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Archived News Article

MSOE Winter Commencement

Published: 02/24/2010 Bookmark and Share
MSOE Winter Commencement      More than 50 undergraduate and graduate students in engineering majors, the Rader School of Business and the School of Nursing will receive their bachelor's or master's degrees at Milwaukee School of Engineering's Winter Commencement, Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Kern Center.

     The ceremony will feature a keynote address from J. Michael Borden, MSOE Regent and president and CEO of Hufcor Inc. Sean Michael Kennedy of Green Bay, Wis., is the class respondent. He will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree.

MSOE Winter Commencement
Saturday, Feb. 27, 10 a.m. - noon
Kern Center, 1245 N. Broadway

Speaker/Honorary Degree Recipient

     In addition to delivering the keynote address, Borden will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business and Economics during MSOE's Commencement. Borden is an MSOE Regent. 
     When he was seven years old, Borden sold Victory Garden seeds door to door in Elm Grove, Wis. His passion for business hasn't diminished since. He graduated from Marquette University with degrees in accounting and finance and started work as an investment broker with Prudential Bache. After almost 20 years with the company, he embarked on a new career path and purchased Hufcor Inc. in 1978 with two other partners, whom he later bought out. Today, Borden is the CEO of Hufcor, which is the world's largest manufacturer of operable, accordion and portable partitions.
     Borden has played a major role in the success of the company. In 1981 Hufcor held approximately 12 percent of the market for operable and accordion partitions in the United States. Today, the company holds approximately 50 percent of the market, with sales of $200 million worldwide. Hufcor's growth has added approximately 600 jobs in Janesville, Wis.  
     Borden has won numerous awards and accolades, including the Wisconsin Entrepreneur Award in 1994 and the Governor's Award for Exports in 1998. Hufcor won the Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award - Large Company category in 1998 and the Forward Award of Excellence from the Governor of Wisconsin in 2000.
     MSOE is an independent university with 2,600 students. MSOE offers 17 bachelor's degrees and nine master's degrees in the engineering, engineering technology, architectural engineering and building construction, computer, business, nursing and health-related fields. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; and extremely high placement rates and starting salaries. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.