YouTube Star Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, to Deliver 2024 Commencement Address at Stevens Institute of Technology

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YouTube Star Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, to Deliver 2024 Commencement Address at Stevens Institute of Technology

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Hoboken, N.J., May 2, 2024 - Stevens Institute of Technology welcomes back alumnus, YouTuber and professional Ultimate Frisbee player Marques Brownlee (better known as MKBHD) as its 2024 commencement speaker. Brownlee, who will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree, will address the university-wide ceremony on Wednesday, May 22, at 9 a.m., at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey.

Alumnus Michael Kakos, a noted scientist, entrepreneur and global business leader, will address the graduate school in the ceremony that begins at 4:00 p.m.

Brownlee, a Garden State native honored as the Creator of the Decade by the Shorty Awards in 2018, studied at Stevens' School of Business (then known as the Howe School of Technology Management). He graduated in 2015 with a degree in Information Systems, and in 2018 received Stevens' Young Alumni Achievement Award.

"Marques Brownlee is an exemplary Stevens alumnus who embodies the core values we cherish - innovation, leadership and entrepreneurship," said Stevens president Nariman Farvardin. "With his captivating insights, authenticity and remarkable influence in the tech world, Marques has inspired millions worldwide. Our graduates will greatly benefit from his wisdom and experiences as he addresses the Class of 2024."

Brownlee has been a YouTube star for over 15 years, having established his channel in 2008 while still in high school. He chose to attend Stevens because of its renowned technology programs and continued to grow the MKBHD brand during his time on campus, gaining a massive following thanks to in-depth product reviews of the latest tech devices.

Since graduating in 2015, Brownlee's influence has only grown, both on YouTube and as the founder and co-host of the Waveform (WVFRM) podcast. WVFRM provides listeners with analysis of the latest tech news and interviews with industry leaders. As of 2023, he has more than 20 million subscribers across all channels and nearly four billion total video views. In addition to his YouTube career, Brownlee is also a professional ultimate frisbee player, currently playing with the New York Empire in the Ultimate Frisbee Association (UFA), formerly known as the American Ultimate Disc League.

"One of my favorite hard-to-believe-but-true facts is that many of the students graduating from Stevens in 2024 will go on to have long and successful careers in fields that haven't even been created yet," said Brownlee. "And no matter what they go on to do, they're now armed with the technical background and the problem solving skills required to pursue it at the highest level."

Kakos, who received his M.S. in management science from Stevens, began his career as a chemist, notably at Celanese Corporation, conducting R&D work in a range of materials, for which he obtained several patents. He later transitioned to positions in sales, product management and global marketing before founding his own highly successful distribution company.

"I am deeply honored to address the Class of 2024 at Stevens Institute of Technology's commencement ceremony," said Michael Kakos. "As a proud Stevens alumnus, I look forward to sharing insights from my own journey with these exceptional graduates as they embark on the next phase of their careers. I have no doubt their Stevens education has prepared them to imagine and create a better future for us all."

"Michael Kakos' life journey exemplifies the Stevens ideals of academic excellence, entrepreneurial spirit and societal impact," said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin. "From his groundbreaking research and product innovation to building a highly successful global company, Michael has consistently demonstrated vision and leadership. Our graduates can draw great inspiration from his remarkable career path and dedication to philanthropic causes. We are honored to have him as our 2024 graduate commencement speaker."

Approximately 3,336 undergraduate and graduate students will receive their Stevens credentials this month, making it one of the largest graduating classes in Stevens' 154-year history.

For additional information, including a schedule of name-reading ceremonies, visit stevens.edu/commencement.

About Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a premier, private research university situated in Hoboken, New Jersey. Since our founding in 1870, technological innovation has been the hallmark of Stevens' education and research. Within the university's three schools and one college, 8,000 undergraduate and graduate students collaborate closely with faculty in an interdisciplinary, student-centric, entrepreneurial environment. Academic and research programs spanning business, computing, engineering, the arts and other disciplines actively advance the frontiers of science and leverage technology to confront our most pressing global challenges. The university continues to be consistently ranked among the nation's leaders in career services, post-graduation salaries of alumni and return on tuition investment.

Stevens Media Contact
Kara Panzer
Interim Director of Public Relations
Division of University Relations
845-475-4594
[email protected]

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