Convocation 2024: Polytechnique Montréal awards 2,042 degrees along with honorary doctorates to Kwang Hyung Lee and Serge Gendron

June 15, 2024

Montréal – This year, Polytechnique Montréal is celebrating its Class of 2024 during two ceremonies held June 15 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal. The event is designed to acknowledge the hard work and perseverance of 2,042 graduates from the 148th class (2023–2024). This brings to more than 61,000 the number of Polytechnique Montréal graduates contributing directly to the development of our society, at home and abroad. Upon the recommendation of Polytechnique, Université de Montréal is also awarding two honorary doctorates during this year’s ceremonies. The first will be presented to Kwang Hyung Lee, President of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology and pioneer in multidisciplinary approaches to computer science, biology and nanotechnology. The second honorary doctorate will be given to Serge Gendron, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of AGF Group, visionary, philanthropist and 1973 civil engineering graduate of Polytechnique Montréal.

Kwang Hyung Lee

Kwang Hyung Lee is a multidisciplinary researcher, professor, strategist, innovator, theorist, futurist, executive emeritus, and pioneer in a number of science, engineering, education and industry fields both in South Korea and internationally.

Mr. Lee began his career in 1985 teaching in the Computer Science Department at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), the first university specialized in science and engineering in South Korea. He advocated for the idea that the convergence of information, biology and nanotechnology is essential for future industries. A passionate champion of entrepreneurship and start-ups, Mr. Lee advised the first generations of KAIST start-ups. Kwang Hyung Lee has published more than 70 articles and scientific works. He also invented a fuzzy multi-elevator control, a subway operation controller and an AI transportation controller.

A fellow at the Korea Academy of Science and Technology and the National Academy of Engineering of Korea, Mr. Lee has also received a number of awards and medals from the Korean government as well as the designation of Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in France.

Mr. Lee has been KAIST President since 2021 and is very involved in the South Korean public sector, particularly as Chair of the National Police Association Future Vision Committee and Chair of the Supreme Court Candidate Nomination Committee. Polytechnique Montréal and KAIST have had a co-operation agreement since 1998 and KAIST was Polytechnique’s first partner university in South Korea.

Polytechnique Montréal is proud to award an honorary doctorate to Mr. Lee for his exceptional career path, his holistic, multidisciplinary and undeniably forward-looking vision, which strongly echoes the values of Polytechnique Montréal, and for his involvement in and commitment to education, research and the future of the next generation.

Serge Gendron

A civil engineering graduate of Polytechnique Montréal in 1973, Serge Gendron started his career as a project engineer at Lalonde, Valois, Lamarre, Valois et Associés (today AtkinsRéalis). In 1981, Mr. Gendron took the helm as President and CEO of Acier Gendron, the family company founded by his father, who was himself a graduate of Polytechnique Montréal (Laurent Gendron, Po 48). Specialized in manufacturing and installing reinforcing steel for wire mesh and prestressing post-tensioning systems, Acier Gendron has contributed to major projects, including Expo 67, métro stations and Montréal’s Olympic Stadium.

In the 1990s, Mr. Gendron led his company to collaborate on several large-scale projects such as the Aluminerie de Deschambault, La Grande-1 hydropower generating station, and the Hibernia oil platform, off the coast of Newfoundland. In 2022, AGF (AGF Group since 2007) acquired French company EMCA, specialized in installing reinforcing steel. Currently AGF Group is actively contributing to the construction of the Femern Tunnel, the longest submerged road and rail tunnel in the world, linking Denmark to Germany.

In 43 years at the head of AGF, Mr. Gendron has successfully positioned his company as a world leader in the reinforcing steel industry. Today the company has 27 business units in nine countries, including 24 factories. To date, AGF has contributed to more than 50,000 construction projects across the world. Some of the most significant recent projects in Québec include the REM, the rebuilding of Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel and building Samuel-De Champlain Bridge. Internationally, the Québec group’s major achievements include building the Dubai, Doha, Lima and Santiago subway systems.

Alongside his unfailing commitment to his company and his profession, Mr. Gendron has made very generous contributions to a number of philanthropic causes throughout his career. Notably, in 2014 he participated in the Campus Montréal fundraising campaign as a member of the Executive Cabinet. This campaign raised $601 million, including $112 million for Polytechnique Montréal. The AGF Group Foundation donated $1 million during this campaign to establish the Serge Gendron Fund, intended to finance scholarships for excellence for Polytechnique Montréal students in the master’s program in civil engineering, half of which is given to women, and to support the promotion of entrepreneurial skills among students and to encourage business projects relying on technological innovations with strong commercial potential.

Mr. Gendron was also Chair of the Polytechnique Montréal Alumni Association in 1984-85 and has been very involved in the Fondation de Polytechnique since 1982. This included sitting on the Board of Directors from 2008 to 2016 and chairing the Board from 2011 to 2013. Mr. Gendron was also a member of the Polytechnique Montréal Board of Directors from 1991 to 2002.

Mr. Gendron has been awarded a number of prizes and distinctions for his exceptional contributions to his field and to society: the Prix Mérite from the Association des Diplômés de Polytechnique Montréal in 2009, the Award of Excellence from the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec in 2012, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Governor General of Canada in 2013, the Ernst & Young EY Entrepreneur of the Year for Québec in 2014, the title of Fellow from Engineers Canada in 2016, as well as CEO of the Year award in the large company category from Les Affaires newspaper in 2022.

Polytechnique Montréal is proud to grant an honorary doctorate to Serge Gendron for his entire career as a visionary engineer, outstanding entrepreneur and remarkable businessman, for his unfailing support for education and research through his philanthropic contribution, for his great generosity and unwavering support for the student and alumni community. His immense contribution to society and his commitment to the next generation are major sources of inspiration for all graduates who look to him for an example of determination, boldness, passion for engineering and a model of direct involvement in the major causes and challenges of our time.

Polytechnique awards 2,042 degrees

In 2023–2024 (Po 148), Polytechnique awarded 2,042 degrees, including 1,062 bachelor’s degrees in engineering, 110 bachelor of science degrees, 36 advanced graduate diplomas (DESS), 404 master’s degrees in engineering, 260 master’s of applied sciences degrees and 160 doctorates. Moreover, for the first time ever, Polytechnique Montréal awarded more than 1,000 degrees (1,002 to be exact) in bachelor’s of engineering in 2023 (winter, summer and fall).


About Polytechnique Montréal

Established in 1873, Polytechnique Montréal is one of Canada’s largest engineering education and research universities, and is located on the Université de Montréal campus – North America’s largest Francophone university campus. With more than 61,000 graduates and over 120 academic programs, Polytechnique has trained 22% of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)’s current membership. Polytechnique Montréal is also distinguished by its more than 300 talented professors and 10,000 students.

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Christian Merciari
Communications and public relations
Polytechnique Montréal
C. 514 742-8586
christian.merciari@polymtl.ca

 

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