After a successful educational career at Stevens Institute of Technology, both Tatyana Fedorenko and Alexander Baetz have been named co-valedictorians for the graduating class of 2015. Both are graduating with 4.0 GPAs, no doubt a feat of hard work and dedication.
Fedorenko majored in Mechanical Engineering with a structural engineering minor. She also earned a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering with a structural engineering concentration. When asked why she came to Stevens, Fedorenko explained that Stevens offered opportunities in both educational and extra-curricular pursuits. “There were so many ways to get involved through extra-curriculars. I also thought the co-op program was great, and I wanted to take advantage of all that the school offered.”
Fedorenko was a part of the Stevens Scholars program and a member of the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi, the Gear & Triangle Honor Society, and the mechanical engineering honor society, Pi Tau Sigma.
In addition to being an extremely dedicated student, Fedorenko has given much of her time to her service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega. “If I had to pinpoint a shining moment, it would be the successful completion of the Tau Beta Pi run, which was the fundraiser APO put on this year. It was really challenging, yet rewarding because we had ever put something together like that before.” Fedorenko was also a part of the Entertainment Committee and the Photography club.
Starting in July, Fedorenko will begin working in Cerritos, California with ExxonMobil Pipeline group as a field engineer.
“I have had so much support, and I don’t think I would have been able to get to this point without my family and friends. Hard work also helped me get to this point. You definitely have to put in the work to be successful here.”
Alexander Baetz, like Fedorenko, had an impressive career at Stevens. Baetz earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and was a member of Tau Beta Pi. He served on the executive board for Tau Beta Pi as Guides Chair, which made him responsible for facilitating the induction of new members and coordinating the Tau Beta Pi Freshman Engineer Award.
Baetz’s family has a long legacy with Stevens, which was one of the major factors that impelled him to attend Stevens. “My father earned both his electrical engineering degrees from Stevens. Other alumni include my uncle Joseph Trent and cousins Gary and David Lane.” In addition to his family roots, Baetz looked highly upon the career development at Stevens. “We’ve all seen the salary and job placement reports. They are among the best in the country, They are among the best in the country, and because a degree from a private technical university is a tremendous investment, this is the only college ranking metric.”
Baetz finds that his scholar’s research under Professor Simon Podkolzin was extremely significant. “Every internship that I obtained during my undergrad career has indirectly been attributed to my research.”
After graduation, Baetz will be moving to Texas to join ExxonMobil Research and Engineering in Houston where he will be working with crude oil distillation.
When asked what has helped him reach this achievement, Baetz responded simply: “Google, Wikipedia, and a girlfriend that tolerated my complaining for the past four years.”
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