Commencement

911�� Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

rnorris — Tue, 27 May 2025 12:53:52 +0000

911�� Names Ford Motor Company CFO and Alumna Sherry House ’94 as 2025 Commencement Speaker

rnorris Tue, 05/27/2025 - 08:53

911�� announces that Sherry House ’94, Chief Financial Officer of Ford Motor Company and an internationally recognized leader in finance and mobility innovation, will deliver the commencement address at the University’s ceremony on Saturday, June 21, at its historic Atwood Stadium. In recognition of her industry leadership and profound impact on the mobility sector, 911�� will award Sherry House the honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering during the ceremony.

A transformative figure for her work helping shape the future of mobility, House has held pivotal leadership roles at Ford, Waymo, and Lucid Motors. Her work spans electric vehicles, autonomous platforms, and venture capital, driving forward innovation at the intersection of technology, business, and engineering. Her path from Co-op student to C-suite executive is a clear example of the caliber of talent Kettering creates, building high-impact leaders in fast-changing industries.

“The prestige and academic rigor of Kettering is what drew me here initially,” said House. “I was the first person in my family to earn a Bachelor's degree. Kettering enabled me to hold a corporate job at 17-years-old so that I could work while I went to school. At Kettering I learned to thrive in new situations, discovered my passion for innovation, and developed strong analytical skills.”

House earned dual degrees in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, launching her career through Kettering’s signature Co-op model. Her trajectory – from R&D engineer to financial strategist – set the tone for a career defined by both technical fluency and visionary leadership. She pushed innovation further and faster across venture capital, electric vehicle startups, and autonomous platforms in some of the biggest names in automotive manufacturing.

“The skills learned at Kettering transcend industry, function and level,” House said. “Critical thinking and a first principles mindset provides benefits in both high-growth nascent businesses, as well as legacy industries undergoing transformation. It’s not hard for me to see Kettering's impact on my own journey - not just at the outset of my career, but along the way it gave me the confidence and ability to pursue new opportunities successfully.”

“Sherry House exemplifies the kind of innovative leadership that grows from a Kettering education,” said Dr. Robert K. McMahan, President of 911��. “Her work in advancing global mobility is a testament to the impact our graduates are prepared to make. As she returns to address the Class of 2025, she brings a message of resilience, vision, and purpose. Her journey is proof of what we know: that Kettering graduates are uniquely equipped to lead through change and shape the future with intellect, integrity, and resolve.”

The 2025 Commencement will honor more than 340 undergraduates from 911��’s Chemical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Management, and Mechanical Engineering degree programs — students who turn ambition into action and learning into leadership. Due to Kettering’s unique cooperative education model, each of these students has completed a rigorous course of study in their chosen discipline, including a master level thesis, and will have completed 2.5 years of paid Co-op work upon graduation, allowing them to start their careers in positions far beyond the entry-level. This unparalleled integration of academics and industry-embedded Co-op experience has led The Wall Street Journal to name 911�� as one of the Top 10 Schools in the Nation for Career Preparation. As such, Kettering graduates rank number one when it comes to starting salaries in Michigan (SmartAsset).

911�� will also confer more than 150 graduate degrees in Business Administration, Engineering, Lean Manufacturing, Data Science and Data Analytics, Operations Management, Engineering Management, Supply Chain Management, Engineering Autonomous Vehicles, Engineering Electric Vehicles, and Technical Master of Business Administration.

The University will also honor Frank Perna, Jr. ‘61, the retired CEO of MSC Software, with the degree of Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa. Perna holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from 911��. Perna spent over 50 years as a registered Professional Engineer working at a number of industry leaders, including General Motors, Sun Electric, Bell & Howell, Whittaker Corporation, EOS Corporation, Software.com, MagneTek, CalAmp, Inc.[CAMP], Intellect Inc., and PingID. He now serves as Director of The Valentine Foundation, which funds critical educational and conservational activities.

Commencement

eoboyle — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:19:29 +0000

Commencement

eoboyle Wed, 02/26/2025 - 11:19

2025-06-21T09:30:00-0400 _2025-06-21T12:30:00-0400

Atwood Stadium

9:30 a.m. - 2025 Commencement Ceremony

Atwood Stadium, 911��

For those unable to attend, the ceremony will be live-streamed.

