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When you think of elite Boston schools, the big names usually hog the spotlight. But there’s a specific kind of person who goes to Wentworth. It’s the "get your hands dirty" crowd. Honestly, if you’ve ever used a product, walked through a major city, or even watched a Super Bowl, there is a very high chance a Wentworth grad had something to do with it.
We aren't talking about ivory tower theorists here. The school has been pushing a co-op model since 1911. That means by the time these people graduate, they’ve already been working in the trenches. Looking at Wentworth Institute of Technology notable alumni, you start to see a pattern: they don’t just manage things—they build them.
The Heavy Hitters in Professional Sports
It’s kinda funny that a technical institute produces so many pro athletes, but if you think about the grit required for engineering, it actually makes sense.
Joe Andruzzi is probably the name most people recognize first. He’s a three-time Super Bowl champion who played offensive guard for the New England Patriots. But he wasn’t just a guy on the field. He’s a 1997 grad who took that Wentworth work ethic and turned it into a massive philanthropic legacy through the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. He’s basically a local hero in Boston for more than just football.
Then you’ve got Mike Grier. If you follow hockey, you know Grier was a powerhouse. He played over 1,000 games in the NHL, which is a ridiculous feat of physical endurance. But more importantly, in 2022, he became the first Black General Manager in NHL history when he took the reins of the San Jose Sharks. He’s a 1993 alum who proved that a degree in a technical environment can lead straight to the front office of a major sports franchise.
The rink is actually a common theme for WIT grads:
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- Brian Gionta: Captained the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.
- Matt Gilroy: Won the Hobey Baker Award (basically the Heisman of hockey) before heading to the NHL.
- Ryan Shannon: Another NHL standout who proved the Leopards can skate with the best of them.
Engineering and the $25 Million Legacy
You can't talk about this school without mentioning Douglas D. Schumann. He graduated in 1964 from the Aircraft Maintenance program. Think about that for a second. He went from working on planes to becoming a Trustee Emeritus and, eventually, the man behind the largest gift in the school's history.
In late 2025, the school officially named the Douglas D. Schumann School of Engineering after he dropped a cool $25 million to support the next generation of builders. He often talks about how the "solid foundation" he got at Wentworth was the literal engine for his business success. It's a classic "full circle" story that actually feels authentic because he was once a student in those same labs.
The Tech and Gaming Pioneers
Here is one that usually catches people off guard: Maya Rogers. She is the President and CEO of Tetris. Yeah, that Tetris. While the game was famously created by Alexey Pajitnov, Rogers is the one who took the brand and turned it into a global licensing behemoth. She has been instrumental in keeping a decades-old game relevant in a world of VR and 4K graphics.
On the more traditional tech side, there's Lloyd Carney. He’s a bit of a legend in the Silicon Valley world. He was the CEO of Brocade Communications Systems before they were acquired for billions. He’s the type of executive who understands the hardware and the business, which is a very Wentworth trait.
Architecture and Construction: The People Building Our World
If you’ve spent any time in Boston or New York, you’ve likely walked through a building designed or built by a Wentworth alum.
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Tullio Inglese ('60) recently picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in ecological architecture. He was talking about "green building" long before it was a trendy marketing buzzword. On the construction side, you have people like Frank Hayes, the President of BOND Building Construction, and Sharon Jozokos, a VP at Columbia Construction who specializes in healthcare facilities.
These aren't just desk jobs. These people are managing massive, multi-million dollar sites where a single mistake in the math could be a disaster.
A Few Surprising Names
Did you know Matt LeBlanc (Joey from Friends) went to Wentworth? It’s true. He was enrolled in the carpentry program before he decided that acting was a better fit for him. It's a fun bit of trivia, but it also shows the school's roots in the trades.
Another one is David Lovering, the drummer for the Pixies. He’s an electronic engineering alum. There is something about the precision of engineering that seems to translate well to being a world-class drummer.
Why the "Co-Op" Model Actually Matters
Most schools give you a degree and a handshake. Wentworth gives you a resume. Because of the mandatory co-op program, students like Courteney DiDomenico ('19) can jump from being an industrial design student to founding their own companies (Atúlo Products) within a few years of graduating.
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The alumni network isn't just a list of names on a website; it’s a working web of people who hire each other. In late 2025, the university even reimagined the Wentworth Alumni Association (WAA) to focus more on professional mentorship rather than just social mixers. They realized that their biggest asset is the fact that their graduates actually know how to do stuff.
What You Can Learn from the WIT Path
If you're looking at these names and wondering how to replicate that success, it basically boils down to three things:
- Practicality over Prestige: These alumni didn't go to school to sit in a lecture hall for four years. They went to build things. Whether you're in tech or architecture, find ways to apply your knowledge immediately.
- The Pivot is Real: Just because you study Aircraft Maintenance (like Schumann) or Carpentry (like LeBlanc) doesn't mean you're stuck there. Technical training teaches you how to solve problems, and that's a universal skill.
- Leverage the Network: The WAA is actively shifting toward career-long engagement. If you're an alum or a student, don't sleep on the mentorship programs. People like Michael Santora (Architectural Engineering '05) literally volunteer their time to help students with patent applications and pitch decks.
If you’re researching the school, don't just look at the rankings. Look at what the people who graduated actually did with their hands. That’s where the real story is.
To get a better sense of how these career paths look in the real world, you should check out the "Leopard Spotlight" series on the official alumni page—it's updated regularly with stories from recent grads who are already hitting senior roles in tech and engineering within five years of leaving campus.