GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Valley State University’s largest graduating class of 120 student engineers will participate in a special graduation ceremony August 5. The graduates will join the thousands of alumni who are helping drive the state’s economy with their STEM degree.

At the Order of the Engineer ceremony — a traditional commencement ritual — each student will receive an iron ring, placed on the little finger of the working hand, which symbolizes bridging the step between training and experience. Engineering graduates at Grand Valley earn their degrees later than the traditional spring ceremony because they complete a year-long co-op experience with a company.

Order of the Engineer Graduation Ceremony

Friday, August 5

4 p.m., Eberhard Center, second floor

Pew Grand Rapids Campus

The 18th annual Engineering Design Conference will take place the same day. The conference celebrates the completion of the Capstone Design Program and the Grand Valley partnership with local industry, in which teams of senior engineering students solve real-world engineering design problems sponsored by participating industries and organizations. The public is invited to view and vote on projects.

Engineering Design Conference

1:30-4 p.m., Kennedy Hall of Engineering and Keller Engineering Labs

Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Sponsors of this year’s senior projects include Consumers Energy, DeWys, DornerWorks, DrySmart, E-Zee Set Wood Products, Fisen Corporation, GE Aviation, Gentex, Gill Electronics, L-3, Magna Mirrors, Tennant Company, Shape Corporation and PADNOS.

The School of Engineering is celebrating 30 years of developing engineering talent for Michigan and the region through its co-op program. What started as a handful of students in 1986 has grown to nearly 300 junior- and senior-level students this year. Visit www.gvsu.edu/pcec/30-years-98.htm

to learn more.

For more information about the conference and graduation ceremony, contact the School of Engineering in the Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering and Computing at (616) 331-6750.