ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â

One thousand nine hundred ninety-three Illinois Institute of Technology students will celebrate one of life’s great milestone achievements on May 15, when, during the university’s second virtual ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â ceremony, they’ll be recognized as part of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â’s graduating class of 2021. While virtual, this year’s ceremony will feature ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â speaker Ankur Jain (CS ’03), founder and chief executive officer of B9 Beverages/Bira 91; student speaker Priscilla Akpabio (ME ’21); honorary degree recipients Fay Clayton (LAW ’79), Arlene Harris, and John Anderson, president emeritus of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â; a celebration of the university’s essential staff and of the tenure of retiring ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â President Alan W. Cramb; and the conferral of degrees. Most of all, though, the ceremony will celebrate a group of ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â students who have persevered through previously unthinkable challenges over the course of the last 14 months, consistently showing a level of resiliency and understanding needed to push through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic while rising to adapt and shine in new learning and social environments. Seven students—one from each of the university’s colleges—share their experiences: the biggest lessons they’ve learned, where they’re headed next, and what ÑÇÉ«Ó°¿â means to them.