Last week, the School of Engineering and Applied Science celebrated 150 years of Engineering at Penn with speakers, birthday cake and even a visit from the school's founder, Ben Franklin.
The anniversary events kicked off on Wednesday with a formal convocation ceremony in Irvine Auditorium and continued into Thursday with a birthday party at Wynn Commons.
President Judith Rodin, Provost Robert Barchi and Engineering Dean Eduardo Glandt were among the speakers at Wednesday's event, which also included other members of the Engineering School's faculty, staff and student body. Each speaker addressed a crowd of students and alumni, reflecting on the school's past and looking ahead to its future.
Rodin noted the many achievements of the Engineering School, including ENIAC, the world's first electronic computer, and applauded the school's faculty and students.
"I see a day not very far off when the school that practically invented Engineering becomes a world hub in life sciences and information technology," Rodin said. "I can't wait to look back in 25 years and say 'I told you so.'"
Glandt commemorated not only the history of Penn Engineering, but the engineers themselves, saying, "If it doesn't change the fabric of the world in favor of others, it's not engineering." He described the engineer as someone who is driven to design and create, much like an artist.
The President of the National Academy of Engineering, William Wulf, was presented with the University of Pennsylvania Medal for Distinguished Achievement. He also spoke, pointing out all of the significant contributions -- past and present -- that engineers have made to society.
"Engineering has revolutionized virtually every aspect of the way we live, work, play and travel," Wulf said.
He highlighted the many achievements in engineering history that have helped people to lead longer, healthier lives, such as the development of the water treatment plant, air conditioning, refrigeration and agricultural mechanization.
Wulf urged today's engineers to "become less modest, not because you need the recognition, but because in this technologically-dominated era, wise public decisions require an understanding of the impact of engineering."
The audience's loud applause reflected its approval of each speaker.
And while the ceremony focused on engineering's past and present, attendees spanned many decades of achievement in the school.
"I wanted to come back to see some of the old professors and see how the school is doing," 1971 SEAS alumnus Edward Hazburn said. "I was very impressed."
Shelia Humphrey, wife of the school's first dean, also praised the event.
"I was interested to hear [Wulf] speak so movingly of engineering's contributions to the quality of life in our country."
The celebration continued into Thursday as the Engineering School put away formalities and threw a birthday bash complete with a 150-foot hoagie, combat robots, birthday cake and a Ben Franklin impersonator. Despite the rain, students crowded under tents in Wynn Commons to enjoy food, music and a performance from Mask and Wig.
"It's very nice to come back for the Engineering School's 150th anniversary. I've enjoyed the robotics and the hoagies," Henry Gutsmuth, 1965 Engineering alumnus said.
"The presentation of electronic music kind of parallels the final scene from Revenge of the Nerds, but aside from that, I'm enjoying" the party, noted Engineering sophomore Sean Enright.
Rodin was also there to wish SEAS a happy birthday. She challenged the students to "show the world what Penn engineers can do" and said she hoped to see engineers winning Nobel prizes, in People Magazine and with their own trading cards some time in the future.
The event also included a video portrait of the school, marking its achievements since 1852 when Penn began the School of Mines, Arts and Manufacturers, which was one of the first engineering schools in the country.
Unfortunately, the wind and rain prevented the students and faculty from blowing out the 150 candles on the four-tiered birthday cake, which Glandt described as the "mother of all cakes."
Regardless of the weather, Glandt said the anniversary events "couldn't have been better."
"I wanted the students and staff to regard this as a self-celebration without apologies. The rain did not help, but we made the best of it," he added.
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