Graduation Program December 2024
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Graduation Convocation Ceremony
The Grainger College of Engineering
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Order of Exercises
Processional
Opening Remarks and Introductions
Jonathan Makela
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs
Daniel Bodony
Associate Dean for Graduate, Professional, & Engineering
Commencement Address
Mark Scifres
Founder and Chairman of Pavlov Media
Student Address
Hayden Gantt
President, Engineering Council
Presentation of Graduates
Rashid Bashir
Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering
Closing Remarks
Jonathan Makela
Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs
"Hail to the Orange"
Recessional
Opening remarks
Commendation to Engineering Graduates
Today is a day for celebration! You are graduating from The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Congratulations on achieving this major life milestone!
I know the road to get here has not always been easy, but great rewards come from hard work, determination and sacrifice. Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments, no matter how big or how small, especially over the last couple years. This has been one of the most difficult times to be a student. Yet, you preserved, overcame extraordinary circumstances, and are now stronger and more prepared for your next journey and the challenges that lay ahead.
Now, more so than ever, the world needs dynamic, diverse and entrepreneurial engineers. Engineers who will respond to our society’s most critical needs and develop solutions to address our most complex global challenges.
At this very moment, with your whole life in front of you, I encourage you to dream big, imagine new possibilities, and act boldly. Use your brilliance and your talents to make this world a better place. I trust that you will rise to this challenge because you are a Grainger Engineer, and you embody the same curiosity, empathy, drive and grit as the alumni who came before you and those who will later follow.
In the coming years, do not forget about your college, former professors and fellow classmates. Keep us updated on your many achievements, seek out opportunities to support programs and scholarships, and visit us often.
As you move forward in your career and life-long journey, always remember, you can achieve anything, and you will forever be part of The Grainger College of Engineering family.
Congratulations!
Rashid Bashir
Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering
Commencement Speaker
Mark Scifres
Founder, and Chairman of Pavlov Media
Mark Scifres is the founder and Chairman of Pavlov Media, a startup-turned-industry leader, which provides Internet to apartment complexes and homes nationwide.
Pavlov Media was initially conceived in 1989 while visiting college campuses, and the first network then launched in 1994 while Scifres was studying for his bachelor’s. He guided the company from his dorm room to a 60+ million-dollar corporation, spanning over 200 markets in 45 states, all while assembling a team of 350+ employees. He successfully raised capital from Macquarie Asset Funds to invest in fiber-to-the-home solutions across the country and retired from the role of CEO in 2023.
Scifres spearheaded bulk apartment Internet, inventing and patenting several solutions that are still in use today. He patented the fair-sharing and allocation of bandwidth based upon utilization over a time interval, while also developing user registration via web redirection. In addition, he invented the utilization of networks for emergency alerts and rent collection messaging. The company’s apartment services team was the first to provide 100 Megabit, Gigabit, 10 Gigabit, and 100 Gigabit in the industry. In 2024, Pavlov Media will deploy the first Wi-Fi 7 10 Gigabit wireless services in the apartment industry.
Scifres grew up in Palo Alto, California, surrounded by entrepreneurs. His father Donald R. Scifres worked at the Xerox PARC research laboratory and invited him into the labs to interact with laser diodes starting in 3rd grade. In elementary school, he was taught to program by Apple computer staff. Scifres used this programming and exposure to get an early position at Lockheed Martin as a VAX mainframe administrator, building networks.
He settled in Champaign and is married to Whitney, with two children, Ray and Nicolle, and believes in creating opportunities for students from both the University of Illinois and Parkland College. He has been involved as a guest speaker in classrooms as an expert on engineering and entrepreneurship and continues to invest his time into helping students develop their skills and ideas into business opportunities for their communities.
Degree:
BS General Engineering IESE University of Illinois, 1996