At SEAS Class Day, Albaugh calls upon engineers to ‘rebuild the world’

A sense of responsibility to confront the daunting future united the School of Engineering and Applied Science class of 2009 at the college’s Class Day Monday morning, as James Albaugh, SEAS M.S. ’74 and the executive vice president of aerospace company Boeing, recognized the graduating seniors as a “generation that will rebuild the world.”

Weighing the grave economic outlook with his hope in the promising scientists and engineers emerging from Columbia, Albaugh’s speech garnered appreciation for his optimism and his own familiar background as a Columbia engineer.

“Quite frankly, I am worried for this country,” said Albaugh, emphasizing the need for integrity and a commitment to lifelong learning in a time of uncertainty. He applauded President Barack Obama’s push for research and development, urging the graduating seniors to take advantage of opportunities presented during what he called an “information revolution.”

“Cost of inaction is more than the cost of occasionally being wrong,” he added, advising graduates that “developing your people and yourself is the most rewarding thing you can do.”

Albaugh, celebrated as an innovator in aeronautics, shares much in common with the typical SEAS student. After having completed his undergraduate career at Willamette University—where he switched from a major in history to mathematics and physics­—Albaugh went on to earn a master’s degree in civil engineering from Columbia.

University President Lee Bollinger’s brief remarks prefaced Albaugh’s speech. “You have the capacity to bridge technology and values and teach the rest of us,” he said.

Bollinger also acknowledged Interim SEAS Dean Gerald Navratil’s efforts to move the school forward, while Feniosky Peña-Mora prepares to take the reigns as the incoming dean of the school.

Student speeches echoed both Albaugh’s plea for action and public service as well as the diverse, well rounded nature of the student body.

Salutatorian Stanley Snelson, SEAS ’09, spoke of the sense of unity among SEAS students, highlighting “a common sense of purpose between students here” as “the role of the engineer is to help society adapt to the changing world, not to impose a vision of the future.”

Albaugh also noted, “Be inclusive, you can learn from anyone.”

SEAS Class President Kim Manis, SEAS ’09, confessed having been torn between applying to either Columbia College or SEAS, and thanked Columbia for having allowed her flexibility in taking courses seemingly unrelated to her field of study.

“Kim’s speech reminded us all why we chose SEAS and how we’ve all created some good times for one another,” said Tristan Naumann, SEAS ’09.

Valedictorian John Sienkiewicz, SEAS ‘09, who gave his speech partly in rhyme, jokingly told the audience that optimization is an engineer’s best friend. Yet amidst the puns and witty remarks, he also acknowledged that “even the economic downturn itself is an opportunity to apply what we have learned.”

Sienkiewicz added craftily that “maybe it’s not the elusive optimum that dictates our choices. Maybe our choices shape the optimum.”

Concluding an address in which he directed responsibility of “saving our planet” to the graduating SEAS class, Albaugh ended on a lighter note. “I wish you all the best, and I will be accepting your resumes.”