Introducing Stevens' Class of 2025 First in Class Cohort
Representing all three schools across 10 majors and hailing from five states, these 13 graduating students share one very important number: 4.0. Each graduated First in the Stevens Institute of Technology Class of 2025 with a perfect GPA earned through their commitment to academic excellence — and shared this message with their classmates.
Meet this year’s First in Class students who received their degrees at the 153rd Commencement ceremonies on May 21.
Andrew Cheney
B.E., mechanical engineering
From: Flemington, New Jersey
Extras: A Pinnacle Scholar, Cheney is a member of Pi Tau Sigma, Tau Beta Pi and Sigma Phi Epsilon. He also was a member of Stevens Dramatic Society and the Audio Engineering Club.
What’s Next: Cheney will complete the manufacturing engineering summer internship at Kearfott and then pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering at Stevens.
I LOVE THE COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT OF STEVENS — working on homework with my classmates and friends, asking for help from everyone around me and providing help whenever I could.
STAY DISCIPLINED. You will face setbacks — and motivation fades when you encounter them — but discipline will keep you going when you can’t see the path forward.
Bao-Chau Nguyen
B.E., computer engineering
From: Severn, Maryland
Extras: Nguyen is a member of Tau Beta Pi and a resident assistant. She previously was a member of BluePrint.
What’s Next: Nguyen will intern at Boeing during the summer and then return to Stevens to pursue a master’s degree in computer engineering.
EVERYONE ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT THE VIEW, but it truly is the best thing to see when you're walking home from the PATH.
I ENCOURAGE MY GRADUATING CLASSMATES to always strive to be the smartest person in the room — but never be the smartest person in the room.
Benjamin Knobloch
B.E., software engineering
From: Middletown, New Jersey
Extras: Knobloch is a member of Engineers Without Borders, The Stute, Stevens Honor Board and Tau Beta Pi.
What’s Next: Knobloch will pursue a graduate degree in computer science at Cornell University.
AS PART OF MY WORK WITH ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS, I had the opportunity to travel to a Q'ero community in the Peruvian Andes for a few days to help with project assessment work. My time there, which we spent variously completing our work and speaking with and learning from the community, was unlike anything I had previously experienced.
I'LL MISS BEING ABLE TO BOUNCE BETWEEN CLASSES, organization and professional events, and fun things in Hoboken or the city with friends so easily. I'll also miss all the friends and connections I've made with the faculty and staff.
Brandon Paul Rogers
B.E. and M.S., mechanical engineering
From: Syracuse, New York
Extras: Rogers is a member of the men's volleyball team, which won the NCAA Division III Championship in 2023. He is also president of Pi Tau Sigma.
What’s Next: Rogers will work as a hardware developer at IBM.
I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING CHALLENGED IN NEW WAYS by applying what I learned throughout my life so far. And having big boy money to spend.
BE KIND, WORK HARD AND LIFE WILL WORK OUT.
Evan Jinks
B.E., mechanical engineering
From: Morris Plains, New Jersey
Extras: Jinks served as a suspension team lead for the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja.
What’s Next: Jinks will work as a battery manufacturing engineer at Tesla for its semi truck program.
HUMILITY AND EAGERNESS TO LEARN NEW SKILLS will make you desirable for any team.
I AM INCREDIBLY EXCITED TO BE A PART OF A FAST-PACED, thrilling and cutting-edge environment that pushes boundaries in EV's and sustainable energy.
Gabriel Costa
B.E., chemical engineering
From: Sayreville, New Jersey
Extras: Costa is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Beta Pi and Omega Chi Epsilon.
What’s Next: Costa will work as a process engineer at Smurfit WestRock in West Point, Virginia.
I’LL MISS THE RANDOM, SPUR-OF-THE-MOMENT ACTIVITIES with my brothers in SigEp. Whether deciding to play board games or go to the city, it is these moments in between the stress of classwork that made my time.
YOU’LL BE IN SITUATIONS THAT WILL PUSH YOU OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, whether in class, at work or in social settings. Embrace them because they will only make you better.
Kailey Totland
B.S., computer science
From: Tinton Falls, New Jersey
Extras: Totland is a member of Sigma Delta Tau, where she currently serves as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Chair, and is the treasurer of Upsilon Pi Epsilon. She is a member of Order of Omega, the Computer Science Club, Women in Computer Science, Stevens Signs and the Society of Physics Students.
What’s Next: Totland will work as a network engineer in the Verizon Leadership Development Program.
MY FONDEST MEMORY AT STEVENS was the BT450 trip to Munich and Prague! It was my first time outside of the U.S. and I made so many amazing memories with my classmates.
I’LL MISS LIVING A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM MY BEST FRIENDS. The friends I made at Stevens are the most hardworking, hilarious, kind people.
