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 invite 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!

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.