*In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be delayed until later in the day on Saturday, June 21, or it may be moved to Sunday, June 22, at 9:30 a.m. The weather call will be made at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, and updates will be provided via email to participating graduates and on the University's Social Media Accounts.

For More Information and Tickets

Honors Banquet Recognizes the Most Outstanding 911�� Graduates of 2024

rnorris — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 17:43:37 +0000

Honors Banquet Recognizes the Most Outstanding 911�� Graduates of 2024

Commencement

Scholarship

rnorris Wed, 07/03/2024 - 13:43

911�� students are known for striving for excellence in everything they do. Since its founding, 911�� has continually brought STEM-focused learning to life. Through a 50/50 blend of rigorous academics and paid Co-op employment, all our graduates begin their careers with 2.5 years of real-world industry experience, giving them a tremendous advantage over their peers from other universities. This year, the Honors Banquet recognized the efforts of more than three dozen 2024 graduates who exceeded even those high expectations during their Kettering careers. The invitation-only event recognized these top graduates in several award categories.

In 1919, Major Albert Sobey launched the Co-operative education program that would eventually become 911��. Sobey also was the school’s first president until his retirement in 1950. The University established the Sobey Scholar Awards in 1961 to honor exemplary students who have demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship and leadership at 911��. Honorees must be a member of the Robot Society, the University’s most distinguished honor society, as well as a member of another academic honor society or have achieved cum laude status.

Seven Kettering graduates met the demanding criteria to become Sobey Scholars in 2024. They are:

Alexandra Ann Bahm, B.S. Management, Clinton Township, MI
Kimberly Linnette Betty, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Flint, MI
Emma Catherine Bishoff, B.S. Management, Burton, MI
Leah Michelle Garczynski, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Plymouth, MI
Kristen Jean Gury, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Canton, MI
Thomas Weldon Sprecher III, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Electrical Engineering, Marietta, GA
Felipe Antonio Villalobos, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, San Pablo, CA

The President’s Medal was first awarded in 1996. Recipients must exhibit extraordinary professionalism and job performance while engaged in their Co-op experience. A President’s Medalist must also demonstrate outstanding scholarship and have made notable contributions to 911�� and the surrounding communities.

Eight Kettering graduates earned the President’s Medal in 2024. They are:

Henry Warren Grasman, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Computer Engineering, Flushing, MI
Kristen Jean Gury, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Canton, MI
Ariana Elizabeth Hunt, B.S. Chemical Engineering, Monroe, MI
David Gerald Kavanagh, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Shelby Township, MI
Mattie Ann Reich, B.S. Computer Engineering, Flushing, MI
Thomas Weldon Sprecher III, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Electrical Engineering, Marietta, GA
Felipe Antonio Villalobos, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, San Pablo, CA
Alayna Grace Wanless, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Unionville, MI

Every student who earns a Bachelor’s degree from 911�� must satisfactorily complete a senior thesis. The thesis represents the culmination of a student’s academic experience. Two students earned Outstanding Thesis Awards this year for producing a thesis that exceeded the University’s highest expectations and expertly integrated theory and practice.

Alexandra Lakota Kekel, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Grand Blanc, Michigan, earned a 2024 Outstanding Thesis Award for her work during her Co-op employment at Munro & Associates Inc. in Troy, Michigan. As is sometimes the case when working on high-level projects and emerging technology, the company deemed her thesis confidential. Her Faculty Advisor, Dr. Bashar AbdulNour, said Kekel’s 309-page report is one of the most technically valuable and the best thesis he has ever seen.