Mia Reinert
B.S., business
From: Shavertown, Pennsylvania
Extras: A Pinnacle Scholar, Reinert is a member of Stevens Women in Business, where she previously served as president. She is also co-founder of Stevens Consulting Group, a primary mentor in Encouraging Women Across All Borders and a mentor and ambassador for the School of Business.
What’s Next: Reinert will work as a technology consultant at Protiviti, while pursuing a master’s in information at Stevens part-time.
SERVING AS PRESIDENT OF STEVENS WOMEN IN BUSINESS taught me what leadership truly means — not just organizing or guiding, but creating space for others to grow. It’s powerful to inspire a group of women to lift each other up, and to see how much strength there is in empowerment and community.
YOU GET TO DEFINE SUCCESS FOR YOURSELF and write your own story. Let people be wrong about you — what matters is that you know who you are and where you’re headed. Trust yourself!
Nicole Petrocelli
B.E., biomedical engineering
From: Hauppauge, New York
Extras: Petrocelli is a member of Tau Beta Pi and previously served as vice president. She is a member of the Army ROTC and is the cadet executive officer.
What’s Next: After graduation, Petrocelli will return to Stevens to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical engineering with a concentration in medical devices, biomaterials and regenerative medicine.
I’LL REALLY MISS THE LATE-NIGHT GROUP STUDY SESSIONS, the movie nights and just sitting on Babbio Patio staring out at the city skyline.
SPEND LESS TIME WORRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE and more time appreciating the present. Things work out when you work hard, and the time goes by too quickly to spend it thinking about “what ifs.”
Rai Singh Bindra
B.E., mechanical engineering; M.E., space systems engineering
From: Bernardsville, New Jersey
Extras: Bindra was a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers Baja, Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Council, Pi Tau Sigma and the American Society for Engineering Management. He also competed in track and field in both spring and winter.
What’s Next: Bindra will complete a special research project with the deputy chief scientist of the Acquisition Innovation Research Center (AIRC).
I’LL NEVER FORGET MY OLDER BROTHER HANDING THE BATON TO ME during a 4x400 relay. It wasn’t just a race — it was a passing of the torch. As his time at Stevens was coming to a close, mine was just beginning. It was truly an electric moment.
WHETHER IT'S AEROSPACE, DEFENSE OR EVEN DJING IN IBIZA, I’m excited to be part of something bigger than myself. I’m ready to keep learning, keep growing and keep showing up — wherever that may take me.
Sophia Navada Patz
B.A., visual arts and technology
From: Severna Park, Maryland
Extras: Patz competed on the women’s swimming team and served as captain for two years. She was also a member of Gear and Triangle Leadership Honor Society and the aquatics staff, as well as a campus tour guide. She was awarded Best in Show 2024 at the Nancy Miller Student Art Exhibition.
What’s Next: Patz will work as a graphic designer for a marketing company.
MY PROFESSORS HAVE TRULY BEEN THE MOST VALUABLE RESOURCE that Stevens has provided to prepare me for the real world.
THERE ARE TOO MANY PEOPLE AND MOMENTS that have made my time at Stevens so memorable but I’ll never forget pulling all-nighters in the studio to prepare for critique the next morning, feeling the bass of “Killing Me Softly” rattle our brains at 5 a.m. on the way to swim practice in Puerto Rico or debriefing the week’s events over and over until one of my friends decides it’s time for intermission.
Thomas Ward
B.A., music and technology
From: South San Francisco, California
Extras: Ward is a member and composer in the Stevens Concert Band Ensemble and a member of the Stevens Trivia Club. He served as the music coordinator on Professor Alex Wellerstein's research video game, "Oregon Road '83.”
What’s Next: Ward will work at Eventide Audio in development and marketing. He also plans to pursue video game audio programming and design.
OUR MUSIC AND TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT is run by amazing faculty who are so kind and want to help us pursue what we are passionate about! The community is really close-knit and connected to a wide range of areas of expertise.
I’M EXCITED TO WORK IN A FIELD THAT I ENJOY! I have no idea where I'll go or who I'll meet, which again is a little scary, but it is also pretty exciting too!
Vincent Renda
B.E., computer engineering
From: Staten Island, New York
Extras: Renda is a member of Tau Beta Pi, IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu and Castle Point Anime Convention.
What’s Next: Renda will intern at the Robust Field Autonomy Laboratory and then return to Stevens to pursue a master’s degree.
I’VE MADE FRIENDS AND PROFESSIONAL CONNECTIONS that will continue to support and inspire me as I move forward with my career.
ALWAYS BE OPEN TO LEARNING NEW THINGS and investing in yourself, even beyond college.