This year, we commemorated our 98-year anniversary during Founder’s Week, October 6–10, to honor not just our institution’s history, but our evolving role as a leading STEM university. With a series of firsts, Founder's Week featured an Honors Convocation and Awards Ceremony and our GreyCon professional conference, as well as our annual Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast. Each event underscored different dimensions of our university’s mission: academic achievement, student opportunities, alumni recognition, donor appreciation, and industry partnership.
Honors Convocation and Awards Ceremony
One of our new Founder’s Week events was the Honors Convocation and Awards Ceremony on October 7, recognizing student achievement and conferring special honors to alumni and impactful members of our community.
We were honored to have in attendance special guest and Trustee Emeritus Dr. Haden A. Land, CEO/CTO of Safely2Prosperity and former Board Chairman at Capitol Tech. Dr. Land introduced the proud recipient of a Doctor of Science, honoris causa: André Mendes, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
"Our Board Chairman André Mendes is a well-deserving recipient of the honorary doctorate,” said Dr. Land. “He is abundantly kind, remarkably articulate, and an extremely humble gentleman. I am very proud of his accomplishments.”
This honorary doctorate recognizes Mendes’ enduring commitment to our university’s mission since joining the Board of Trustees in 2017. In 2021, Mendes became a member of the Academic Affairs, Planning, and Enrollment Committee, serving as committee chair. He accepted the role of Vice Chairman in 2021 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees in July 2022.
Beyond his leadership on the Board, Mendes has demonstrated a deep dedication to expanding access to STEM education. In 2022, he also established the Fernando & Rosa Maria Mendes Scholarship in honor of his parents, whose support and encouragement helped him to achieve his dreams. This scholarship prioritizes students who speak Portuguese, have heritage from a Lusophone country (Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé & Príncipe), have immigrated to the U.S., or whose parent has immigrated to the U.S.
Mendes exemplifies the mission of Capitol Tech through giving his time, energy, and resources, along with actively ensuring the university achieves its mission and goals. Proudly joining him during the ceremony were his son, Mark Gray-Mendes, and his extended family and friends. While she was not able to attend the ceremony, Mendes’ mother, Rosa Maria Mendes, was able to celebrate this honor with her son earlier this year.
More than fifty students were also recognized for academic excellence, leadership, service, and honors. Students were also inducted into the honor societies of Alpha Chi, Upsilon Pi Epsilon, and Sigma Beta Delta.
Distinguished Alumni Award
During the Honors Convocation and Awards Ceremony, Capitol Tech also introduced the first-ever Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing outstanding alumni who have exemplified excellence in their careers and meaningfully given back to the institution. This award was presented to Dr. William Eric Bassett, Sr.
After earning his electrical engineering undergraduate degree from Capitol Tech in 2000, Dr. Bassett built a distinguished career over the following 24 years in naval aviation technology. He is a recognized expert in power, electronic, and wiring systems, has authored multiple technical publications, and holds a U.S. patent for preparing electrodes for electroplating. His contributions to the field have earned him accolades such as the NAVAIR Commanders Team Award and the respect of his peers as a thought leader in engineering and technology.
For 24 years, he led as a Royal Ranger Commander at Outpost 74, mentoring youth in both practical life skills and spiritual growth. In his role as an Associate Professor of mathematics and engineering, he motivates students to excel by honing problem-solving, logic, and technical skills. Known for his commitment to career focused learning, he offers tutoring and career guidance to all students. Dr. Bassett has significantly enriched his community through dedicated mentorship, workforce development, and a deep commitment to service.
“Dr. Bassett exemplifies the mission and values of Capitol Technology University through his commitment to innovation, leadership, and dedication to building the next generation of technology leaders,” said President Sims.
Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast
Our annual Scholarship Appreciation Breakfast was held on October 8 to honor scholarship recipients and the donors whose generosity directly supports student success. This event reinforces our university’s commitment to access, affordability, and community. Several new scholarship opportunities have been announced, including the FSANA AeroCamp Scholarship and Private Pilot Scholarship.
In his welcome address, President Sims highlighted the significant role that alumni, sponsors, and partnerships play. Many of our university scholarships—both merit-based and need-based—provide crucial support for students in their academic pursuits, opening doors to opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
GreyCon 2025
We closed Founder’s Week on October 10 with our first-ever on-campus professional conference, GreyCon 2025. This inaugural technology thought leadership and networking event brought together experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and students to discuss the transformative role of AI and cybersecurity in space operations. Our featured keynote speaker was the Honorable Charles F. Bolden Jr., Major General, USMC (Ret.), 12th NASA Administrator, U.S. Astronaut, and Founder and CEO Emeritus of The Charles F. Bolden Group.
Throughout the day, Bolden and other distinguished speakers gave attendees a high-level exploration of how cutting-edge developments are already revolutionizing the way we approach technological advancement—from autonomous spacecraft to AI-driven mission planning to satellite hacking and more.
The event was facilitated by Dr. William Butler, USMC (Ret.) and VP of Cyber Science Outreach and Partnerships, who expressed enthusiasm for GreyCon’s trajectory.
“GreyCon 2025 is about what comes next, shaping our future in space, AI, and cybersecurity,” said Dr. Butler. “All who attended helped shape a new tradition, and the discussions and ideas shared set the tone for what GreyCon stands for—innovation, exploration, and collaboration. We are truly grateful for all who joined us to help launch this exciting new chapter.”
We are looking forward to GreyCon 2026 as our Founder’s Week closing event again next fall, and we hope you will join us.
Looking Ahead to Our Centennial
Founder’s Week celebrates our legacy, community, and achievements each year as we approach our 100-year anniversary in 2027. The next two years will bring even more cause for celebration, from the 25th anniversary of our Cybersecurity program in fall 2026 to the opening of our newly renovated lab spaces and more. These milestones are proof of Capitol Tech’s long-standing commitment to innovation, growth, and opportunity.