Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

On October 30, 210 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seniors were inducted into the Order of the Engineer, a national organization dedicated to upholding the highest ethical standards for the engineering profession. In addition to taking the Order of the Engineer pledge, each inductee received a stainless-steel ring to be worn on the little finger of their dominant hand. The rings represent each student's daily commitment to serving humanity through engineering. These students will follow in the footsteps of RPI graduates who, since 1824, have applied technology and innovation to solving the world's toughest problems.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Dean's Honor List is compiled at the end of each semester to recognize undergraduate students who have completed 12 or more credit hours with a 3.5 grade point average or better for that term. During the course of almost two centuries, Rensselaer has built a reputation for providing an education of undisputed intellectual rigor based on educational innovation in the laboratory, classroom, and studio. The Troy, New York university offers degrees from five schools: Engineering; Science; Architecture; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; and the Lally School of Management; as well as an interdisciplinary degree in Information Technology and Web Science. Institute programs serve undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals around the world.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) congratulates its Spring 2023 graduates. In May, RPI awarded a total of 1,988 degrees - 152 doctoral degrees, 390 master's degrees, and 1,446 bachelor's degrees - to 1,957 students, some of whom earned multiple degrees.

When Jonathan Marcos '23 visited the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) campus for Accepted Students Day five year ago, he was inspired by Dean Evan Douglis' presentation to the potential new students. But it was the work of past students and the talented faculty "that truly reeled [him] in." Marcos has made the most of his time at RPI. He recently received the Metropolis Magazine Future 100 Architecture Award, given to the top 100 architecture undergraduates in the United States and Canada. According to Metropolis, "these students hail from some of the best schools in North America. They are leaders on their campuses, advocating for equity and inclusion through their work and extracurriculars." "Jonathan is clearly a very talented, enthusiastic, and hard-working student," said Adam Dayem, assistant professor of architecture, who nominated Marcos for the award. "His designs and drawings often led the way for other students in my classes. He also brings a wonderful spirit and energy to our school community, and I know he will go on to great success in further academic and professional endeavors." Marcos, originally from the New York City metro area, has focused on utilizing architecture as a tool for tackling trending social problems, from designing an apartment complex suited for rehabilitating PTSD-ridden veterans, to designing a theoretical Shein complex in 30 Rockefeller Plaza that criticizes the practices of fast-fashion. One of his favorite experiences was spending a semester at the RPI Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) in Brooklyn. At CASE, Marcos worked alongside Professor Joshua Draper to add prototype smart-lighting and ventilation systems in Draper's ongoing Friendship Cabins sustainability project by developing scripts and 3D printing modules. He also worked on a proposal to reduce urban sprawl in the Hudson Valley and a trash-infested pavilion during his time in the program. Marcos took full advantage of RPI's extracurricular offerings during his academic career. He enjoyed the School of Architecture's lecture series program, which brings renowned architects from around the world to campus. "I've been able to meet with various strong voices within the architecture community and got to meet a lot of other people in the process," he said. He was particularly involved in the RPI chapters of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) and the National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS). "Participating in these organizations allowed me to network more with my classmates in the architecture program and I have fond memories of the various events and field trips associated with these organizations." He also enjoyed playing piano for his friends, a hobby he continued from high school. Marcos' works have been published and exhibited by suckerpunchDAILY, the Future of Small Cities Institute, and RPI's Influx series. He was a recipient of the 2021 RPI Comprehensive Portfolio Award and 2022 Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) Be the Future Scholarship. He currently works part-time for EASTON COMBS Architects, and is a teaching assistant for RPI's Comprehensive Design and Visual Studies courses. He has been accepted to Columbia University's Computational Design Practices program. In the long term, he hopes to start visiting more countries and see a lot of natural landmarks. "I've been barred from traveling too far since the pandemic started and I'd like to take the extra time I have now to see what the world has to offer," he said. He says there are two things students need for success at RPI: "An open mind and control of your hubris. I made the mistake of pondering too much on my problems in my first years as an architecture student," he said. "As soon as I learned to let go, live in the moment, and have fun, I was able to enjoy my experience at RPI. Having both an open mind and a sense of humility will take you far not only at RPI, but also the promising world ahead of you!"

