College holds first virtual Order of the Engineer oath ceremony

Students disappointed by the cancellation of traditional convocation and commencement ceremonies were excited to participate in a virtual Order of the Engineer oath ceremony, a first for the college.

About three-quarters of the nearly 200 Spring and Summer 2020 graduates logged in on May 15 to participate in a Zoom ceremony that was also streaming on YouTube Live to roughly 400 viewers and recorded for viewing on demand. Speakers included Assistant Dean Song Choi, Dean Brennon Morioka, UH Mānoa Provost Michael Bruno, Professor Roger Babcock, and Engineering Alumni Association President Rodney Chong.

The graduates, some dressed in their graduation regalia, all recited the oath simultaneously through their home cameras and microphones, and later hollered and cheered as they transitioned from students to graduates and members of the professional engineering community.

According to its website, the Order of the Engineer “was initiated in the United States to foster a spirit of pride and responsibility in the engineering profession, to bridge the gap between training and experience, and to present to the public a visible symbol identifying the engineer.” All participants in the ceremony will receive the Engineer’s Ring, a stainless steel ring worn on the fifth finger of the working hand that represents the engineer’s professional obligation.