Hail”
Recessional
Robin López
Robin D. López, ’18 MS Civil Engineering, was raised in Richmond, CA, and remains firmly rooted in the community. He has an academic and research background invested locally. López attended De Anza High School (Richmond, California), and Contra Costa College (San Pablo, California) earning degrees in mathematics (AS), physics(AS), and sociology(AA).
He transferred to San Francisco State University, receiving a BS in civil engineering. López is also a proud graduate of San José State University, earning a masters in water resources engineering. Additionally, he worked nearly a decade as a researcher at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, working on several projects for the U.S. Department of Energy. Presently he is a Ph.D candidate at UC Berkeley in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management.
Most recently, he became the first ever Latino mayor of Albany, California. Above all else, he is a proud father to Melanie and Ōmeteōtl. Read more of his story in Washington Square: The Magazine.
Outstanding Graduating Senior
Anoushka Lakshmi
Anoushka Lakshmi is passionate about the intersection of medicine and engineering. During her undergraduate studies, she became a certified nursing assistant and emergency medical technician, while contributing to research at San José State University’s Surface Science Center Laboratory, the Loeb Lab at UCSF, and a vascular surgery lab at Stanford - culminating in a publication in the Journal of Vascular Medicine.
Regalia
Commencement exercises like today’s ceremony date from the Middle Ages and the traditions of Europe’s first universities. Our graduates and members of the platform party are wearing regalia — robes, hoods and caps — that are likely adapted from the clothing of medieval priests or friars. Spot the differences in the gowns:
- Presidential gown is adorned with four bars, representing the Office of the President.
- Doctoral gown has velvet panels down the front and three velvet bars on each of the bell-shaped sleeves. The color of the velvet may indicate the academic discipline.
- Master’s gown may be worn open and has long sleeves with slits above the elbow.
- Bachelor’s gown has a closed front and long, pointed sleeves.
Draped over the shoulders, the hood evolved from a priest’s cowl and was often used to carry items — the first backpack, perhaps. The lining colors signify the college or university granting the degree. At San José State, the hood is gold, blue and white. The monk’s skullcap became the mortarboard cap or tam. Black is the accepted cap color in the United States, but many foreign universities have colorful headdresses.
Tassels vary in use and color. At SJSU, the color of tassels for bachelor’s degree candidates represent each college. The color for the Davidson College of Engineering is orange.
The Ceremonial Mace
An ornamental staff or scepter, the mace is carried by officials as part of formal parliamentary or academic ceremonies. A gift from the Tower Foundation of SJSU, the university’s ceremonial mace was designed and created by Art and Art History Lecturer Yvonne Escalante, ’13 MFA Spatial Arts. She found inspiration for the design in both SJSU history and the paths students take to reach graduation.