By Sarah N. Lynch
Journal Staff Writer

HOBOKEN - President-elect Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic urged graduates of Stevens Institute of Technology yesterday to use their knowledge to expand science and technology to help improve economic conditions both in his home country and in the world beyond.

"In our countries, we have to cater to people's basic needs: fight against hunger and illiteracy, maternal and infant mortality, while at the same time facing the challenges of open markets," said Fernández, who delivered the school's commencement address yesterday. "Is it possible to do all that at the same time? Yes, definitely. But we'll have to develop new, integrative ways and innovative models. Technology is the key driver of economic development."

Fernández, along with professional mediator Theodore W. Kheel, were both presented with honorary degrees the school's 132nd annual undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Kheel was praised for his work in creating both a 1,500-acre ecological reserve and a biodiversity laboratory in Punta Cana. Fernández also served as president of the Dominican Republic from 1996-2000.

"My message to (the students) is that they have the whole world in their hands," Fernández said. "Now they have the knowledge and the education, and they must face up to the challenge."

The ceremony was held outdoors, a departure from previous years, when the graduation was held inside the Schaefer Athletic Center. Approximately 350 undergraduates participated in the commencement and about 720 graduate students were awarded degrees in a separate ceremony later in the day.

The ceremony was moved outdoors to accommodate what the university said was a growing number of both graduates and family members in recent years.

"I'm happy to be done," said Anthony Khiami of Clifton, who received a bachelors degree in engineering and now plans to pursue a career in the Army writing test programs for electronic devices in military attack vehicles. "I did five years here, I learned a lot and I got a lot of work experience."

Leslie Scaria, who earned a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science, said she found the speech inspiring.

"I thought he was great," Scaria said. "I thought we were really fortunate to have the president-elect of the Dominican Republic as our speaker. He touched on a lot of important points."

Fernández's visit to the United States came at a time when both the Dominican Republic and Haiti are receiving worldwide attention because of devastating floods which have killed hundreds of people.

Fernández did not discuss the floods in his speech.

After the ceremony, however, he did mention that he made a trip on Wednesday evening to Washington Heights in New York, where he addressed the Dominican community.

"I appealed to the community for some sort of solidarity in the Dominican Republic and Haiti in terms of food, water supply, medicine, and the people were very responsive to that demand," he said.

NJ.com, Friday, May 28, 2004

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