Student Rudolph to Champion Community in Commencement Address

The call to build community is a message that Vincent Rudolph, Electrical Engineering ′25, has not only embraced but actively championed throughout his Wentworth Institute of Technology career. As he prepares to take the stage as the student speaker for Thursday morning's Commencement ceremony, Rudolph will urge his fellow graduates to focus on the power of connection and essential bonds. 

“I want my closing message to revolve around the things that bring us together,” Rudolph shared. 

That theme of community is one Rudolph has not just spoken about, but actively built during his time at Wentworth, most notably during his tenure as President of the Wentworth Student Government (WSG). Reflecting on his leadership, he points to a structural change as a pivotal point. 

“The initiative I am most proud of is the introduction of the Senate model into WSG,” he explained. “This model allows different student groups to have direct representation, which is a major change from the old model. This will lead to significant growth in WSG and will make it the place of student opinion it was meant to be.” 

His time at the helm of WSG also taught him a crucial leadership lesson: the power of trust and delegation. “While it can be easy to fall into the habit of doing everything yourself, an organization can never grow if [the team isn't] trusted to do the work,” he noted. 

Rudolph's commitment to the student experience extended beyond the senate floor. As Wentworth’s representative on the tri-college Student Culinary Council, he collaborated with students from MCPHS and MassArt, meeting directly with the dining provider, Sodexo. 

 “We often discuss changes we’d like to see, things that are being done well, upcoming events, and brainstorm food pop ups,” he said, adding that he advocated for issues mainly pertaining to Beatty Dining Commons. 

While building community on campus, Rudolph was also building the foundation for his professional career through Wentworth’s co-op program. His experiences at Vanderweil Engineers and Draper proved to be transformative. 

“My co-ops were incredibly validating for me,” Rudolph said. “I have liked electronics since my childhood but I never had an opportunity to work in a related field to see if my enjoyment was more than just a hobby. After my co-op at Vanderweil, I knew I was in the right place academically, which helped propel my studies when I returned to Wentworth.” 

That renewed motivation fueled his success, leading to two co-op terms at Draper and the deep satisfaction of seeing his studies come to life. “It feels incredibly rewarding to apply my many hours studying towards a real world project,” he stated. 

Looking back, Rudolph pinpoints the decision to join student government as the catalyst for his entire journey. “This led to a long defining moment of getting out of my shell and getting involved with campus,” he reflected. “Finally being able to spread my wings socially and know both students and faculty alike was what I had always been missing.” 

After graduation, Rudolph will return to Draper as a full-time Electronics Integration and Test Engineer. He is excited to build a new community near his apartment in Central Square and holds long-term aspirations of entering local politics or one day returning to academia. 

As he prepares to address his peers, Rudolph offers a piece of advice for the graduating class: “Stay in touch with the friends you made along the way, try to give back where and when you can to the places that shaped who you are. And, lastly, always try to help others just starting out on their own journeys.” 

And for the students just beginning their time at Wentworth? 

“Surround yourself with people that build you up rather than tear you down,” he advised. “Also, take advantage of co-ops and use them as networking opportunities. You never know who you might meet or what can lead to a full time job or other opportunities post graduation.” 

Thursday’s Commencement ceremony can be livestreamed on the Wentworth website.