Merit Pages News
(June 5, 2026) — Scarlett Strom of Higganum graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute on May 15, 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering. WPI President Grace Wang and Board of Trustees Chair William Fitzgerald presided over the university’s 175th undergraduate Commencement where nearly 1,200 undergraduate degrees were awarded.
In her address, Wang reminded graduates that their WPI education has prepared them not only with technical expertise and ethical leadership skills, but with the resilience, critical thinking, teamwork, and global responsibility needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
“We stand at the dawn of a new technological age,” said Wang. “There’s a good chance you will do jobs that are yet to be invented. You will work in companies that are yet to be established. You will address issues that are yet to be defined. This does not mean we should feel uncertain. This means everything can be questioned, and everything can be new. Never before has so much possibility existed to make the world better, the future brighter.”
Delivering an inspiring undergraduate address was multiplatinum, Grammy Award-winning artist, tech founder, philanthropist, and STEAM education advocate will.i.am. Known globally for his groundbreaking work at the intersection of music, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, education, and through his i.am Angel Foundation, will.i.am challenged graduates to embrace creativity, innovation, and service as they forge their own paths.
“How intentional are you going to be with this technology as you unearth tomorrow’s industries?” asked will.i.am “Pick a problem. Solve it. That solution is an industry. This is the time for imagination, and AI is not imagining. It’s regurgitation of the human imagination. Turn that off.” As part of the undergraduate ceremony, honorary doctoral degrees were bestowed on will.i.am and Paul Covec, Class of 1964, an entrepreneur and investor who has played a formative role in advancing technologies that have shaped modern industry.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts is a top-tier, STEM-focused university with an R1 research classification and global leadership in project-based learning. Founded in 1865, WPI’s distinctive approach integrates classroom theory with real-world practice, preparing students to tackle critical challenges through inclusive education, impactful projects, and interdisciplinary research. With more than 70 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs across 18 academic departments and more than 50 global project centers, WPI advances knowledge and innovation in fields such as life sciences, smart technologies, advanced materials and manufacturing, and global innovation.
