Khushbu Patel (MSECE ’26), at left, and Kathryn Fehme (BSECE ’26), at right, will speak at this year’s Graduation Ceremony, which will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m.
UW ECE is proud to announce that in addition to UW ECE alumnus Jared K. Jordan (BSEE ‘05), two students have been selected to speak at our 2026 Graduation Ceremony. Khushbu Patel (MSECE ‘26) will offer remarks on behalf of graduate students, and Kathryn Fehme (BSECE ‘26) will represent undergraduates. Patel and Fehme were selected for this honor because of their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and service to the Department. This year’s Graduation Ceremony will take place in the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on Wednesday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be presided over by UW ECE Professor and Chair Eric Klavins.
“We have two outstanding students from our graduating class speaking at this year’s Graduation Ceremony,” Klavins said. “Khushbu has done exemplary work in our Professional Master’s program while working full-time in aerospace engineering. Kathryn has excelled academically and in her internships while gaining hands-on project experience here at UW ECE. I’m very much looking forward to hearing what they both have to say.”
Learn more about both students below:
Graduate student speaker
Khushbu Patel
(MSECE ‘26)
Khushbu Patel (MSECE ’26)
Khushbu Patel is graduating from UW ECE’s Professional Master’s Program in electrical and computer engineering. She pursued her degree while working as an engineering leader at Gravitics, an aerospace startup designing and manufacturing space station modules. There, she leads multidisciplinary teams developing onboard systems, such as avionics and flight software, for space station technologies.
She has worked across the space industry, bridging the gap between simulation and flight operations for complex systems. Her previous roles at Virgin Orbit and Relativity Space focused on high-fidelity test systems, vehicle software, launch vehicle avionics, and critical life support technologies.
Khushbu’s passion for space began at an early age, leading her to an internship at NASA Johnson Space Center, followed by studies in aerospace engineering and computational sciences at The University of Texas at Austin. She has since built a career dedicated to advancing humanity’s presence in space.
Beyond her technical work, Khushbu is passionate about mentorship. Through the UW ECE Industry Mentorship Program, Wired for Success, and For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics, she has mentored students pursuing engineering pathways, with a focus on encouraging young women in STEM. After graduating, Khushbu hopes to continue building technologies that push humanity forward while helping others see a place for themselves in engineering and beyond.
Undergraduate student speaker
Kathryn Fehme
(BSECE ‘26)
Kathryn Fehme (BSECE ’26)
Kathryn Fehme is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering. As a child, Fehme dreamed of becoming an engineer, which inspired her passion for aerospace and technical innovation. During her time at UW ECE, she specialized in control systems and hardware through internships and hands-on engineering experience. Her senior capstone project, completed in partnership with General Dynamics, was designing and building a 3D drone simulator in MATLAB using advanced control system concepts.
Fehme’s experiences in aerospace and engineering leadership shaped her passion for solving complex technical challenges while building strong professional communities. After two internships with Boeing, she will continue her career in Boeing’s flight test sector, working on sensors and signal conditioning while pursuing a dual master’s degree focused on electrical engineering and engineering leadership.
Beyond her technical work, Fehme is dedicated to mentorship and creating opportunities for future engineers. Through the Society of Women Engineers, where she served in the UW student chapter as vice president of corporate relations, she mentored fellow students and helped connect aspiring engineers with industry professionals through professional development, recruitment, and networking opportunities. After graduation, Fehme plans to remain involved with SWE and continue mentoring students pursuing careers in STEM.