Celebrating Our 2021 EME Graduates

Congratulations on your graduation from Penn State! This is a great milestone in your life. You worked hard to get here, as I witnessed it firsthand in our senior classes. This is your moment, and it must be celebrated.

It is not supposed to be this way for your graduation weekend. We miss being able to be with you in your graduation ceremony, and tell you in person how proud we are of your accomplishments.  This is yet another testament to your courage and resilience, and of all what was required to get here. Your teachers, your family, and friends are very proud of you.

Best of luck! I wish you every success and will continue to cheer you on wherever life takes you.

Your teacher and friend,
Luis Ayala

Luis Ayala, Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Seth Blumsack, Professor of Energy Policy and Economics

This year may have mostly been virtual, but your accomplishments are very real! Be proud of how hard you have worked, all you have done, and by whatever means, please, stay in touch!

Congratulations on finishing up a challenging and unique year! For those who are graduating, I wish you all the best things – a quick start to a fulfilling career and happiness in your days and years to come. I hope that you will stay in touch and share with us the successes you find in your future. Drop me an email with any tidbits you’d like to share with the department, and let me know when you come back to visit, which we hope that you’ll do often. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know many of you as students, and I look forward to growing our friendship during your years as proud Penn State alumni!

All the best, Rachel

Rachel Conaway, Alumni Relations and Stewardship Officer

Arash Dahi Taleghani, Associate Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Dear PNG graduates,

I’m sure today will be only the first of many proud, successful moments for you. Congratulations today and best wishes for all your tomorrows.

To all of the ENVSE students,

Best wishes for prosperity, good health, and peace of mind. You've earned some time off, but please get back to work on saving the planet ASAP!

Cheers, Bill Groves

William Groves, Associate Professor of Industrial Health and Safety

Russell Johns, Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Congratulations to the class of 2020!  I know this is a tough year, but things will improve – just keep working to learn more and be the best possible engineer!! And, don’t forget about your log-log plots… Cheers, Russ.

Congratulations!  You are no longer Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Students; you are Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineers! Those of us who have gone through the program (or comparable programs at other universities) know what an achievement this is. We know the hard work that you have put in to achieve this milestone.

It was truly a pleasure working with you. I honestly enjoyed getting up in front of you every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and lecturing on various aspects of waterflooding in PNG 420 or economic analyses in EME 460. The satisfaction of being involved in your educations and being present when a particular concept became clear and gelled in your minds validates my decision to continue teaching at Penn State. It is to work with students like you that I continue to teach long after many of my contemporaries have retired. It is a small industry, and I am certain that our paths will cross from time to time. In the future, when you are visiting the university, feel free to stop by the department to let us know how you are doing. My open-door policy will always be extended to you and your families whenever you are on campus.

Best wishes to each and every one of for you. It has truly been a pleasure. 
Greg

Gregory King, Professor of Practice, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Andrew Kleit, Professor of Energy and Environmental Economics

Best of luck to everyone.  Sorry I can't see you in person to congratulate you.
Andrew Kleit

Congratulations to you all for your hard work and accomplishments! While it's been my great privilege and honor to see so many of you grow and excel throughout your time at Penn State, it's been even more rewarding to witness the courage and resilience you have demonstrated in these challenging times. Your patience and perseverance have provided an inspiration to your peers and to so many others, myself included. I have no doubt that what you have endured and transcended in this past semester will empower you to thrive in the days ahead and have great success in life. Life often has a way of reminding us that our education never stops by providing us with new opportunities to learn each and every day. Never stop learning and you will go further than you can ever imagine.

Joel Landry, Assistant Professor of Environmental and Energy Economics

Shimin Liu, Associate Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering

Congratulations, EME Graduates. I wish you all a bright future.

"Think of the future that awaits you, think about what you can do and do not fear anything." Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1986.

Congrats on graduating! I wish you the very best of luck in all your future endeavors.
Chiara Lo Prete

Chiara Lo Prete, Assistant Professor of Energy Economics

Jonathan Mathews, Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering

Congratulations!!! You have survived and in many cases thrived the process of the ENENG curriculum. It certainly was not easy. My colleagues and I have high expectations (your final laboratory reports for example). It has been an absolute pleasure to see you grow in confidence and ability. I have read through your materials in multiple courses and seen multiple presentations (from the last few years) for our accreditation process: and have been impressed with the progression. You have a bright future ahead, not only to be successful in your employment pathways but to also make a difference.  So go forth and conquer and may your actions indeed swell the PSU name. I look forward to seeing you again for campus visits and graduation.

Congratulations Class of 2021!  It was a tough year, but you made it.  Go do great things!  

James Miller, Research Technologist/Laboratory Coordinator

Thomas J. Motel, Laboratory Supervisor

Congratulations on completing this major step in your evolution.  I hope you enjoyed your time with us and have many pleasant memories from your time as a student.  Good luck in all your future endeavors and careers. 

Roar, Lion Roar out in the world. 

Tom Motel '86

Congratulations!!! You made it and are now ready to take on more and more! When you face challenges out there, don't forget that you have greatness within you and it's not over until you win!

Cheers! From Dr. Mohammad Rezaee

Sarma Pisupati, Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering; Professor of Chemical Engineering

Mohammad Rezaee, Assistant Professor of Mining Engineering

Hearty Congratulations to you! Even though we miss seeing you celebrate in cap and gown, I wish you many successes in life to celebrate in the future! I am proud of you. Go and be a Roaring Lion!

Sarma Pisupati

Though I have only been a part of EME for a short time, I have been impressed by the research and work I have seen. Congratulations and good luck!

Courtney Robinson, Marketing and Communications Specialist 

Robert Rousseau, Undergraduate Records Specialist

Congratulations EME graduates! May you find all the best in the future!

Dear Graduates of EME,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You have made all of us proud and we sincerely hope that your successes will continue as you launch into your future careers!!! Do remember that your EME family is rooting for you.

Sanjay Srinivasan, Department Head; Professor of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering

Samantha Suk, Academic Adviser

Amid all the challenges you were thrown this academic year, you persisted! Your determination, flexibility, and hope for the future are inspiring. Way to go EME students! WE ARE proud of you!

Congratulations on your well-deserved graduation, Class of 2021! I wish you all the best for your continued success.

Cheers,
Hilal Ezgi Toraman

Hilal Ezgi Toraman, Assistant Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering; Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

Randy Vander Wal, Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering

Now more than ever, seize opportunity and be flexible in the path towards your goals.

Randy Vander Wal