911�� is known for its rigorous academic standards and challenging coursework. This year, 39 students met those challenges head-on, earning their degrees with a grade point average of 3.90 or higher, granting them summa cum laude status. They are:

Mary Samantha Allen, B.S. Chemical Engineering, Westland, MI
Kimberly Linnette Betty, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Flint, MI
Parker J. Buszka, B.S. Computer Science, Farmington, MI
Rebecca L. Dengel, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Bay City, MI
Andrew Thomas Dixon, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Shelby Township, MI
Anna Christine Dumanois, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Clio, MI
Luke Patrick Fenstermacher, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Canton, MI
Shannon Nicole Fillwock, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Grand Blanc, MI
Taiden Rexford Foryt, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Rochester, NY
Jack William Gaddis, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Waterford, MI
Joyce May Gaffner, B.S. Applied Biology, Ortonville, MI
Bobby Rupesh Gandhi, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Shelby Township, MI
Henry Warren Grasman, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Computer Engineering, Flushing, MI
Kristen Jean Gury, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Canton, MI
Tyler J. Holdwick, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Harbor Beach, MI
Emily Corinne Hong, B.S. Management, Marysville, MI
Ariana Elizabeth Hunt, B.S. Chemical Engineering, Monroe, MI
Parker Lee Jensen, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Holland, MI
Spenser Alex Keys, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Huntington Woods, MI
Mitchell Wallace Kusser, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Howell, MI
Christopher George Mars, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Corunna, MI
Lily Moran, B.S. Computer Science, Plymouth, MI
Gregory Robert Morrill, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Flint, MI
Sean Patrick Morse, B.S. Electrical Engineering, St. Johns, MI
William Christian Kevin Moss, B.S. Computer Science, Freeport, MI
Tanner P. Moszak, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Victor, NY
William Chad Raines, B.S. Computer Science, Clarkston, MI
Mattie Ann Reich, B.S. Computer Engineering, Flushing, MI
Jared Patrick Robinson, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Flint, MI
Jenna Michelle Salmen, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Schaumburg, IL
Crystal Yaesong Smalligan, B.S. Management, Grand Rapids, MI
Thomas Weldon Sprecher III, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Electrical Engineering, Marietta, GA
Unya Chuanromanee Sripradisvarakul, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI
Courtney Elizabeth Stone, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Lake Orion, MI
Brady Marshall Tackabury, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Birch Run, MI
Joel Anthony TenHaaf, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Caledonia, MI
Lauryn Nicole Tithof, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Owosso, MI
Alayna Grace Wanless, B.S. Electrical Engineering, Unionville, MI
Allison Lynn Warners, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Jenison, MI

“There is not a better-prepared group of students in the country than the 911�� students we honor today,” 911�� Provost Dr. James Zhang said. “They are remarkable.”

Over 500 911�� Students Receive Degrees During 2024 Commencement Ceremony

rnorris — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 17:36:58 +0000

Over 500 911�� Students Receive Degrees During 2024 Commencement Ceremony

Commencement

Graduate

Undergraduate

rnorris Tue, 06/25/2024 - 13:36

911�� awarded 418 bachelor's and 163 master's degrees during its 2024 commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 15, setting the stage for these graduates to take on roles as leaders and innovators in a breadth of industries and areas ranging from mobility, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, to AI and sustainability. Since its founding in 1919, 911�� has continually brought STEM-focused learning to life. Through a 50/50 blend of rigorous academics and paid Co-op employment, Kettering students work shoulder-to-shoulder with professors and industry leaders and enter the job market with 2.5 years of on-the-job experience upon graduation. They also continue to command the highest starting salaries in Michigan, as evidenced by a multi-year standing at the top of SmartAsset’s list.

The 911�� Class of 2024 has shown a unique ability to adapt and thrive in its post-secondary educational career that, for many, started amid the COVID pandemic. “911�� stands out among all of higher education as an institution that provides the very best education and career preparation combined, and these graduates embody the concept of mastery that underlies our entire educational model,” University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan said. “This world needs their talents and abilities, their energy, their service, their determined focus, and their spirit. They have navigated college years through turbulent and uncertain times - but also with grace, grit, and resilience. And they have done so successfully.”

The Celebration of the Class of 2024 started the night before Commencement with the Academic Honors Banquet on June 14. The invitation-only event recognized several groups of graduates. Some of the 911�� Class of 2024 graduates honored at last week’s Honors Banquet include:

Kimberly Linnette Betty, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Flint, Michigan, is a 2024 Sobey Scholar, an award that honors her outstanding scholarship and leadership on and off campus. Betty’s association with 911�� began as a high school student participating in the Academically Interested Minds (AIM) pre-college program. While a Kettering student, Betty participated in the Co-op program at Lear Corporation, leading the effort to build a cost-efficient battery distribution unit prototype that reduced supply costs by 20%. On campus, Betty was instrumental in reactivating the Kettering Chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Off-campus, Betty spent time as a Kagle Leader, tutoring Flint High School students in physics.

