SEAS grad. victim of weather

Rain chased the ceremony for the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences off the new stage in Franklin Field, and into the nearby Palestra. Throughout Monday afternoon's ceremony, technology was the key word, as speakers noted what an interesting time it is to be involved in engineering. Along with the distinguished Engineering faculty who attended the ceremony, University Provost Robert Barchi was also present to offer his congratulations to the class of 2001. "You can take great pride in the role [engineering] plays in today's technological world," Barchi said. He also told the graduates that they should be especially proud to be graduating from Penn Engineering. "There truly has never been a more exciting or more dynamic place for engineering than today's SEAS," he said. Following Barchi and an introduction from Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt, commencement speaker and 1951 Engineering graduate Oliver Boileau, Jr. stepped up to the podium. Boileau -- who also received a graduate degree in engineering from Penn in 1953 -- is the Former President and Chief Operating Officer of Northrop Grumman Corporation, a global aerospace firm. "You've earned it," Boileau told the graduates, speaking of their degrees. But he also asked them to ponder their achievements. "Think of what this degree really means... for it is a framework for the accomplishments you make in the future," he said. Like Barchi, Boileau marveled at today's technology, and noted the huge difference between today's tech opportunities and those he encountered as a student in the 1950's. Boileau's prime example of his day's technology was the birth of the world's first electronic computer, ENIAC. ENIAC was invented at Penn 55 years ago, five years before Boileau graduated from Penn. This was an incredible achievement in Boileau's time. "ENIAC was developed and designed here at Penn," he said. But despite the generation gap, Boileau said there are some things that never change. "There is a no more fulfilling experience than creating something... through teamwork," he said. But in the end, Boileau's message was simply to look forward to the future, and not to fear it. "Know that you have the self-confidence to handle whatever may come along in your life," Boileau said.

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