Three In-Person Commencement Events Planned for Saturday

Summer Commencement is returning to campus at Wentworth Institute of Technology in three separate ceremonies on Saturday. 

The weekend will feature three keynote speakers, three student speakers, three honorary degree recipients, and one President’s Medal presentation. And—for the first time since 2019—students will be able to sit in the same space as their guests. 

Wentworth’s Quad will play host to all three events with the Class of 2020 invited back for a 10:00 a.m. ceremony on Saturday. AVTECH President and COO Richard Grundy, Computer Science ’03, is Saturday’s keynote speaker. Grundy is also a member of Wentworth’s Board of Trustees and the chair of the University Advisers.  

Amanda Siciliano, Civil Engineering ’20, completed co-ops with Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger during her time as a Wentworth student, as well as with Associate Professor Gautham Das, where she traveled to Greece to present research on repurposing waste plastic. Siciliano will be the student speaker for Saturday’s event, while Das will offer the invocation and benediction for all three ceremonies. 

Saturday's 1:00 p.m. event will recognize Class of 2021 students within the School of Engineering. Kenn Turner, a Wentworth Trustee and president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center who formerly served as director of Diversity & Inclusion/Compliance with Massport, and was deputy secretary for Administration & Finance for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Veterans’ Services, will deliver the keynote.  

Turner is additionally a retired U.S. Navy Captain and submarine nuclear weapons system officer with 26-years of service who holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

The same event will also feature student speaker Corbin Schichtl, Biological Engineering ’21. Schichtl pursued a research project in the creation of bioluminescence succulents and plans to one day open a personal botany lab.  

Also at the 1:00 p.m. event, longtime Wentworth benefactor Douglas D. Schumann will receive the President’s Medal. 

Saturday at 4:00 p.m., meanwhile, will find a commencement ceremony for Class of 2021 students in all other schools. Natasha Espada, founding principal of STUDIO ENÉE architects, will be the keynote speaker. She has more than 25 years of experience in the design of cultural, civic, institutional, and commercial projects. She is also the first Latinx President of the Boston Society of Architects and a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects.  

Student speaker LilyGrace York, Interior Design ’21, is an advocate for mentorship, leadership, and helping people find inspiration. Upon graduation, she will be diving into full time sales and business development as an associate at Boston Modern Furniture, as well as continuing her podcast and freelance design. 

Sophia McGlew, Computer Networking ’21, will sing the National Anthem at the 4:00 p.m. event.  

Honorary degrees will be awarded to J. Derenzo Companies President and Wentworth parent David Howe at 10:00 a.m., former Pratt & Whitney Project Manager Richard Zarlenga, Aircraft Maintenace ’58, at 1:00 p.m., and longtime Wentworth Professor Jack Green at 4:00 p.m.  

President Mark Thompson and Board of Trustees Chair Greg Janey will speak at all three events, while Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Ian Lapp will serve as Commencement host. Annamaria Wenner, dean of students and vice president for student affairs, will act as institute marshal for all three ceremonies.  

Catch any of the Wentworth Commencement events live at wit.edu/livstream. Saturday’s Class of 2020 event will begin at 10:00 a.m., while the Class of 2021 School of Engineering students will be recognized at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and all other Class of 2021 schools commemorated on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.