In the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute community, it was big news when it was announced that Reid Wiseman '97 would command the Artemis II lunar flyby in 2024. However, it may have been Paul McKee who was most excited. McKee, an Averill Park High School graduate who will receive his doctoral degree in aeronautical engineering from Rensselaer in May, was among about 100 other engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center when the Artemis II crew was announced. "I did my best to be quiet and respectful during the ceremony, but an audible 'yes!' escaped my mouth when I heard that Reid Wiseman - an RPI alum - was chosen as mission commander," said McKee. "I'm beaming with pride!" While Weisman prepares to go to space, McKee is supporting his mission and other NASA projects from the ground. "Right now, my time is split between three major projects," said McKee. "I'm analyzing navigation data from the recent Artemis 1 flight and ensuring that everything worked as well as we hoped, or determining what to do differently if we find a problem. I'm helping design new lunar surface navigation techniques for future missions (Artemis III and beyond). I'm also assisting with navigation hardware integration and testing for the VIPER rover, which we're hoping to land near the lunar south pole by the end of 2024." McKee's education at Rensselaer prepared him for his role at NASA. He graduated with his bachelor's in mechanical engineering in 2017, followed by a master's in the same in 2018, and this year he receives his Ph.D. However, McKee started his college career at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC). "I transferred from HVCC with two years of general engineering education already done," said McKee. "At first, it was a bit of a culture shock. I felt intimidated and I wondered if I'd ever be a 'real engineer.' The cure for that was hard work, dedication, and some faith that things would work out if I put in the effort. After I got word that I'd been accepted for my first NASA internship in the summer of 2017, my insecurities vanished." McKee stayed at Rensselaer for his graduate degrees because of the outstanding faculty and opportunities offered. One of his favorite memories was a feeling of great satisfaction after pulling an all-nighter to finish a report for his space vehicle design class. One of the members of his team for the project works with him now at NASA! However, the experience he remembers most fondly is being a teaching assistant. "It was very rewarding," said McKee. "I was hoping to leave RPI with a Ph.D. and a job lined up at NASA, and I did, but I also left with a love for education and mentoring which I expect will follow me for my whole career. Sometimes my former students still reach out and tell me how they're doing or ask for career or life advice, and that always makes my day."

Delana Bonci, a graduate of Taconic Hills Central School District, elected to stay close to home for college when she chose Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which is about 45 minutes away from her hometown. However, after she graduates in May with a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, she is headed to California to start her career at Edwards Lifesciences, which produces medical innovations for structural heart disease. "Growing up, I knew that I wanted to help others and was fascinated by the medical field," Bonci said. "I also had a strong interest in science and math, which led to my desire to be an engineer. For me, biomedical engineering was the perfect combination." If her experience at Rensselaer is any indication, Bonci will excel at her work; make valuable, lifelong connections; and stay active through her love of sports. Not only did Bonci take only three years to earn her bachelor's degree at Rensselaer, but she packed a lot of valuable experiences into that time. Bonci was on the Dean's Honor List each semester, and she was recently inducted into the Phalanx Honor Society. The Phalanx Honor Society was established in 1912 "to recognize Rensselaer students who have distinguished themselves among their peers in the areas of leadership, service, and devotion to the alma mater." Bonci was a member of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), and she served on the e-board as membership director and corporate relations director. "SWE is a fantastic group of driven women on campus with tremendous professional and social networking opportunities," said Bonci. She was also a member of Pi Beta Phi, served as a chemistry mentor to peers, and helped local elementary students with math and reading. An attacker on the field hockey team, Bonci made the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division III National Academic Squad, which honors student-athletes who have achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher, each season. She was recently inducted into Olympia, Rensselaer's student-athlete honor society, and she served as team captain during her senior season. "My most memorable experience at Rensselaer is definitely the camaraderie and experience of athletics, as well as meeting and learning from a great group of professors who truly expanded my knowledge," said Bonci. Considering all of her activities, it is not surprising that Bonci advises incoming freshmen to challenge themselves, but also cautions them to be wary of taking on too much. "Try to get involved as early as possible in campus life, because it truly shapes your time for the better," said Bonci. "My biggest tip, however, is learn about as many organizations and clubs as you can during freshman year. When you decide to fully involve yourself, don't spread yourself too thin! What you put in is what you get out, and that is true for your academic success and social experience."

