New York Tech-Vancouver Celebrates Its 23rd Commencement

On October 14, family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at The University of British Columbia to celebrate New York Tech-Vancouver’s Class of 2023.

Approximately 320 students attended the ceremony, including graduates from the university’s M.B.A.; M.B.A.–business analytics; M.B.A.–finance; instructional technology, M.S.; cybersecurity, M.S.; and Master of Energy Management programs.

Executive Director and Campus Dean Irene Young, Ed.D., welcomed the graduates and guests.

“Today is a momentous day. It is a day of celebration, reflection, and anticipation,” said Young. “This day marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. Graduating from a prestigious institution like New York Tech is a significant accomplishment. It is a testament to your hard work, commitment, and determination.”

President Hank Foley, Ph.D., offered his remarks via a video presentation.

“This is the culmination of all your hard work, your studies, and your effort over the years. Now you’re ready to go,” he said. “You’re ready to start your professional careers, whether it’s in business management, energy management or cyber systems, I can assure you, you are well prepared.”

In attendance from the Long Island campus were Associate Provost for Student Engagement and Development Tiffani Hinds, M.Ed.; Director of Student Engagement and Development, Administration and Operations Joanne West, M.S.; and Director of Alumni Relations Sabrina Polidoro.

Student speaker Anushka Sakargayen (M.B.A. ’23) began her speech by acknowledging the support the newest alumni received from parents, family, and friends as well as from New York Tech faculty and staff.

Student speaker Anushka Sakargayen (M.B.A. ’23) addresses the Class of 2023.

“Let’s face the world with a smile, armed with our funny stories and heartwarming memories,” Sakargayen went on to say. “We have worked hard. We deserve to be proud of this achievement and take this opportunity to celebrate. After all, the tassel’s worth the hassle!”

Alumni Honored

Two days ahead of the commencement ceremony, alumni gathered for the second annual Vancouver Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner at the Italian Culture Centre, where Nilkanth Savaliya (M.S. ’21) and Jasdeep Gulati (M.S. ’22) were honored with achievement awards.

The Alumni Awards Dinner was established to recognize the professional achievements and community service of the alumni of the Vancouver campus.

Savaliya was the recipient of this year’s the Alumni Achievement Award. One of two student speakers at the 2021 commencement ceremony, Savaliya has delivered guest lectures at Langara College in Vancouver on topics such as energy efficiency, climate change, and sustainability. Savaliya, whose degree is in energy management, is a registered energy advisor by the Natural Resources Canada, a certified energy manager in training by Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in the United States, and a certified RETScreen Expert by Canadian Institute for Energy Training. He was also named Young Energy Professional of the Year in 2022. Savailiya works as a building application engineer at CopperTree Analytics, where he decarbonizes the built environment and helps shape the future of smart building and the digital twin by leveraging the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Director of Student Affairs Shannon Svingen-Jones presents Jasdeep Gulati with the Alumni Services Award.

The Alumni Services Award was presented to Gulati, who graduated with a Master of Energy Management. Gulati is a seasoned energy specialist, focusing on developing decarbonization strategies to achieve net-zero objectives. His expertise includes energy-saving consulting, management, techno-commercial project evaluation, funding proposal creation, ASHRAE-compliant energy auditing (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers), and energy-saving systems. He also holds a Certified Energy Manager designation from the AEE. Gulati manages the BC Care Providers Association Energy Saving Program, overseeing 120 buildings. Gulati is a sought-after speaker, sharing insights on energy efficiency initiatives with students at institutions like Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and the University Canada West in British Columbia. Additionally, he serves as the single point of contact for the Energy Management Alumni group, providing guidance and support to New York Tech alumni.

Alexandria Smith, New York Tech-Vancouver alumni coordinator, contributed to this story.