Distinguished Alumni Award-Winner Steve Akers (MET’94) to Deliver 2026 Commencement Address

Steve Akers (MET’94) will address graduates at MET’s Convocation Ceremony. He will also receive the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award for Service to Alma Mater.

Steve Akers (MET’94)Steve Akers (MET’94) earned his Master of Science in Computer Science degree from BU Metropolitan College and is a proud member of the Dean of Metropolitan College’s advisory board. He was also appointed to the position of “Entrepreneur in Residence” at Metropolitan College where he has provided insights to faculty and students at MET, giving lectures and advice when they are requested.

Since studying at BU MET college, Steve has co-founded or founded four different companies, leveraging the knowledge he gained at MET to augment his entrepreneurial talents. He attributes his time at MET as a positive building block that has helped him lead his teams and companies to build award-winning products of commercial value. Prior to his start-up career, Steve held engineering and senior executive positions at Hewlett-Packard Co., and various Boston-area computer companies. In these roles he contributed to several technology areas, including networking protocols, secure communications, and data encryption.

His first startup, Spring Tide Networks, Inc., was acquired by Lucent Technologies (now Nokia) where Steve served as Chief Technology Officer for the Wireline division. One of his duties in that role was to chair the Architecture Council, a consortium of Bell Laboratories executives and senior research fellows. The purpose of the Architecture Council was to bring researchers together with engineering and business executives within Lucent. While leading the Architecture Council, Steve identified and led initiatives to bring cutting-edge research developed by Bell Labs. into products sold by the Lucent operating companies.

Under Steve’s direction, Spring Tide Networks built the world’s first Internet switching and routing platform that allowed service providers to instantiate high-capacity data, voice and firewall security services, including Virtual Private Networks. The Spring Tide “IP Services Switch” was one of the first highly capable platforms augmented with data encryption services. One customer, (IBM) used the Spring Tide technology to build a secure private network linking many of its sites over fully encrypted high speed data lines.

Another of Mr. Akers’ companies worked closely with Bloomberg Inc. and provided data insight services for highly sensitive financial documents and messages. Bloomberg acquired that company and over five years Steve ran teams in Boston and New York to provide data analytics services to aid Bloomberg businesses serving some of the largest banks and investment firms in the world.

Steve is now the President and CEO of MaxCogito, Inc., a company building products that leverage blockchain and other technologies utilizing cryptography to allow customers to securely exchange data between counterparties to financial transactions.

Before you receive your hard-earned degree, please review the following pages in detail. There are a few important preparations you will need to make, and important information you will need to know.

Apply to Graduate

Graduation is not an automatic process – one must apply – if you have not already done so, be sure to follow the steps for your program outlined in this section so you can walk with your classmates and celebrate your accomplishments.

Ceremonies:

There are two formal ceremonies over the weekend. Neither is mandatory, but both are encouraged.

MET Convocation Ceremony:

Saturday, May 16, 2026; 1 pm to approximately 3:30 pm
Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
Both MET undergraduate and graduate students participate in the same ceremony

The Metropolitan College Convocation Ceremony will begin at 1 pm in Agganis Arena with a program of speeches, recognitions, and awards. Each student will be announced and recognized individually as they process across the stage, shake hands with the Deans and receive a diploma cover. Immediately following the ceremony there will be a Reception in the Four-Court Gym (2nd floor) of the Fitness & Recreation Center (next door to Agganis Arena at 915 Commonwealth Avenue). The reception will run from approximately 3:30-4:30 pm.

All students will receive their diplomas in the mail after graduation is conferred. Get more details about the MET Convocation Ceremony, including a map, information on arrival time, and security.

All University Commencement Ceremony:

Sunday, May 17, 2026; 1 pm
Nickerson Field, 285 Babcock Street, Boston
Students from all Schools and Colleges at Boston University participate in this ceremony

This is a symbolic conferment ceremony; students do not receive their actual diplomas at this ceremony. The University Commencement Speaker (announced the day of Senior Breakfast) will speak at the ceremony, as will other honorees. Visit the BU Commencement website for more information about Commencement Weekend.

Important information for Metropolitan College graduates and their guests:

  • Tickets are not required for the Metropolitan Convocation Ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be plenty of seating. Invite as many guests as you’d like. Since there is plenty of seating, guests should not feel that they have to arrive early. There will be signs to direct guests to the proper areas.
  • Tickets are required for the All-University Commencement Ceremony. Each graduate wishing to attend the All-University ceremony will have to register for themselves and will then be allotted up to 4 tickets per graduate for their guests. The graduates will be responsible for “delivering” these electronic tickets to their guests.  Please continue to check the BU Commencement website for more information, including FAQs and troubleshooting with the ticketing.
  • For the MET Convocation Ceremony on Saturday students should report for check in and lineup to the Three Court Gym in the Fitness and Recreation Center (915 Commonwealth Avenue, located on the ground floor, and accessed by the entrance along Buick Street) by 11:45 am. Guests may enter the Agganis Arena via the front Commonwealth Avenue entrances starting at 12 pm.
  • For the All University Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, students must arrive at Harry Agganis Way by 12:15 pm. Guests may enter Nickerson Field starting at noon.
  • Purchase your Cap and Gown online. Visit the FAQ page of the University’s Commencement website for more information.
  • Parking: Students and guests are strongly encouraged to use public transportation for both ceremonies. Free shuttle buses will operate along Commonwealth Avenue before and after the weekend ceremonies. Unless used as a site for a convocation, all University parking lots will be open. However, parking spaces are extremely limited for the All-University Commencement Ceremony on Sunday. The Agganis Arena garage and Babcock Street parking areas will be open for the Metropolitan College ceremony on Saturday.
  • Special Access Requests: All special needs parking requests should be directed to Disability & Access Services at 617-353-3658.
  • If one of your guests needs special access to either Agganis Arena or Nickerson Field, please submit the “Accommodation Request Form” (form available at Disability & Access Services).
  • Find answers to other Frequently Asked Questions here.