Whitewater Resident Leif Sahyun Receives Degree
WORCESTER, MA (06/25/2020)– Late this spring, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) celebrated the Class of 2020 with a socially distanced commencement season in place of its traditional 152nd Commencement exercises. Leif Sahyun of Whitewater, Wis., was awarded a bachelor of science degree in computer science with high distinction.
Since the Class of 2020 was unable to receive diplomas in person this year, they instead received personal commencement packages, mailed to their home, that that included their diplomas, commencement regalia, and other items to celebrate their successes, as well as a congratulatory video message from President Laurie Leshin. In total, WPI awarded 1,043 bachelor’s degrees, 674 master’s degrees, and 54 doctoral degrees.
In her video message, Leshin made the traditional Commencement walk to the WPI’s iconic Earle Bridge, which students walk over during New Student Orientation and then again when they graduate. She then stopped, turned, and told graduates, “You should be here. But make no mistake: Today is still your day. You’ve walked this bridge together once, and you will walk it again. I can’t wait to see you do just that. Until then, it’s my honor to wait for you.”
WPI plans to hold in-person undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies in the future, at a date to be announced.
About Worcester Polytechnic Institute
WPI, a global leader in project-based learning, is a distinctive, top-tier technological university founded in 1865 on the principle that students learn most effectively by applying the theory learned in the classroom to the practice of solving real-world problems. Recognized by the National Academy of Engineering with the 2016 Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education, WPI’s pioneering project-based curriculum engages undergraduates in solving important scientific, technological, and societal problems throughout their education and at more than 50 project centers around the world. WPI offers more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 14 academic departments in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts. Its faculty and students pursue groundbreaking research to meet ongoing challenges in health and biotechnology; robotics and the internet of things; advanced materials and manufacturing; cyber, data, and security systems; learning science; and more. www.wpi.edu
