The Month in Photos: May 2018

June 1, 2018

Whether it was Commencement or the (finally) nice weather, the WPI community had a lot to celebrate during the month of May. Check out the work of the talented staff photographers who captured moments of the first month when it actually felt like spring at WPI.

A close-up photo of the fountain the center of campus on a sunny day as students walk around and hang out together.

Ah, spring … the fountain is bubbling, flowers are blooming, goats are bleating. Let's keep it this way, shall we?

Covered in colors, students celebrate the festival of color, Holi, on the Higgins House lawn with the South Asian Student Association.

The South Asian Student Association celebrated Holi, the festival of colors, on the Higgins House lawn.

WPI's women's rowing team gathers on stage after placing third at the NCAA Division III Championships in Florida.

WPI Women’s Rowing hit the national stage—literally and figuratively—after placing third at the NCAA Division III Championships in Florida on May 27.

Laurie Leshin stands with Allison Darling and Sue Sontgerath, who are both holding their awards and smiling.

Following her Town Hall meeting on May 4, President Laurie Leshin presented Allison Darling, administrative assistant with the Interactive Media and Game Development department, and Sue Sontgerath, director of pre-collegiate outreach, with the 2018 Board of Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Staff Member.

Three students stand and smile in front of a mural of the world.

Before crossing Earle Bridge at Commencement, three graduating seniors and Gilman Scholarship winners—from left, Abigail King, Zachary Ligham, and Allysa Grant— discussed how their global experiences impacted them and prepared them for life after graduation.

Mina Shojaeizadeh smiles in mid-conversation while sitting at a computer screen showcasing some of her work.

Mina Shojaeizadeh has accomplished her fair share over the years—most recently the first to receive a PhD from the Foisie Business School.

Graduate students and faculty walk in front of Boynton Hall on the way to the Quad for their Commencement ceremony.

Over 800 students headed to the Quad one last time to receive their master's or doctoral degrees on May 10.

Four students in matching purple suit jackets gather around a microphone to sing during the baccalaureate ceremony.

The Baccalaureate ceremony held May 11 gave WPI students the chance to show off their musical talents (and their sharp fashion sense).

Students gather and smile in front of a WPI background during the OMA Graduation Celebration.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs hosted its first annual Multicultural Graduation Celebration in Alden Memorial.

A closeup of a graduation cap decorated with flowers and script reading, "What she tackles, she conquers. Thanks, Dad!"

Every year graduating seniors give themselves one final assignment—put together the most creative and inspirational mortarboards possible.

Kenedi Heather stands in front of the Bartlett Center in her uniform. She's smiling, and there is some foliage behind her.

May 12's ROTC Commissioning Ceremony had Kenedi Heather looking forward to "celebrating everything that I’ve worked for and dreamed of over the past four years; it’s all finally happening.” Check out what the rest of the WPI community had to say about Commencement week through quotes.

A student models his mortarboard, which has an umbrella affixed to the top, during a rainy undergraduate Commencement.

We may have spoken too soon on the whole "spring" thing. Luckily, the less than ideal weather was no problem for our problem-solving students, one of whom took advantage of the day to model the latest in practical and stylish mortarboard fashion at the Undergraduate Commencement.

Warren Staver is in the lead while racing a group of runners from opposing schools along the track.

Graduating senior Warren Staver anchored the champion 4x400-meter men’s relay at the Division III New England Championships on May 5.

Several students and faculty members gather at the NAI celebration. They're dressed formally and smiling, and some are holding Massachusetts license plates that say "WPI License" on them.

WPI’s annual National Academy of Inventors celebration recognized the record number of students and faculty filing patents and receiving patent licenses over the past year.

Natalie Farny and three students stand in their lab, wearing safety equipment including glasses and white lab coats; they're all smiling.

Biology and biotechnology professor Natalie Farny led a team of undergrads completing their MQP in researching whether BPA-free water bottles and other products really are better for us.

Sydney Packard is in the lead among a group of opposing runners during a competition.

Sydney Packard ’21 won the 800-meter run at the Division III New England Championships on May 5 and went on to finish fourth in the nation at the 2018 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Wisconsin on May 26.

Homer Walker stands in front of a high-performance computing system. He's wearing glasses, a blue button-down shirt, and tan suit jacket, and is smiling.

Mathematical sciences professor Homer Walker was elected a fellow of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics. 

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