Henry Warren Grasman, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Computer Engineering, Flushing, Michigan, is a 2024 President’s Medalist, demonstrating extraordinary professionalism during Co-op employment and in the classroom while contributing to Kettering and the surrounding community. Grasman has been part of the General Motors Global Product Development Engineering Co-op since July 2020. Grasman accepted an offer to join GM full-time after graduation, making him a candidate for the MEDC’s Michigander Scholars Program, awarding him a $10,000 scholarship. While working for GM, Grasman earned an Intellectual Property Award for Patent No. US 118992308 B2, Uncertainty-based Map Visualizations for Directing Vehicles. This is just one of the multiple patents and trade secrets he has contributed to through his Co-op assignments and thesis work. Grasman is also a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, participating in many philanthropic activities on campus and in the greater Flint community.

Thomas Weldon Sprecher III, B.S. Electrical Engineering, B.S. Computer Engineering, M.S. Electrical Engineering, Marietta, Georgia, is also a 2024 President’s Medalist and 2024 Sobey Scholar. While completing a Bachelor’s degree with double majors and a Master’s degree simultaneously through Ketterings bachelor’s to master’s pathway, Sprecher performed his Co-op employment with PassiveBolt LLC, a start-up company founded by two Kettering alumni. While there, he was instrumental in designing several printed circuit boards for PassiveBolt’s smart home security systems. Sprecher has also worked on campus as an Electrical and Computer Engineering Assistant Lab Coordinator since 2021 and assisted with Dr. Allan Taylor’s OpenRoad project, building portable range boosters for electric vehicles.

Lauryn Nicole Tithof, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Owosso, Michigan, earned a 2024 Outstanding Thesis Award for her work “Universalized H-Point Process” under Faculty Advisor Dr. Scott Grasman while in the Co-op program at Lear Corporation. Her thesis project replaced manual H-point testing with a semi-automated process that improved efficiency by as much as 84% and reduced the risk of injury by 100%. Tithof also embodies the spirit of innovation, having launched her own small business, SneakArt Shoes, while still in high school. She is also a member of 911��’s Industrial Engineering, Management, General Engineering, and Mathematical Honor Societies.

Commencement Speaker Sean McBurney ‘03 Celebrates Kettering Graduates With “One Last Sneaky Assignment”

A business leader who rolled the dice on a non-traditional application of his Mechanical Engineering education and now leads the Las Vegas region of one the world’s preeminent resort brands, 911�� alumnus Sean McBurney ’03 (Mechanical Engineering) delivered the 2024 Commencement address. McBurney oversees nine casino resort properties as Regional President of Caesars Entertainment. With responsibility for 26,000 hotel rooms, McBurney ensures these large-scale operations deliver high service levels through robust processes and quality-control systems — skills rooted in his 911�� education.

“I quickly learned crafting a commencement address is daunting,” McBurney said. “There are awesome expectations surrounding commencement addresses. As I put pen to paper, I oddly felt like I was back in the classroom. The last sneaky assignment from Kettering, 20 years after graduation.” His advice to graduates? “Your success is limited only by your imagination,” McBurney said. “I had an extraordinary education here. You have had an extraordinary education here. You have developed a skillset, discipline, and experience that can set you on virtually any career path you desire.”

911�� conferred McBurney with an honorary Doctorate of Business Administration during the 2024 Commencement ceremony. McBurney began his Kettering career as a Co-op student with General Motors, working in Lordstown, Ohio, as well as Warren and Detroit, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from 911�� in 2003 and attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business before joining Caesars Entertainment in 2006 as a Casino Marketing Manager. In the nearly two decades since then, McBurney has worn many hats in the Caesars organization before taking on his current role as Regional President in 2021. As Regional President, he is responsible for overseeing hotel, gaming, food and beverage, retail, surveillance, security operations, marketing, and human resources operations for the company’s nine properties in the Las Vegas region, and over the last two years, the region set an all-time revenue record.

For photos of 911��’s Commencement: https://www.flickr.com/photos/199529423@N06/

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