Convocation 2024
Senior Vice Dean Eray Aydil addresses first-year students at convocation.
The music that accompanies important events at most schools could generally be described as solemn, portentous, or grandiloquent. But NYU Tandon has never been “most schools.” So while the Convocation officially welcoming the Class of 2028 opened with the stirring sounds of NYU’s Pipes and Drums ensemble, it ended with a decidedly unconventional choice: "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" by Missy Elliott.
The track recently became the first hip-hop song sent into deep space by NASA, transmitted across 158 million miles at the speed of light by the Agency’s Deep Space Station 13 radio dish antenna — a journey that took about 14 minutes to complete.
As Associate Dean of Student Life & Services Rose Ampuero explained, the hit tune was meant to celebrate the spirit of innovation and exploration that defines Tandon and remind first-year students of the limitless possibilities ahead of them.
Students could also take inspiration from a line-up of speakers, each with their own stirring message to impart.
Senior Vice Dean Eray Aydil
“There’s a Turkish saying I like: Damlaya damlaya göl olur. It means that drop by drop a whole lake can be formed. In other words, even the smallest things are important to the big picture, so remember to be patient and don’t let yourself get discouraged. Every bit of hard work and effort on your part will contribute to your ultimate success.”
Alum Stephanie Mitchko (‘87)
Executive Vice President of Media Operations & Technology at AMC Networks
“As a lifelong technologist, I will tell you a secret that has become more and more clear over the years: technology is going to fuel change and innovation at unprecedented speeds, but you must be grounded in your humanity to meet and sustain the great moments ahead.”
Director of General Engineering Ingrid Paredes
“There’s so much to absorb in this first year – yes about physics, calculus, and the engineering problems you will solve – but also about yourselves, and the engineer that you want to become. It might be hard to imagine that engineer now . . . but I can assure you that every day you show up here, for a class, for a club event, for office hours, you’ll be closer to that version of yourself each day.”
President of the Poly Alumni Association Robert V. Jones
“You’re walking a path forged by alumni like Eugene Kleiner, a pioneer in transistor and integrated-circuit manufacturing who helped establish Silicon Valley as a hub of innovation. Alumni like Ursula Burns, former Xerox CEO and the first Black woman to helm a Fortune 500 company. And I can’t forget Jasper Kane, who made it possible to mass-produce penicillin, saving countless lives. . . . Think about it – right in this room could be the next Kleiner, Burns, or Kane!”
President of the Tandon Undergraduate Student Council Shreya Manjrekar
“You haven’t come here just to earn a degree. No, you are here to unleash your potential in one of the world’s greatest cities. Start conversations, launch projects, and dare to pursue ideas that seem daunting or even impossible. . . . Remember, NYU Tandon picked you for a reason. You belong here, and you have the power to leave an incredible mark on this institution and beyond.”
