School of Engineering & Applied Science
2020 Virtual School Celebration
Friday, May 15, 2020
Undergraduate Ceremony at 4 p.m. EDT
Graduate Ceremony at 6 p.m. EDT
Congratulations, 2020 Graduates! SEAS is excited to celebrate your accomplishments during our 2020 SEAS Virtual Graduation Celebration. We invite you, your families, and friends to join the Celebration on Friday, May 15.
GW’s Virtual Commencement celebration will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 11:00 am. You also are invited to attend the May 2021 University-wide Bicentennial Commencement on the National Mall.
Watch the Recorded SEAS Undergraduate Ceremony
Watch the Recorded SEAS Graduate Ceremony
Celebration Program
Please download the program PDF to view digitally and follow along with the ceremony, or print at home.
Please download the program PDF formatted in printer spreads if you would like to print the celebration program professionally. This document is not recommended for reading or printing at home.
240
Number of undergraduate candidates
865
Number of master candidates
90
Number of PhD candidates
Letter from Dean Lach
Dear Graduate:
On behalf of the faculty and staff of the George Washington University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), I congratulate you on your well-earned academic achievement.
I hope you are as proud of your accomplishment as we—your professors, advisors, and mentors—are. We have watched you learn, grow, widen your perspectives, and deepen your understanding of the engineering and computer science disciplines as you worked toward your degree. Naturally, we wish we could be alongside you and your family and friends now to celebrate the culmination of your hard work at our traditional in-person SEAS Graduation Celebration.
Like you, we are saddened that the COVID-19 pandemic has required us to exchange our in-person ceremony for a virtual ceremony this year. However, the changes in the ceremony in no way diminish the value of your achievement and our recognition of it. In addition to this year’s virtual ceremony, we are excited to iinvite you to return to campus next spring to participate in the 2021 GW Commencement.
In the meantime, as you look forward to your next—or first—professional challenge, I hope you will recall what you have learned during your time at SEAS. First and foremost, you have studied your discipline in technical depth and acquired an understanding of ethical practice of engineering and computer science. You have learned to think creatively about complex topics, and you have learned the importance of working with people across disciplines and from various backgrounds. Your experiences inside and outside the classroom have prepared you to become a valuable member of diverse teams solving society’s grand challenges.
I challenge you to go forth from here as a life-long learner and to be ready to pursue new endeavors as you use your new knowledge and skills in the service of humankind. The world is ever-changing, and we see this, now more than ever, in the current COVID-19 pandemic that is a dynamic backdrop to our collective lives. As engineers and computer scientists you have important skills, and I am confident you will use them to help society adapt to the demands that change brings.
Whether you are now going on to your first full-time job, heading to graduate school or professional school, or otherwise continuing on your life path with the new knowledge you have gained during your studies, please stay in touch with us and with your fellow alumni. Remember that the SEAS community extends far beyond campus and will always welcome you. With a worldwide network of alumni and friends, you will find opportunities to connect with, support, and be supported by fellow Colonials wherever you venture.
I wish you all the best. Raise High!
John C. Lach
Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science
Our Speakers
Samantha A. Paralikas, B.S. Computer Engineering
Samantha Paralikas is a graduating senior who majored in computer engineering. At GW, Samantha was the vice president of judicial and legislative affairs for GW’s Student Association, a captain of GW’s Mock Trial Team, and a member of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority. She worked as a teaching assistant for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and interned at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and NASA. Next fall, Samantha will enroll at Harvard Law School to pursue her interest in the intersectionality of law and technology.
Beza Belayneh Lefebo, M. Eng. Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance
Beza Belayneh Lefebo is graduating with a Master of Engineering degree in cybersecurity. GW was Beza’s top choice for his graduate study because its rigorous and robust program would help him gain the expertise that is a prerequisite to be a world-class cybersecurity thought leader. A seasoned cybersecurity professional, Beza is currently engaged in developing and implementing strategies to mitigate cyber threats in the federal space. He lives and works in the Washington D.C. area and enjoys providing career guidance support to others in the cybersecurity field.
Our Anthem Singer
Elizabeth Mary Fischer, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
Elizabeth Fischer is a senior from New Windsor, NY, graduating with a degree in biomedical engineering. During her undergraduate education, she participated in the Women’s Leadership Program, served as the president of GW’s chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, and sang in an a cappella group. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea, during the fall of her junior year and is a researcher in Dr. Murray Loew’s Laboratory for Medical Imaging and Image Analysis.
Our Award Winners
Congratulations From SEAS Faculty and Staff
Photo Albums
GW ALMA MATER
Hail Alma Mater
To thy spirit guiding,
Knowledge thy closest friend
In its strength abiding,
Pledge we fidelity
Ne'er its place resigning,
Hail thee George Washington!
2021 Commencement
The class of 2020 is invited to join GW at the bicentennial Commencement on the National Mall in May 2021. Specific details will be shared when they are available.