Martin Marintchev '23, a Belmont High School graduate, is a student-athlete with a dual major in business and economics. To put it lightly, he's been busy. Happily, his hard work will pay off when he graduates with a bachelor's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) later this month. "I chose to attend RPI because of the combination of superb athletics and an academic curriculum that is current with every new technological development," said Marintchev. On both fronts, Marintchev has made the most out of his time at RPI. In love with the sport since the age of 4, Marintchev played infield on RPI's baseball team. Recently, he was inducted into Olympia, the athletic department's student honor society. Marintchev was a member of the Liberty League All-Academic Team in 2022 and the First Team All-Conference Liberty League. The Liberty League is an intercollegiate athletic conference in New York affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division III, and member schools place the highest priority on academic programs. "I will never forget when, during my freshman year on a spring break trip to Florida, our season got canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Marintchev. "Ultimately, it opened my eyes to how much baseball and school meant to me, and it allowed me to set my priorities straight and grow as a student and an athlete. The pandemic brought me closer to my friends and teammates as we helped each other through new challenges." In terms of academics, Marintchev was on the dean's list five times and is proud to have completed the Geneen Foundation Fellowship last summer. "The focus of my project was the ethics surrounding the payment and insuring of gene and cell therapies," said Marintchev. "In six months, I researched the current state of the cell and gene therapy market and explored the ethical implications of the industry. I also created surveys to better understand the public's familiarity with and opinions on the field." Next, the native of Belmont, Massachusetts will remain at RPI to pursue his master's in quantitative finance and risk analytics. As for advice for incoming freshmen, Marintchev says, "Keep an open mind, whether it is in class, meeting someone new in the Union, or joining a new club. I was advised to take Computer Science 1, for example, and it opened my eyes to the value and capabilities of coding. There are endless opportunities to learn and grow at RPI."

Londonderry Senior High School graduate and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute doctoral student Riley Barton has been selected as one of 87 outstanding graduate students in the United States by the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research Program (SCGSR).

Sheldon Jackson '23, a graduate of Charlotte Christian School, is spearheading refinements to a software that helps people with visual impairments navigate the world. The Rensselaer Center for Open Source (RCOS) was approached to collaborate on developing an open-source replacement for Microsoft's Soundscape. Open source refers to software with code that is accessible and editable by the public, and RCOS brings together students to work on projects that help society. Jackson volunteered to lead the RCOS effort within a global consortium and has gone above and beyond what was expected. First, Jackson applied for Nuvalence Builder Funds through Rensselaer's Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship. The fund, made possible by Nuvalence co-founders Sinclair Schuller '04 and Abe Sultan '04 along with Rakesh Malhotra, purchased the hardware for Jackson to use on the project. Then, Jackson recruited a team of fellow Rensselaer coders to help improve the application. "The application uses a fairly complex system to generate audio cues to provide navigation for people with visual impairments," Jackson said. "Users input their location and their destination and it creates a trail of beacons. The beacons allow the creation of mind maps so other people can easily navigate complex spaces. Audio signals in the corresponding ear steer users where to go. One improvement that we made is that the sound is different if you're headed in the right direction verses the wrong direction." Jackson entered Rensselaer's Change the World Challenge through the Severino Center, in which students turn their ideas into viable business concepts, and won $1,000 to further the project. He used the funds to host the website for the application, which is now gathering emails and collecting donations. "We are creating business models around this application so it can be profitable and the community is not left without something it needs and, in many cases, has been using for everyday life," Jackson said. A computer science student, Jackson has taken an exceptionally entrepreneurial path during his time at Rensselaer. Early in his career here, he started a consulting company, through which he has leveraged the Soundscape project into a paid position following his graduation in May. "Sheldon has been quick to jump on projects that involve working with external groups with real deliverables and actual needs," said Wes Turner, senior lecturer in computer science. "When a member of the RPI community asked for help building a website for a charitable organization, Sheldon stepped up and led a team in building out a great website to accept donations and organize activities. He has been one of the senior student leaders in RCOS for a substantial period. He is an excellent organizer and excels in keeping his teams occupied and busy. His work on the Soundscape application has brought Sheldon's leadership skills to the next level." "Sheldon is an amazing team leader who has gone outside of his comfort zone to do customer discovery and enter some of our entrepreneurship competitions," said Kelly Reardon-Sleicher, associate program director of the Severino Center. "I am really impressed by his drive and creativity, and I'm sure he will make significant societal impact in his career ahead." The Charlotte, North Carolina native chose RPI because of the opportunities and connections it presents. "RPI gave me opportunities to work on projects that I care about and the resources I needed to achieve success," said Jackson. Following his graduation, Jackson will focus on his company, Simplicity Tech Solutions, through which he will continue his work on Soundscape, along with web and mobile application development.