Former Men’s Basketball Player Barnard Onyenucheya Delivers UB Commencement Speech
5/17/2021 1:40:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Former University at Buffalo mens's basketball player Barnard Uche Onyenucheya, a PhD student in electrical engineering, addressed his fellow graduate students on May 14 at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Graduate Commencement ceremony.
Onyenucheya earned first place in the Student Speaker Competition, an annual event run by Christine Human, associate dean for accreditation and student affairs. The event is organized into two competitions: one for graduate students and the other for undergraduate students.
"The competition is open to all students participating in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences commencement ceremony," says Human. "This year, we had an outstanding pool made up of nine graduate students and 10 graduate students."
A panel of faculty and staff volunteers choose the winners, whose speeches are evaluated based on relevancy, appropriateness of content and delivery. In addition to presenting their speeches at commencement, the winners also receive a custom UB class ring.
"Each year, I'm more impressed by the students we have here in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Their perspectives and motivation never fail to inspire me," says Human.
Onyenucheya hails from the Bronx, N.Y. A four-year letter winner on the University at Buffalo men's basketball team (2004-07), Onyenucheya received both his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from UB.
"I don't think I fit the traditional mold of someone completing a PhD in electrical engineering so I thought giving people insight into my journey would be interesting and inspiring," says Onyenucheya. "To address your peers is the highest honor that anyone could ask for in any ceremony. I know that I will be representing not only the Class of 2021 but the University at Buffalo as a whole, which is something I'm honored by."
Onyenucheya was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship and is the co-founder of the Engineering Cooperative Society, which funds and provides outreach to underrepresented students in STEM. He is also the founder of the creative engineering solutions start-up Epsilon Blue LLC.
"During my time at UB, some faculty, coaches and classmates turned out to be much more than just their title – they became family," says Onyenucheya. "I really believe the university fosters an environment where strangers become so involved and shower you with so much support that they become integrated in your life forever."
Watch Onyenucheya's speech below:
Onyenucheya earned first place in the Student Speaker Competition, an annual event run by Christine Human, associate dean for accreditation and student affairs. The event is organized into two competitions: one for graduate students and the other for undergraduate students.
"The competition is open to all students participating in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences commencement ceremony," says Human. "This year, we had an outstanding pool made up of nine graduate students and 10 graduate students."
A panel of faculty and staff volunteers choose the winners, whose speeches are evaluated based on relevancy, appropriateness of content and delivery. In addition to presenting their speeches at commencement, the winners also receive a custom UB class ring.
"Each year, I'm more impressed by the students we have here in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Their perspectives and motivation never fail to inspire me," says Human.
Onyenucheya hails from the Bronx, N.Y. A four-year letter winner on the University at Buffalo men's basketball team (2004-07), Onyenucheya received both his bachelor of science and master of science degrees in electrical engineering from UB.
"I don't think I fit the traditional mold of someone completing a PhD in electrical engineering so I thought giving people insight into my journey would be interesting and inspiring," says Onyenucheya. "To address your peers is the highest honor that anyone could ask for in any ceremony. I know that I will be representing not only the Class of 2021 but the University at Buffalo as a whole, which is something I'm honored by."
Onyenucheya was a recipient of the National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship and is the co-founder of the Engineering Cooperative Society, which funds and provides outreach to underrepresented students in STEM. He is also the founder of the creative engineering solutions start-up Epsilon Blue LLC.
"During my time at UB, some faculty, coaches and classmates turned out to be much more than just their title – they became family," says Onyenucheya. "I really believe the university fosters an environment where strangers become so involved and shower you with so much support that they become integrated in your life forever."
Watch Onyenucheya's speech below:
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