Friday, May 23
11 a.m.
Barclays Center
620 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
450 bachelor degree graduates 

Complete with a few jokes that required at least a semester of engineering classes to understand, NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering held its 159th Commencement Ceremony at the Barclays Center. This was the school’s first commencement ceremony since its merger with NYU, and the spirit of that symbolic change was noted by many of the speakers, including former IBM Executive Vice President of Innovation and Technology Nicholas Donofrio. After receiving the first Polytechnic Medal, Donofrio addressed the students, congratulating them on their accomplishments and reminding them that, as engineers, change is going to play a big role in their lives. “If you view it as the end of something versus the beginning of something, you’re making a big mistake,” Donofrio said. “Change is going to be all about you, you have to commit yourself to lifelong learning.” NYU Poly valedictorian Demetrio Criscuolo encouraged his fellow graduates to utilize the same hard work and dedication they used to reach graduation to overcome the challenges to come. “As we head away from Poly my advice to all you is to not spend the time worrying about all the things that are out of your control, instead focus on the things that are in your control,” Criscuolo said. “Remember to always follow your instincts, do what you think is right, do the hard work, and everything else will fall into place.”

John Ambrosio is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].