Hard Hat ceremony added to Order of the Engineer on graduation weekend

Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at South Dakota State University graduated a total of 260 undergraduate students May 9 with 71 of them also participating in ceremonies to honor the professionalism of their new career. (The spring graduates also included 19 with a doctorate and 78 with a master’s degree.)

There were 62 graduates who participated in the Order of the Engineer ceremony, which is open to a senior or graduate of an ABET-accredited engineering program. It was noted that participation was more than double what it had been in previous years. A nationally recognized ceremony, its presence on the SDSU campus dates back to at least 1992.

This year marked a special milestone as the Hard Hat ceremony was incorporated into the Order of the Engineer ceremony for the first time. The addition symbolized the connection between hands-on learning in a classroom and the ethical responsibilities of the constriction professions. 

Together, the ceremonies celebrated both the practical and professional commitment of SDSU graduates as they transition from classroom to professional world to build, innovate and serve society with integrity. 

There were nine construction management graduates that participated in the Hard Hat ceremony. Like the Order of the Engineer, the Hard Hat ceremony includes an oath to uphold the ethical standards of the profession.

Sanjeev Kumar, dean of the college, led the Hard Hat pledge, which ends with “In accepting this hard hat, I acknowledge the responsibilities entrusted to me and I dedicate myself to building a safer, strong and more sustainable future.”

Those who take the Order of the Engineer oath pledge to “practice integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect and to uphold devotion to the standards and the dignity of my profession.”

More than 400 friends and family were on hand to celebrate this milestone with the students.