Troy, N.Y. — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will hold its 199th Commencement on Saturday, May 21, 2005, at 9:30 a.m. on the Harkness Field, where approximately 1,075 students will be awarded their degrees.*

During the ceremony, Rensselaer will award 836 bachelor’s degrees, 194 master’s degrees, and 47 doctoral degrees. Some graduates have earned more than one degree. 

Honorary Degree Recipients
The Institute will confer an honorary doctor of laws degree to United States Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), who will deliver the 2005 Commencement address. Paul A. Volcker will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. Volcker, former chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, is now presiding chairman of a special committee investigating the Oil-for-Food Program of the United Nations. Robert T. Coonrod, the longest serving president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, will be awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree. Joé Juneau '91, former Rensselaer ice hockey standout and aeronautical engineering major, will be awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.

A Global Community
In 2005, graduating students come from 44 states and the District of Columbia in the United States and 35 other nations including Canada, Brazil, France, India, China, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Japan, Mexico, and Vietnam.

Making the—Perfect—Grade
A perfect 4.0 grade-point average was earned by 31 of the students receiving bachelor’s degrees from Rensselaer this year.

Parting Gift
Each year at Commencement, the graduating class presents the university with a gift. The Class of 2005 will donate funds toward a landscaping project in the Commons Quadrangle, off Burdett Avenue. The project will include a waterfall, a new brick wall and brick walkway, and additional shrubbery and trees. The class dedicated its gift contribution to David Haviland ’64 and his wife, Katie Haviland. They have been an integral part of Rensselaer for nearly four decades. David Haviland was a student, professor and dean of architecture, and vice president of student life. He now serves as vice president of institute advancement, and recently announced his plans to retire in December 2005.

All in the Family 
Of this year’s graduates, there are 41 “Rensselaer legacies,” students with relatives who attended the university. This year, Bert Hallonquist, an electrical engineering from Newfane, Vt., is the graduate with the largest Rensselaer family tree, with three relatives who are Institute alumni and a brother, Kirk Hallonquist ’08, who is a current student. Hallonquist followed in the footsteps of his mother Nora Hallonquist ’80, father David Hallonquist ’81, and brother Neil Hallonquist ’04.

Rensselaer’s Own
This year 15 Rensselaer employees are graduating and 17 children of Rensselaer employees also are graduating.

*All numbers cited are as of the May 19, 2004, and are subject to change.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu