The Month in Photos: April 2023

May 23, 2023

Allison Racicot

April showers don’t just bring May flowers—at WPI, they’re also responsible for ushering in new presidents, for athletics achievements, for groundbreaking research work, and for awards as we start wrapping up the academic year. See what the WPI community was up to just before Commencement season in May.

A student talks with a visiting parent during Accepted Students Day.

The WPI community welcomed hundreds of families to campus for one of three Accepted Student Days, giving newly accepted students the chance to explore WPI firsthand.

Grace Wang chats with students on Higgins House lawn.

President Grace Wang assumed the role of WPI’s 17th president at the beginning of the month, and wasted no time immersing herself in the WPI experience.

A closeup of a piece of art of the Lorax on a brown piece of paper.

It’s only fitting that the Lorax made an appearance during one of the many events held on campus in honor of Earth Month; after all, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Tian Guo

WPI researcher Tian Guo was awarded a prestigious $657,776 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation to develop novel software techniques that will improve the performance and privacy of mobile augmented reality systems.

Members of the men's crew team row on Lake Quinsigamond.

At the end of the month, the men’s crew team competed in (and reclaimed!) the McCarthy-McGee Cup on Lake Quinsigamond.

A student presents their work on a poster board in the Odeum.

Graduate students showcased their research work in the Odeum during this year’s Graduate Innovation Research Exchange.

Members of the football team stand on the Quad holding a sign that says "Help us fight blood cancer."

Remember when Frank Almeida ’24 was named as a marrow donor match in 2021 after the WPI football team’s Be the Match bone marrow drive? Well, their efforts to find another match continued this year—along with Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Phi Epsilon, the team hosted its annual registry drive on the Quad.

A closeup of rainbow commencement regalia.

The Lavender Commencement Ceremony honored the countless achievements and contributions of LGBTQIAP+ Students at WPI.

Panelists discuss their work during the Women Authors Event in Alden Memorial.

Looking for your next read? Check out some work from the authors who were spotlighted during the Women Authors Evening hosted by WPI. The event honored the life and legacy of Ginger Navickas, long-time Director of Domestic Violence Services at YWCA Central Massachusetts and a lifetime advocate for women, with proceeds benefiting YWCA’s Domestic Violence Services Program.

Members of Rangeela perform during the BSU Fashion Show.

The annual Black Student Union Fashion Show continued to be a hit with students, offering an exciting night of fashion, music, and performances.

A softball player connects with the ball for a hit during a recent game.

The softball team took on Babson College in a doubleheader at the Rooftop Field, earning a 9–7 come-from-behind victory in game two.

Students show off their work during the Undergraduate Research Projects Showcase.

The WPI community went under the hood—literally—and learned about the MQP work done by undergraduate seniors during the Undergraduate Research Projects Showcase (formerly Project Presentation Day).

Roya Mahboob addresses the crowd during the latest University Lecture Series.

Entrepreneur and founder of the Digital Citizen Fund & the Afghan Girls Robotics Team Roya Mahboob visited campus for the latest installment of the University Lecture Series.

Members of the National Society of Black Engineers gather for a photo.

Outstanding student leadership and efforts that have significantly impacted campus life were honored and celebrated during the annual Student Recognition Awards. Here, members of the National Society of Black Engineers pose with their award after being named Organization of the Year.

Students watch the food robots travel along the Quad.

Forget about Make Way for Ducklings—here at WPI, we’re making way for robots. Starship Technologies launched its robot food delivery service on campus in April.

Kristen Billiar

WPI researcher Kristen Billiar was awarded $429,456 from the National Institutes of Health to investigate how stretching and blood flow can inhibit or encourage cardiovascular cells to populate and grow in tissue-engineered heart valves.