On behalf of the entire University community, I congratulate our Class of 2006. It is my pleasure to share with you the following letter sent to Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design Dean Allen Sabinson from Dr. Carmela C. Vittorio, an appreciative parent of Drexel senior Emily V. Webb, who wishes to thank the University’s dedicated faculty and employees for their excellent work.

“I am a parent of Emily V. Webb, a senior majoring in design and merchandising. Emily was recently accepted into the master in industrial design program at the Rhode Island School of Design and is on the wait list at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. As you know, these schools have been ranked in the field of industrial design somewhere in positions one to two over the past few years.”

“When Emily first told me of her plans to apply to graduate school, I greatly underestimated the level of competition that she would soon become a part of. Little did I know that, on average, programs accept about five individuals from the many hundreds of applications that they receive. I also came to find that the vast majority of the applicants to graduate programs in industrial design are currently working as architects or industrial designers. Most of the other applicants are matriculated in undergraduate programs in industrial design. It did not take me long to figure out that this all translates into very competitive portfolios…”

“So, why am I telling you all this? I know from experience that the dominantly critical variables in an extremely competitive application process are the letters of recommendation and the support and guidance that one receives from faculty and mentors. Often, the individuals who help students in these ways are not acknowledged. I therefore wish to recognize and thank the individuals who were instrumental in helping Emily to achieve what may well be a first for a design and merchandising major at Drexel. In addition to being outstanding teachers, they also served to inspire, enlighten, guide and support Emily in other countless ways. Among your current faculty they are: Dr. David Raizman, Dr. Joseph Gregory, Beth Phillips and Joseph Brin… who was pivotal in helping Emily to assemble a portfolio.”

“Thank you for your stewardship of the Antoinette Westphal School of Media Arts and Design. Like hundreds of other parents, I am looking forward to Commencement 2006.”

Thank you Dr. Vittorio for your kind words. They serve to remind us why our mission for educational excellence at Drexel is so important. I’m sure you echo the sentiment of many of our parents. I extend best wishes to Emily and to all of our graduates in their future endeavors.

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President